by E. C. Land
“Way I see it, that bitch ain’t a woman. She’s a disease, and diseases need to be taken out.” Grinding my teeth together, I hold my VP’s eyes, letting him see I don’t give a fuck who she is. When I get my hands on Claws, she’s dead.
Angel nods a brief moment later, and I give him a nod of my own.
“Now, let’s get to the hunting cabin. It’s time for Richard to talk and die.”
“Good, Goblin and Ghoul keep saying Richard is demanding to be released. That we will regret not letting him go,” Angel chuckles and shakes his head. “Well, he was saying this bullshit in between Tombstone beating the shit out of him before Tombstone came back to the clubhouse to take a break and eat.”
“Well, then it’s time for him to learn he doesn’t get to make demands,” I laugh maliciously. Tombstone has been making sure Richard is in a living hell right now. Bastard will learn a lesson or two at my Enforcer’s hands, but he’ll die by mine. “I need to make sure Ivy’s gonna be alright first. See if she needs anything.”
“Of course you do, Prez, just don’t let those women pull you into the room. They might maul you,” Scythe snickers.
“Fuck you,” I grunt, but not denying what he says because a part of me believes it to be true.
“Shit, Ivy’s friends are hot. If I was looking for a woman, I’d definitely look at tapping one of those bitches.” Angel would try that regardless I already know it. I won’t even be saying anything about it either. Those women are all old enough to know when it comes to men like us, we fuck, and that’s it, unless we find the one woman who we want at our side.
Checking on Ivy, I groan at the sight of her friends scattered across our bed and the floor. She’s surrounded by good people. I can see it. Once Ivy assures me she’ll be okay for a while, I leave her to it, making a note to find out more about what they meant about fantasy men. The only man my woman needs to be fantasizing about is me.
I stalk down the hall into the main room of the clubhouse, finding my brothers that weren’t at the hunting cabin already waiting to follow me. It might be a weekday, but no one’s going to work until this shit with my woman’s Uncle is resolved. Each and every one of my brothers sees Ivy as family and aren’t going to put up with her being hurt in any way.
Nodding to them, I keep walking toward the door. The hunting cabin is in the woods, nearly fifty acres in the dense woods, and the only way to get to it is by walking, four-wheeler, or dirt bike. We have enough for everyone to take one to get there. I climb on mine and switch it on. Hitting the gears, I head in that direction.
After a ten-minute ride zipping through the trees, I pull up in front of the hunting cabin. The deafening sounds of four-wheelers and dirt bikes silence the forest leaving an eerie quiet taking its place.
Swinging a leg over, I climb off the dirt bike and head for the door to the hunting cabin. Richard’s screams meet my ears, and I laugh vehemently at the sight of him hanging from the meat hooks in the middle of the cabin.
I step further into the cabin and nod to the two prospects.
“You’ll regret this. I have friends in high places. They’ll be looking for me. Let me go, and you might live,” Richard yells, thrashing around trying to get free from his chains holding him in place.
Laughing, I close the distance between the two of us and slam my fist in his face. “You do not get to make demands. Do you know who I am?”
“The bastard who turned my slut of a niece into a whore,” Richard sneers, earning another slam of my fist. This time to the gut.
“Why did you do it? Why did you want the money so badly?” I demand as I move to the table where we keep our skinning tools for animals and, of course, for instances like this one. I pick up a blade I’ve used many times before and turn to Richard.
“I won’t tell you,” he sneers.
“I was hoping you would say that,” I chuckle. “Don’t worry, I’ll get it out of you.”
Taking my time, I slice through Richard’s skin little by little, making the pain last. I skin the entirety of Richard’s back and start on his front when he finally starts to sing. “She was supposed to be sold to the Triple Spirits MC if she didn’t give me the money that’s rightfully mine.”
“Why do you claim it’s yours?” I inquire.
“Because I am the oldest. Everything should have been mine. But they left it to my brother, and he had no right to give it to his bitch of a daughter.”
