Liberty (Requiem MC Romance Series, Book 4)

Chapter One Nothing But Mayhem

Liberty

The Connor House was fuller than ever. With all the families and couples, it was like an episode of some old comedy series, the Partridge Family on steroids. Well, we didn’t have the kids, just one baby and an 8 year old.

What made it crowded for me was seeing Belle everywhere I went. Yes, she was Scarlet’s sister and I liked to hang out with Justice, but did Belle have to be there all the time? I didn’t know what it was but this girl rubbed me the wrong way and apparently, she felt the same about me.

Belle was the type of girl I’d avoided in high school, college and afterwards. The cheerleader type. Stuck up, know-it-all, and opinionated. Maybe I was being unfair, but I just couldn’t seem to get past the fact she had idolized Deacon at one point. Yes, she had been fooled and maybe that wasn’t her fault, but her uppity attitude was.

Things had slowed down after rescuing Belle. We had to be creative when it came to passing time, because we didn’t have cable TV. We couldn’t exactly sign up for it since we weren’t even supposed to be here in the Connor House at all. I secretly got a kick out of that. O, Deacon’s mother had purchased it, then he used it as a hideout when he took Glory and now, we were all living in it, since the ranch wasn’t safe anymore.

So, instead of hanging out with Justice, Scarlet and Belle, I volunteered for kitchen duty tonight. Ma’s dinners were always the highlight of the day here for everyone. I knew how to chop and I could do some other culinary stuff, but I was interested in Ma’s recipes. When we all finally went home, I wanted to try my hand at it for the Requiem meals at the clubhouse. Yeah, I spent a lot of time fighting in pro MMA fights and even boxing, but cooking was something I secretly loved to do.

I figured some of the guys would be here on their turn. When I came in, I saw Fate, my twin.

Beaming at me while wearing an apron, he chuckled.

“What’s with the grin?” I asked.

Shrugging, he turned to point over at the far side of the large kitchen.

Belle was there moving around with Ma as they pulled out pans from the lower cabinets.

I shook my head. Damn, and here I thought I could avoid her with kitchen duty, but she just had to be here too. Fate had already figured out that her and I did not get along. Well, Fate could shove his excitement where the sun didn’t shine as I refused to give him a show.

I went into the large pantry to get an apron and I immediately realized that they were all too damn small. Sure, I was bigger than a lot of the guys here, but there had to be a larger one available. I rifled through the shelf of aprons and realized they were all small sized. I let out a sigh and put the damn thing on, tying it at the front. Not that it helped as the ties weren’t even long enough to make a bow with.

Turning, I went back out to the kitchen.

Looking over, I saw that Belle wore an overly large apron. Why? The smaller ones would have fit her better, and she had left me with the tiny aprons. No, I wouldn’t ask her to trade because talking to her at all was just a bad idea.

Fate motioned me over to where he stood at another counter. “It is time to chop some onions, dude. Nice apron by the way. You look like a scruffy bearded French maid.” He snickered.

I shook my head and ignored his teasing as I took up a knife and started in. Him and I weren’t identical twins on the outside or on the in. He was more like Justice. An architect with hobbies like chess, racketball, and sailing. While I liked outdoorsy shit, like fishing, motocross on dirt bikes, and hiking.

As we chopped away, Ma came over and nodded at us. “You boys are handy in the kitchen, eh?”

Fate motioned to me. “He is. Me, not so much.”

Ma looked over at me. “Oh, yeah? The fighter likes to cook?”

I nodded. “I’m not nearly as good as you, but I can make a few dishes.”

“He does a lot of the cooking, back home,” Fate added.

Ma looked me up and down. “That apron is mighty tiny on ya.” She chuckled.

I shrugged and glanced down to see the apron had rolled up a bit and was now just at my belly. “Someone took the last large one you had.”

“Oh?” Ma replied. “Well, we got big guys here and most of them are probably in the laundry.” Then she glanced over at Belle and raised a brow.

I ignored her looking and finished chopping as onion-bite tears rolled from my eyes.

“Darnit,” Ma said as she noticed them on my face. “I shoulda thought to have you rinse them in cold water first. It helps.”

“Well, I’m done now,” I said as I swiped the tears away with my arm.

Redemption came in just then and he was already wearing an apron. “What’s the matter there, Liberty? Did the Cowboys lose again?”

I scoffed. “Hell no, and I’ll have you know that they won last night. It’s the onions, man.”

He laughed and looked over at Belle. “Oh, I see why you”re crying. She won’t give you the time of day still, huh?”

I blinked at him and wiped another tear away. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Fate chuckled as he shook his head at me in disgust. “Man, you are something else. We all know you got the hots for the girl.”

My jaw dropped as I stared at him then at Redemption. “The hell you say? Me and her are like oil and fucking water.”

“Or like oil and a match,” Redemption teased. “Justice told me about all your flirting with her.”

“Flirting?” I exclaimed.

Fate laughed louder now as he said, “Oh wow, someone is living on the river denial.”

“Man, I hate when you make up those stupid puns, Fate.” I shook my head at him.

He shrugged. “It’s a hobby.”

Redemption smirked. “I think it bugs you that she is not attracted to you. Like all the women you have gone after.”

I was stunned to hear this summation. “I am not after her. In fact, I wish to avoid her if I can. She affects me like nails on a chalkboard.”

“Oh, man… he’s got it bad, Red,” Fate quipped.

Redemption nodded. “Yep, I can see that.”

