“Like what?” I panted. “He was whooping my ass.”
“No, I wasn’t,” Bronze said, sounding far less winded than I was. “You weren’t landing any hits, but neither was I. You’re one hell of a defensive fighter. We just need to strengthen your offensive skills.” He chuckled and added, “And work on building up your stamina.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, too. “My stamina’s fine when I’m not up against a fucking freight train.”
“Let’s go again. I’ll ease up on you.”
Once I had my gear back in place, Batta rang the bell to start round two. We went a total of four rounds before we called it quits.
“We need to make this a regular thing. You’ve got some serious potential,” Bronze said as we walked to the downstairs locker room.
“I don’t know about all that, but it’s a great workout, so count me in.”
After I showered, I realized that my change of clothes was upstairs in the office. Shrugging, I quickly ran a towel over my hair and wrapped it around my waist. The door leading to the basement was just down the hall from the office, so I could get to it without running into anyone, or so I thought.
When I emerged from the stairs and turned to the office, my eyes landed on the one woman I never wanted to see again. The corners of her lips curved up into a sly smile when her eyes landed on my bare torso. “Kellan,” she purred and swung her hips out while she sashayed toward me.
“Stop right there, Kelly,” I barked. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
She froze and her mouth dropped open. Dramatically bringing a hand up to the cold heart residing behind her fake tits, she did a piss poor job of pretending to be surprised by my reaction. “Are you upset with me about something?”
I half-laughed/half-scoffed. “Are you serious right now?” When her only response was to blink her clumpy, black eyelashes at me, I threw my head back and laughed for about five seconds before I schooled my expression and glared at her. “Yes, cunt, I’m serious. I’m only going to tell you one time. Get. The. Fuck. Out. Of. Here!”
She took a step back. “You’re scaring me.”
“The devil himself couldn’t scare you, bitch. Now, go!”
Bronze appeared in the hallway behind the she-bitch. “What’s going on?” He came to a stop between us and gave Kelly a once over. “Why are you yelling at this pretty little thing?”
Kelly beamed proudly while I scowled. “Because she’s been told many times before that I have no desire to breathe the same air as her soul-sucking ass. And yet, here she is again. I don’t know how you found out where I was—and I honestly don’t give a shit—but you will leave, and you will not come back. Are we clear?”
She arched an eyebrow while one side of her mouth tipped up in a devious grin. “Okay, Kellan, have it your way.”
Bronze’s posture changed at her words. “Who is she, brother?”
I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. “She’s the cunt that keeps on cunting.”
“Gonna need a little more than that, man.”
“She’s my ex-wife.”
21
Savior
I pushed through the office door and grabbed my clean clothes from my duffle bag in the corner. I knew Bronze followed me, but I didn’t give the first fuck if he saw my bare ass.
“She’s your what?”
“You heard me. She’s my ex-wife.”
“How do you have an ex-wife? I thought you and Coal were the same age.”
I laughed. “My baby face fools everyone. I’m twenty-six.”
“Shit, you don’t look it. So, how long were you married?” he asked while making himself comfortable in the office chair.
Before I could answer him, the door flew open and Coal stuck his head inside. “Need some help up front!”
“Fucking hell,” I grumbled to myself. I just knew whatever was going on involved Kelly.
“Here,” Bronze said and shoved something into my hands. “You don’t say a word and make sure you record everything that happens.”
When we arrived at the front desk, Kelly was on the floor with her hands wrapped around her ankle and great, big crocodile tears streaming from her eyes. “I think it’s broken!” she wailed.
“What happened?” Bronze asked Adam.
Steve walked up with an ice pack and a bottle of water. “Here you go, ma’am.”
I watched as Kelly tossed the ice pack aside before she opened the bottle of water and poured it onto the floor. Then, she pulled her phone from her purse and started taking pictures. “I’m going to sue you!”
Batta rounded the corner and took in the scene. Bronze knelt down beside Kelly and said loud enough for all to hear, “Ma’am, if you’ll kindly turn your head and look right over there.” She followed the finger pointing to me. “Now, smile for the camera before you get your lying, scamming ass off the floor and walk the fuck out of here. Unless you’d prefer I call the cops and we make this no trespass order official.”
She slapped her hands against the floor and pushed to her feet. “I just wanted to talk to you!”
“And he clearly doesn’t want to talk to you. Batta?”
Batta chuckled and stepped forward. “You gonna go on your own or am I taking you?”
“You will not touch me!” she screeched.
Batta inhaled deeply causing his chest to puff out. Then, he bent forward and roared, “GOOOOOOO!”
Kelly snatched her shoes from the floor and bolted out the front door while the rest of us erupted into fits of laughter. “Holy shit, Batta! You sounded like a damn lion.”
“You fucking looked like one, too!” Bronze added.
Batta held his hands up in the air. “And I didn’t fucking touch her!”
Steve finished wiping the water off the floor and picked up the ice pack. “Sorry, sir. When she asked for ice and water, I had no idea she was going to do that.”