“So why didn’t they give it to you? Out of curiosity, from what I’ve heard from Ivy, you did something, but she doesn’t even know what.”
Richard cackles and grins through the pain. “That’s because the little bitch was too little to remember. Her mother wasn’t just married to my brother. She was fuckin’ me, and I wanted her to leave. Be with me. She did, in fact, leave after Ivy’s dad caught her on her knees with me behind her while Ivy was in the other room sleeping off the cold medicine her mom gave her.”
“What the fuck?” Tombstone snarls.
“Her mom never wanted kids, but thought it would be useful when she landed my brother. Being from a wealthy family, she thought she could get her hands on the money. Too bad for her, my grandparents and parents made sure the only ones who can touch it are the ones listed on the accounts.”
“Which group of your friends did you intend to give the money to when you got it?” Angel asks.
“The Triple Spirits MC, I made a deal with them. It was either get the money from Ivy or bring her to them. Only when they found out she was fuckin’ the Satan’s Keepers MC they said to kill her and take the money. Claimed she lost her value.”
“And did one of my club whores help you?” I press the blade against his side sinking only the tip in, making Richard cry out.
“Yes. She was more than willing to get Ivy out of the way,” he cries out in pain as he confirms what we already know about Claws.
“Where did she go?” Hellhound growls.
“Where else? The Triple Spirits MC, of course,” Richard says through clenched teeth.
Satisfied with the answers and not wanting to hear anything else, but his screams and pleas for death, I go back to skinning him. Once I have his chest matching his back, I use the tip of the blade to reach into his eye sockets. I pull his eyes out of them and leave them dangling. I then finish him by slicing the blade through his throat and step back to admire my handy work.
Tombstone steps up next to me as I hold out the knife for him to take. “I’ll handle the rest from here,” he mutters.
I nod, knowing why. He’s going to use the chemical acid he’d concocted to eat away at flesh and bone. But first, he’ll put Richard in a hole outside while the prospects clean up in here.
“Have fun,” I grunt, a sense of relief flowing through me. Stepping out of the hunting cabin, I look to my brothers who had stepped out before me. This right here is why I love being around them. They are always there to support me no matter what. Even when I don’t think I need it. “This is just the beginning?” I mutter, knowing without a doubt I’m right. I don’t know what will come next with this bullshit, but I do know it’s not over with yet.
Chapter Nineteen
Ivy
Waking up to warmth surrounding me, I snuggle deeper into Reaper. With my ribs bruised and my body still healing, I’d slept most of the night on my back. I don’t know what time Reaper finally came back from handling whatever it is he needed to take care of.
I love the way he holds me close, even with me lying on my back. Reaper curls around me, our legs tangled together, one arm laying gingerly over my stomach and the other under my pillow curling around my shoulders. Even with us laying like this, Reaper’s head is still a head above mine, and my face cocked to the side is in his chest.
If I weren’t hurt, I know our sleeping arrangements would be slightly different. I would more or less be sleeping on top of him with my head resting on his chest. Most likely, his cock would be inside me. Reaper usually slides inside me sometime in the night
if his cock isn’t already seated within my channel.
“Morning, Precious,” Reaper grumbles, his deep voice pulling me from my thoughts before I can go any further. I miss having him inside me. I already know he won’t fuck me again until the doctor tells him it’s safe.
Tilting my head, I smile at Reaper and kiss his jawline. “Morning.”
“You have a good time with your friends yesterday?” he asks, tilting his own head to meet my gaze.
“Yes, I did. What time did you come back in?” I ask, wondering how he can be so alert this morning.
“Late,” he grunts and pulls back slightly in order to brace himself up on an elbow. “You wanna tell me what was up with the song you had playing on repeat last night?”
Um.
I forgot about that.
I’d fell asleep with the song Sutton sent me on repeat. Meaning he would have heard the song when he came into the room.
A blush creeps up my cheeks, and I’m slightly embarrassed. I haven’t told Reaper about my fears yet, and I don’t know how he will react to them.