I scoffed. “You two are like gossiping women. Don’t share opinions on shit you know nothing about.”

“Gossip… Right,” Redemption said as he nodded. “Whatever you say, Liberty.” He grabbed a stack of plates up and left the kitchen.

I kept grumbling under my breath as I scooped all my onions up and dumped them into the large bowl. They needed to mind their own damn business.

Ma had witnessed the entire exchange as she said, “You boys sure remind me of my own sons.” She grinned at us. “All teasing and competing. Ok, big boy in a little apron, go on over to the sink and wash up. I got some more prepping for ya to do.”

“Big boy in a little apron,” Fate sing-songed, mimicking the song Chris Farley sang in a movie. Fat man in a little coat…

I rolled my eyes at him. “Brother, you’d better stick to architecture cuz you sure as hell can’t sing.” I then glanced over at the sink to see Belle was there washing a large bowl.

Ma chuckled as she urged me, “Go on, she ain’t gonna bite ya.”

I had the opinion she would, but I went over anyway.

Belle set the bowl into the drainer and turned around. Pausing, she stared at my tiny apron that was now hiked up above my belly and she burst into laughter.

“What’s so funny?” I asked.

She shook her head and stepped aside as she kept chuckling. “Nothing. You just don’t get to see GI Joe dressed like a baby Betty Crocker everyday, ya know?”

Fate could be heard laughing it up on the other side of the island.

I huffed at her clever joke about the undersized apron. Yes, I was gonna say it, “If you would have chosen an apron that fit you, I wouldn’t be wearing this doll apron.”

Staring at me, she laughed again. “Wow, really? Your’e crying over an apron?”

I slowly shook my head and swiped at a leftover tear. “Damnit, do I have to explain this to everyone? It’s the onions that made me cry.” I turned the faucet on and washed my hands.

“Well Mr. Boo-Hoo, where’s all the jokes and witty comebacks?” she asked.

Grabbing a hand towel, I wiped my hands as I turned around to face her. “Why do you ask? Do you miss them?” I untied the ridiculous apron and tossed it onto the counter.

“No, that was annoying all on its own, but I don’t like this grumpy version of you either.”

I zeroed my gaze onto hers. “So, what do you like about me?” I knew the answer already but I wanted to see what insult she might throw at me.

“I liked the tiny apron.” She laughed again. “But since you took it off? Nothing, I guess.”

I had to smile at that one. Clever. “How come I never saw this sense of humor outta you before?”

She paused and looked up at me. “I’ve been around you for three whole days. The first day was when we ran for our lives and stuff was exploding on us right and left. The next day was filled with too many people in one room, all talking at the same time. You don’t know me, Liberty. So don’t judge me.” Shrugging, she added, “Not that I care what you think anyway.” Turning, she picked up a stack of baking pans and took them over to the counter where Fate had just finished clearing the onions.

I shook my head. Well, I asked, didn”t I? She knew where to make a cut and then stomp on it to make it bleed. I took a deep breath and let it out.

Ma came over and handed me some plastic gloves. “Help Belle grease all those pans, would ya?”

Great, stand next to her again and…I realized I was acting like an ass all because…Well, I wasn’t sure why. So, she was mouthy? I could do that too. I took the gloves and pulled them on as I went over to the counter. Reaching for the shortening in the can, I dipped my gloved fingers in and grabbed a pan with my other hand. I moved swiftly as I greased ten of them in under two minutes.

Belle came over with her gloves on and stared down at the pans.

“All done,” I told her.

“Wow, how come you know your way around a kitchen so well?” she asked. “I thought you were a jock?”

“A jock?” I repeated. “Well, lookee who’s judging now?”

She shook her head. “Yeah, I admit jock might be a little callous. That was rude.” She turned and grabbed a second stack of pans, then she got busy greasing them.

Ma came over and brought a huge bowl with her. “Liberty, can ya line these up on the pans?”

I looked down into the bowl to see wax papered layers of biscuits. “Yeah, like an inch apart, right?”

Ma stared at me. “Yes, by golly, you do know about cooking, don’t ya?”

I nodded and took the bowl then proceeded to lay the cutout dough rounds onto the baking sheets. I tried to focus on the food, the pans going out and whatever other chores I could help with. I refused to give Fate or Redemption any more satisfaction. Flirting, my ass. Hots for her? I scoffed silently. The woman was not my type. Yes, I did tease her that first day but then I just wanted to avoid her after the whole rescue was over. I continued to help here and there as I moved around with ease. Funny how I always felt as comfortable in a kitchen as I did in a gym.

Finally, dinner was on the long dining table and I washed up at the sink. Heading out to the dining room, I paused. This whole two families of Walkers was something to marvel at. It made for a huge gathering and lots of lively conversation. Our family was large before but this many Walkers in one room was a bit too much to take.

Looking around, I saw Justice waving at me.

Heading over, I slowed my walk when I saw Justice pointing down at an empty chair next to him, and right next to Belle. In fact, when I raised my head, I saw all my brothers were watching me closely. The fuckers were all in it together. Too bad there wasn’t a new battle on the horizon, because when they got bored, they all got creative. This time, I was the target for their entertainment.

Keeping my expression neutral, I walked over and sat down in the chair next to her. We would see who won this one. I had stepped into rings with men who were often more than 300 pounds of muscle and full of nothing but mayhem. I could handle this slip of a girl even if she was mouthy, bullheaded, and too smart for her own damned good.