“It’s all good. We were already aware of her crazy bitch status. Speaking of, if she shows up here again, call the police and have whichever one of us is here come out to deal with her,” Bronze told Adam and Steve.
“Who was she, anyway?” Coal asked.
“Let’s talk about it in the office,” Bronze suggested.
Once we were in the office with the door closed, I leaned against the far wall and faced the others. “Kelly is my ex-wife. We were only married for two years before we filed for a divorce. And as you can see, she takes great pleasure in making other people miserable.”
“You were married?” Coal and Batta asked at the same time.
“Yes. For two years. To the bitch you just met. Before you ask, I’m twenty-six,” I snapped.
“Do you have any idea what she wanted?” Coal asked.
I snorted derisively. “You mean other than fucking with me just because she can? No, I don’t have a clue what she could want.”
Bronze got to his feet. “Well, I guess we’ll have to wait and see if she comes back.” He laughed, “But I think Batta might have scared her off for good. Did you see that bitch’s face?”
“Send me that video. I want to see how I looked,” Batta said excitedly.
Bronze pulled his phone from his pocket and dropped back down into the chair. He wiggled the mouse and made a few clicks. “Let’s watch it on a bigger screen.”
We watched it at least four times. “Oh, fuck, man. It gets better each time,” Bronze laughed. “I can’t wait to show this to Copper.”
“Thanks, brothers,” I said seriously.
“Any time, man. She’s not the first crazy bitch we’ve dealt with and I’m sure she won’t be the last,” Batta said and clapped me on the shoulder.
22
Savior
It was still dark outside when I arrived at Avery’s house. Instead of knocking on the front door, I sent her a text message to let her know I was outside. Not even thirty seconds later, Claire opened the front door.
“Good morning, Kellan,” she said quietly. “Avery’s
still getting ready. Would you like some coffee?”
“Yes, please,” I said almost desperately.
She laughed. “Come on in the kitchen. She should be ready in just a few minutes.”
She brought two cups of coffee over to the kitchen table. “Listen, Kellan, I’m going to tell you something about my Avery,” she said and lowered her voice. “She’s a strong woman, and most of the time, that’s a good thing, but it’s not such a good thing today. She’s scared and she’s got it hidden so well you’d think she was getting ready to go to the grocery store, not headed to the hospital to have surgery. Please try to reassure her, even if you don’t think she needs it.”
I reached over and clasped her hand. “I can do that.”
“Thank you. I hate that I can’t be there when they take her back,” she confessed.
“Would you rather I take the kids to school and you go with her to the hospital?” I offered.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’d rather do, but Avery prefers the plan we have now. I’ll be there as soon as I drop the kids off.”
Avery walked into the kitchen with a smile on her face. “Good morning. Are we ready to go?”
“I’m ready when you are,” I said and glanced at Claire.
“See,” she mouthed.
I nodded and took my mug to the sink. Avery hugged and kissed her mother before turning to me. “Ready,” she said with a wide smile.
“After you,” I said and gestured for her to lead the way.
I opened the passenger door for her and helped her up into my truck before going around to the driver’s side. Reaching over, I pulled her into my arms. “Cut the shit, Avery. No one is as happy as you are to be having surgery. It’s okay to be nervous. Quite frankly, it’s not okay to not be nervous.”
She inhaled deeply and fisted my shirt. “I’m scared,” she admitted. “I’ve never had surgery before, and if something happens to me, my babies will be all alone,” she confessed.
“They won’t be all alone. They’ll have your parents, and you know I’ll always watch over them, but that’s not going to be an issue because you’re going to be okay.”
“What if something happens to the baby?”
“The doctor assured us the baby would be just fine. Actually, I believe they said there was more risk to the baby if you didn’t have the surgery,” I reminded her and kissed the top of her head. “You ready to go?”
“No, I wasn’t earlier, and I’m definitely not now,” she said.
“Well, I hate to break it to you, but if we don’t leave now, we’re going to be late.”
“Fine,” she huffed. “Let’s get this over with.”
When Claire arrived at the hospital, Avery was out of surgery and being moved to recovery. “You just missed the doctor. He said the surgery went according to plan and Avery and the baby are doing fine.”
“Oh, thank goodness. Did they say when we can see her?”
“He said someone would come out and get us once they have her situated in recovery.”
Thirty minutes later, a nurse took us back to the recovery area. Avery was propped up with her eyes half-open and a pink cup on its way to falling out of her hand. “Let me help you with that, sweetness,” I said and reached for the cup.
“Hey, my sexy, badass biker man,” she slurred.
“Oh, I see they’ve given you the good stuff.”
“No, siree. Only you give me the good stuff. You fu—”
“Your mother is here,” I interrupted.
“Well, she knows we’ve fucked seeing as how your kid is in me,” she blurted.
Claire slapped her hand over her mouth to try and stifle her laughter while I looked away completely mortified. “Avery, can we not talk about that in front of your mother, and, you know, the hospital staff?”
“I’m sure they know how babies are made, Kellan. And, look at you. They know your sexy ass can give it good.” Then, to my absolute horror, in the loudest stage whisper ever, she asked, “Can I tell them you’ve got a big dick, too?”