“It was just a good song.” I try to brush it off.
“Yeah, it is a good song, but why did you play it on repeat until I turned it off?”
Sighing, I reach up and trail a finger on his chest, brushing it through his chest hair. Reaper isn’t one of those men who shave their chest, but he doesn’t have to. The hair on his chest isn’t bushy or anything like that. I like to touch and play with his chest hair when I have time.
“Sutton sent the song to me to listen to because I was scared.”
“What has you scared, baby?”
Closing my eyes, I do my best to keep the tears at bay. “I’m scared I won’t be a good mom. That you’ll change your mind about being with me. That I might turn out like my mom and run away from being a parent . . .”
“Stop right there, Ivy,” Reaper says firmly, interrupting me. “Open your eyes,” he commands. I do as he tells me and lock eyes with him, trying not to let the tears threatening to spill to fall. “You’re nothing like your mother. You wanna know why?”
“Why?” I croak out, barely able to talk.
“Because, Precious, that bitch didn’t raise you. Your dad did. He raised you to be a strong independent woman. You are going to be a great mom, and you would never run out on your family like she did. I see it in your eyes. The loss of the sense of family. You want that back, and I intend to give it to you. As for me changing my mind, Ivy, that ain’t gonna happen. If I didn’t want you right here where you are, I wouldn’t have put you here. I wouldn’t still feel the dread of nearly losing you.”
Tears start to fall and Reaper lifts a hand to brush them away.
“Don’t cry,” he mutters.
“I can’t help it,” I whisper, my breath hitching as I try to catch it. Reaper’s right. I do feel that loss and want it back. I want that feeling with him. With the child he and I had created. We still barely know each other, but I know I want to be with him. This is good since the man already holds my heart in his hands, and I don’t want to ever lose him.
“I’m here and promise you now, you won’t lose me. Not without a fight. I’ll die before I allow anyone to hurt you again. I won’t allow anyone to take you or our child away. I want you, Ivy. I want you as my woman, my ol’ lady. And I intend to put a ring on your finger and make it legal.”
“Is that your way of proposing?” I ask breathlessly.
“No, baby, I’m not asking. I’m telling you. Told you that day in the office you were mine, and I won’t be letting anything come between us.” He grins and leans down to press his mouth to mine, laying a kiss to them that feels heavenly. “You’re my world, Ivy,” he says, with each word his lips brush against mine.
“You’re mine as well, Daniel.” I use his name rather than calling him Reaper at this moment. It’s just him and me in here, and that means he’s not the big bad President of the Satan’s Keepers MC with me. He’s only the man who holds my heart.
Even out of this room, he’s just this man to me. The only difference is he’s Reaper. A man who is feared by others, but allows me close to his heart and keeps me close. Keeping Reaper as mine is something I never thought would be possible, but he is, and in return, he’s keeping me as his. I couldn’t be happier.
Pressing my lips firmly to his, I deepen the kiss further. We might not be able to do anything else right now, but I can show him with this action just how much he means to me.
Chapter Twenty
Reaper
“Prez, it’s ready,” Ghost says, coming over to where I’m working on one of the cars in the bay. A few of my brothers will be leaving tomorrow morning bright and early to deliver the shipment. The car I’m working on is an actual client who comes in for work anytime something messes up. Her husband used to work here for us before he died of a massive heart attack several years back. She was also a friend of my mom’s, so the club looks out for her and does what we can.
I glance up from where I tighten down the last of the spark plugs and meet my brother’s gaze. “You sure?”
“Yeah, I’m sure. It’s just like we all agreed.” Ghost nods.
“Good.” Straightening, I grab the rag from my back pocket and wipe my hands. “It’s at the clubhouse?” I ask, wanting to make sure Ivy won’t see it before we get home.
