Chapter 5
CHAPTER 5
FRANCI
I ’m so pissed at my gynecologist. I was supposed to have an appointment a couple of weeks ago to get my shot. The receptionist insists I cancelled my appointment, and they won’t reschedule me another one. Something about the fact they were told I didn’t want to see them anymore and threatened to report them to the Better Business Bureau. I don’t even know what that means. I slam another new mobile phone down on my desk in anger. I can’t do this. What am I going to do?
I’m not having sex, but I still want to keep current on my shot, just in case.
I walk over to my nightstand and look down at the bottle of sleeping pills. I could call the campus clinic. That’s how I got this prescription. A nurse practitioner comes in monthly to look over cases and see patients. I pick up my phone and dial the number.
“Eastport Campus Nurse,” a woman answers the phone.
“Hello, do you give birth control shots?”
“Have you had them before and see a doctor? Or do you need to come in and see the NP?”
“I’ve had them before. I can have my records forwarded to you.” At least I hope they’ll send my records.
“Okay. The next availability I have is in October.”
“But I’ll be over a month and a half overdue at that point.” I huff in exasperation.
“I’m sorry, ma’am. We don’t have anything until then.”
“Fine.”
I give her my name and set up an appointment, putting it not only in my phone but on my paper planner too. She tells me I’ll have to have a pregnancy test before they’ll give me the shot, and I laugh. You have to have sex to get pregnant, I almost say. I can’t believe I missed my other appointment. I don’t care what they say, I didn’t cancel it. I take the shot for control of my period. I have less migraines when I’m on the shot too. We found out when I first started cycling that I get hormonal migraines. I need the shot.
I hang up as a knock sounds on my door. I look through the peephole before opening it.
“ Babushka !” I throw open the door, excited to see her, and jump into her arms as I squeal.
She hugs me back. I had classes today, or I would’ve gotten to see her sooner. She’s been here since the day after I spent with Gray and Erika. I also kept making excuses not to visit with her, but I can’t hide from her for long.
“What was my velikiy rebenok doing that was so important she couldn’t come spend time with her babushka ?” Her words hit close, and I want to cry, but I don’t. She called me her grandbaby.
Ley taught me Russian when I first moved to the United States with her. It was a way for us to get to know each other more. I taught her my Gheg Albanian. It helped us share parts of each other and started a connection between us. I know my mother begged her with her dying breath to take care of me, but Ley didn’t have to. She did, and for that, I’ll always be grateful.
“I had an important class so that I can do a fellowship next semester,” I explain as I turn to grab my bag. I’ll be staying at Erika and Gray’s place, where I’ll get to spend more time with Babushka . Ley is working most of the week, and I’m avoiding her.
Ever since she dropped me off at our place after Gavin showed up, she’s been asking me what was going on between us. I told her the truth. Nothing. I didn’t tell her what happened before. I don’t tell her that I feel like he’s always around, because I kind of like it. I like that he’s close by. I don’t know how he’ll do that when I’m at Erika and Gray’s. Not only does Gray utilize Ley’s security services, but they also have a family bodyguard from Andrei.
Ley won’t say it, but I’ve heard and learned enough on my own to know that our family is part of the Las Vegas Bratva, the Russian mob. I know Andrei runs a private card room. I’ve read articles online about him in my search to know more about my new family. Many sources stated he’s a ruthless leader of the Bratva, but he’s moving them into a modern age that his father couldn’t do.
As we step out of the dorm building, I look around for Gavin. I don’t see him, but I feel him. Every morning, I wake up and feel like he’s right there with me. I smell him on my pillows and sometimes on me. This morning, I woke up, and sitting on my desk was a note with a heart on it. I don’t remember drawing it, so it had to be him.
When we climb into the back of the blacked-out SUV, I try to watch behind us to see if he follows, but I don’t see his bike.
“What are you looking for, malen'kiy ?” Babushka ’s voice has a touch of concern to it as she looks back too. This time she called me little one, which is her nickname for me.
“Nothing.”
“What is this outfit? It’s different than what you usually wear.” She points to my black skater skirt, black top, and leather biker jacket. I saw the coat and had to have it. It reminds me of a smaller version of Gavin’s.