“Avery!” I snapped. “Stop talking.”
At that point, Claire was laughing hysterically. “Damn it. I should have been recording this.”
“Mom,” Avery started in her loud whisper voice. “Kellan’s—”
“Kellan’s going to spank your ass if you don’t shut your mouth,” Claire giggled.
“Oh, I love it when he does that.”
“Fucking hell,” I grumbled.
“I love a lot of things about him,” Avery said dreamily and my head shot up. “He’s a good man. He’s a fucking good man and a good fucking man,” she said and started giggling again.
“How are we doing over here?” one of the nurses asked.
“Chatty Cathy here seems to be doing great,” I answered.
The nurse laughed. “You must be sharing some good stuff.”
“Please don’t encourage her,” I pleaded.
“Trust me, we’ve heard it all before,” she said and turned to Avery. “Are you ready to go home?”
“Hell, yes. Have you seen what I get to go home with?” she asked and pointed to me. “He washes my hair for me when I’m sick.”
The nurse turned to me and smiled. “Aw, that’s so sweet.”
“Hey, don’t you be getting any ideas, nursey, nurse, nurse. He’s taken.”
“Oh, honey, you don’t have a thing to worry about. I prefer the ladies,” she said.
“Really? How does that work exactly? I mean, I think I would miss the dick, you know?”
“Avery Grace!” Claire scolded. “Eat your ice chips and shut your mouth.”
“What?” Avery asked innocently. “I was just having a little girl talk.”
“You were prying into the private life of the nurse taking care of you. That does not constitute as girl talk. Now, be quiet so we can get out of here before they put in for a psych consult.”
The nurse couldn’t stop laughing, even while she went over Avery’s discharge papers. “Oh, you guys have been so much fun. Avery, you behave yourself on the way home.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” Avery retorted.
Blessedly, Avery fell asleep as soon as I pulled out onto the road.
23
Avery
The first two days after my surgery were a bit of a blur, but by the fourth day, I was feeling much better. I was even able to help Mom get the kids ready for school, which hadn’t happened since the school year started.
Once they were out the door, I made my way back upstairs to take a shower and get dressed for the day. It was the first time I’d felt human in weeks and I planned to cherish every second of it. With my hair dried and flat-ironed and a touch of makeup on my face, I went downstairs geared up for a productive day.
I opened up my laptop and started working on the logo design for Jackson Security. I was almost finished with it when Kellan knocked on the front door. He’d been coming by to check on me at least twice a day since the surgery and he usually stayed for a few hours each time.
I walked to the door with an extra pep in my step and pulled the door open with a wide smile on my face. “Good morning,” I said before realizing the person on my porch wasn’t Kellan. “Can I help you?”
The beautiful woman smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Yes, actually, you can. I would find it extremely helpful if you would stop fucking my husband.”
I gaped at her for several moments before my brain processed what she’d said. “Excuse me?”
“Are you deaf or stupid?” she spat.
“You need to leave,” I said and started to close the door.
“No, you need to keep your dirty snatch away from my husband. Kellan is and always will be mine!”
Complete and utter devastation ripped through me like a hot knife. I clutched my stomach and took a stumbling step back. Kellan was married? I was the other woman? The other woman carrying his baby?
My hand automatically dropped lower to protectively cradle my
unborn child. Her eyes followed the movement and she added, “You can get rid of that thing, too. I won’t have it looming over us for the rest of our lives.”
“Kelly!” Kellan roared. “What in the absolute fuck are you doing here?”
“Introducing myself to your whore,” she sneered.
Kellan said something I couldn’t hear into his phone before shoving it into his pocket. He came to a stop between his wife and me. “I don’t know what you’re trying to do here, but it won’t work.”
“Judging by the look on her face, I’d say it already has.”
“You both need to leave,” I said and was proud of how strong I sounded despite how weak I felt.
Kellan whirled around and took a good look at me. “I promise it’s not what you think. Give me two minutes and I’ll prove it to you,” he said softly.
She laughed cruelly. “Are you still showing those fake divorce papers to your little playthings?”
A quick chirp and a flash of blue lights caught my attention. I looked past Kellan and his wife to see two police officers exiting their vehicle and approaching us.
“Savior, what’s going on?”
“This is my ex-wife, who is not welcome here and refuses to leave. She pulled the same shit at my place of employment a few days ago,” Kellan said.
“Is this your home?” the officer asked.
“It’s mine,” I chimed in.
“And you are?”
“Avery Parker,” I said at the same time Kellan said, “My woman.”
Kelly’s eyes widened and filled with a menacing glee when she heard my name. “Oh, Kellan, this is rich. You’re having a baby with the good officer’s wife?”
“Ms. Parker, have you asked this woman to leave your property?”
“Yes, I have,” I said.
The officer nodded and turned to Kelly. “I need to see some identification.”
“For what?” she snapped.
“I was trying to be nice,” the officer grumbled.
The other officer approached Kelly from behind. “Place your hands behind your back.”
Savior (Blackwings MC - Devil Springs Book 3) Page 11