Over the past week, we’ve been getting back to normal as much as we can. Ivy’s been feeling better every day as she heals. I took her to her doctor’s appointment, and she was cleared for going back to work as long as she took it easy and doesn’t do anything strenuous on her body. This news made Ivy happy and she’d started back to work yesterday. Both days I’ve been here at the garage with her. I’m not ready just yet to let her out of my sight. I know I will eventually, and she’s promised me she wouldn’t go anywhere without one of my brothers with her if I’m not there.
Soon I’ll calm down and let her go without me again, but the wreck is still far too fresh in my head, and I gotta keep her close for my own peace of mind.
With everything going on, Ivy agreed with me when I explained to her that, until I know that the people to whom her uncle owed money wouldn’t be coming after her, that we needed to stay at the clubhouse. Ivy doesn’t want anything to happen to her or the baby.
“Y’all go ahead and head to the clubhouse. I’ll get her and lock up. This is y’alls surprise for her, and it should be y’all giving it to her,” I grunt, not really wanting her to have it, but I know my woman. She’d go get her own if they didn’t do it for her.
My brothers decided to find a jeep wrangler similar to the one she had. This one, though, they’d painted a turquoise color and added a roll cage to it as an extra precaution. They also added the modifications that were on the old one to the new one, trying to make it just the way she would like it.
I also had my own surprise for her. She’s carrying my kid, and though she can drive her new Wrangler, I want her safe in a bigger vehicle. I bought her a Jeep Grand Cherokee and had it painted the same color to match the Wrangler.
Nodding, Ghost grins and signals for everyone to go head out while I walk toward Ivy’s office. She still has her hand in a cast and isn’t able to type like she normally does, but Ivy is determined.
Ivy lifts her head when she sees me coming in and smiles.
“You ready to go, Precious?” I ask, leaning against the door frame. The doctor had told me when I asked if Ivy’s clear for sex that she is, but we haven’t done anything yet. I’m waiting for her to make a move. If she doesn’t make it soon, I think I’m gonna have to do it.
“Yeah, I’m ready. I got the orders put in for what the guys needed.” Ivy stands up from behind her desk, and my mind goes to the day I’d fucked her right here on her desk.
“Good, you hungry, or can you wait? The club’s having a party tonight, and everyone’s already headed out. Angel, Hellhound, and Thanatos are having a grilling contest to see who cooks the better steaks and chicken or whate
ver the fuck they’re cooking.”
Ivy giggles, having heard the argument between the three of them.
“I can wait. I had a snack just a bit ago, so I’m okay.” Morning sickness has seemed to hit Ivy in the last two or three days. She’s been getting queasy, though she hasn’t outright puked. I know she’s dealing with nausea. I can see it in her face, but she manages it without complaint.
Taking Ivy’s hand, I guide her out of the garage, making sure to lock up behind us. I head for my truck and help her in. With Ivy being pregnant, I won’t put her on the back of my bike. Closing the door behind her, I walk around the front of the truck and get in on the driver’s side.
I drive the two of us the short distance to the clubhouse in comfortable silence. Ivy reaches over and places her hand on my thigh, keeping it there the entire ride home. As I pull into the parking area, Ivy notices her friends are already here.
“I didn’t know they were coming over today,” she mumbles.
“Yeah, my brothers wanted your friends to come to the party, so you had other people to talk to besides their ugly mugs,” I chuckle and park. Cutting the engine off, I hop out and get to her side before she can climb out. I help Ivy out and wrap my arm around her holding her to me as we make our way towards the madness. Beers are already being sucked down, and the air is filled with the smells of the grills starting.
All of my brothers, though, turn to Ivy and grin when we get close.
“What’s going on?” she asks nervously.
“Well, you see, we have a couple of surprises for you,” Angel announces, nodding to Ghost, who sticks two fingers in his mouth and whistles. A moment later, both Jeeps come from around the back of the clubhouse.
“We wanted you to have a new Wrangler to replace the one that was fucked up,” Tombstone shares.
“The other one is from me. I want you riding in something safe with our kid.” I shrug, not wanting her to think it’s a big deal as Hellhound hands me the box he went to pick up for me earlier today.