“I decided I need to dress to impress.”
“Impress who?” she asks as she tips her head to the side and raises a brow.
I wonder if Ley put her up to questioning me to find out if Gavin and I are involved, or if I have any other boyfriends. I love Babushka . She and I have always had a relationship where I tell her everything. But I can’t tell her this.
“No one in particular. I’ll be applying for my master’s soon, and I want the professors to know I’m serious, not just a fun party girl.”
After years of wearing uniforms at all the private schools, I like that I get to choose what I want to wear. I know my preferred style isn’t very professional, but it’s me.
“I like it.” She smiles, and I take in her outfit. She’s always impeccably dressed in beautiful, tailored outfits and pantsuits.
“Me too. You should see the sweater dress I got for when it gets a bit cooler. I just need some cute boots to wear with it.”
“Then that’s what we’ll go look for today. We need to pick up Erika from the shop and get her away from Gray for a bit.” She chuckles at the last part.
I laugh with her because she’s right. Uncle Gray won’t leave Aunt Rika’s side. They insisted I call them Aunt and Uncle. Erika said she likes it because now she has an older real-life Barbie to play with. She loves to spoil Jasmine’s little sister Raqi. Jasmine is the receptionist at the parlor, but she’s been out on an extended maternity leave. She’s married to Ley’s friend Ryan. We knew him in Chicago. He was one of the doctors who helped Ley.
Gambit
I t’s been over a week since I held my girl to help with her nightmares. I don’t just sneak into her room anymore; I now have to hold her when the terrors that interrupt her sleep take over. She’s a lightweight when it comes to medication. The sleeping pills make her not wake up, allowing me to slip into bed with her unnoticed. I don’t get under the covers or undress. I just take off my boots. But she’s been with her grandmother at Gray’s place since last Monday, and I’m going crazy.
As I walk through the bar of the clubhouse, Rogue steps through the door. I knew I wouldn’t be able to prevent this. I cancelled that night, and now she’s here. I head toward the door as Grim, one of our enforcers, starts to flirt with her. He’s checking her out and is gearing up when I stop him.
“Nope, she’s not for you Grim.”
I head back to my office, and she follows me. As soon as I close the door and turn to her, she hits me. She punches me in the side of the face. My cheek hurts and my eye is watering from the force of the hit. She hits harder now than she used to.
“Fuck, Rogue.” I grind my teeth, but I don’t hit her back for many reasons.
Yes, she’s a girl, but I used to hit her during our workouts. This shot was a low blow, and we both know it. I wasn’t prepared, and she was angry. But I don’t hit her because I deserve it. I should have gone to her in the beginning and told her I wanted Franci. That’s what a true friend would do, but I was afraid she’d say no.
I watch as she clenches her fists. She knows. I doubt it’s because Franci said anything. No, Rogue knows because I’m not hitting her back or arguing with her.
“Don’t make me kill you, Gambit.” She pushes me.
I grab a hold of her hips and give her a slight push, not enough to make her lose her footing, but enough to give us some space so she can’t attack me.
I try to calm her down by pointing out that her boyfriend could take me down in a heartbeat. She seems confused, so I make matters worse by revealing that I know about her and Leif’s little Friday evening visits to a local BDSM club. She doesn’t take that well either.
“You following me?” Her teeth are clenched, and the words are gritted out.
“I follow and check up on anyone near my woman. Now. Now.” I try to explain myself, but she’s starting to come at me again. I hold up my hands to show her I don’t want to fight and move back toward my desk. “I’m giving her time, but I can’t tell you how long that will be.” I lean back in my chair and watch as she slowly lowers into a chair on the opposite side of my desk.
“Gavin, she’s only eighteen. She’s had a rough life, and she’s in danger.” I don’t correct her on using my name. If I have my way, we will be related soon, so she can call me that.
“I know about most of it. I still have some sway with our guys. You should reach out. Commander said he knows about that Thant fucker.” It’s a dig, but I need to get her off the Franci subject. I don’t lie to my friends, and if she asked, I’d tell her the truth. I want to fuck Franci until she screams my name. Maybe not the best thing to say to her mother figure.
“How did you know?” She shakes her head, confused.
I try to explain to her what Commander told me about trying to stop her going to Thant and that we know what happened in Chicago. She says she thought changing her name would throw us off, but we are better than that. Well, Browser and Commander are, and she knows it too. She still should have reached out.
I confront her about her ties to the Bratva, which now tie Franci to them too. When she threatens to take off and take my girl with her, I decide that’s enough. Every muscle in my body locks up, but I don’t move from my relaxed pose.
“Don’t even think about it. You can’t take her anywhere I won’t find her. She is mine. Just like you are Leif’s. You just haven’t given into it,” I growl and watch as she prepares to try to take me down. I’m deadlier than her because I’m protecting what is mine, while she’s just trying to stop me. I won’t fight her, though. Franci would never forgive me if I hurt Ridley. “I’ll give her until her birthday, as long as Thant doesn’t find her. Be careful with what you’re doing.” I concede.
Franci’s birthday is right after Christmas. I can hold out for three more months. I think.
We discuss what she’s been doing lately to protect them, and I tell her that she needs to be really careful. Not just because what she’s doing could be murder, but because I don’t know if her soul can handle it. I’ve done it. I know. I’ve walked that line.
After the unit got disbanded, I was sent to work with the CIA. I was a contract killer for them. When the commander finally got me out, I had a darkness that I still carry to this day. Maybe that’s why I’m so fucked up with my stalking of Franci or fucking with her birth control. A man like me isn’t a good man, but I need her sunshine to wash over and cleanse me.
I crave it.
When I mention her father is also looking into her, she jumps up, ready to come across the desk at me. I didn’t know it would set her off like this. Now I know she doesn’t want him around, but why?
“You will never mention Vladimir to me again. I walked away from that life, and he hasn’t once tried to contact me.” Ah, there it is. She’s hurt and upset, but I also detect something else.
I stand up slowly, letting her watch me as I get to my feet.
“You threatening me, Rogue? You think you can take me on?” My six-foot-one height is taller than her five-foot-seven frame, but both of us are well trained. I’ve bulked up more than her over the years, and both of us have changed our fighting styles since we last fought each other. But she’s one of my closest friends. She’s the little sister I’ve always wanted.
“Oh, just kiss and make up, why don’t you two?” Striker’s deep, scratchy voice comes from the doorway.
I saw him come in but was keeping my focus on her. I learned to never turn my back on her. She already showed me once tonight she still fights dirty, just like her Bratva family does. She swings around and has a gun out and aimed at our friend, ready to kill him.
“Fuck, Striker, knock from now on, and that ain’t fucking happening. That’s like making out with my sister, so nope.” I laugh as I sit back down.
I watch as the two of them hug and joke for a moment. She jokingly calls me a cradle robber, and I ignore it because it’s true. I’m thirty years old, and Franci is only eighteen. I should let her finish college, but I know she wants a family. I know she’s just going to college to bide her time until she finds someone to make a family with. I’ve read her diary. I know her darkest secrets. That she touches herself while she thinks of me. I know what she craves in the bedroom, and I plan to give her every fantasy she desires.
“You know she’s legal, and there’s no way this fool would go after her just for tail. He wouldn’t do that to you.” Striker defends me.
She stops, turns to look at me, and then back to him. She finally realizes I would have stopped if I could. I’m serious about Franci. I’m going to get her pregnant and marry her, in that order.
I decide we all need a drink and pull out my bottle and some glasses.
“Open up, take a swallow, before the Blackness overtakes you,” we all say the toast Deere came up with before he was killed. It stuck after that, even if it sucks.
The Black Unit was the best before we lost him. It’s as if he was the glue that held us all together. I rub my right pec where my tattoo is. If I ever find the person who killed him, I’ll bury them alive and dig them up to do it all over again.
She stands up after a bit and turns to walk out.
“Rogue, we are here. You call, and we are there for you. You don’t call again, we’ll still be there,” Striker says, and I agree with him. We can’t lose another member of our unit.