Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Katrina
It’s all gonna be okay.
It’s gonna be just fine.
There’s nothing to worry about.
Who am I kidding? This is going to be a disaster.
I’m, meeting my dad and brother for the first time. I mean, what exactly am I supposed to say? Hi, I’m your long-lost daughter and sister. I’m sorry my mom kept me from you. Or better yet, how could you not look for me? Know about me? Did you really know and denied it?
God, all the questions swarm in my head at once.
The moment Dagger told me, they invaded and haven’t stopped.
Like do they want me?
I’ve envisioned meeting my dad so many times.
Ever since I was a little girl, it used to be that I wanted him to swoop in on his white horse and save me from the wicked witch.
Then it turned into anger, and me wanting to scream at him for letting her treat me the way she did.
Now it’s fear mixed with anger and sadness.
I want to know him. I’ve always wanted to know my dad.
Knowing I have a brother too, well, it makes the feeling tenfold.
I missed out on growing up with a sibling—something I always wanted.
Now that I have a brother, I’m not sure we’ll have that bond you get when you grow up with a sibling. That close-knit bond that siblings have. I’d seen it with other kids. The big brother teasing but protective of the younger sibling. We wouldn’t have that.
But I could at least have my brother’s friendship now if anything. Right?
I do want that. No matter how much it scares me.
I can do this. I can. I will.
With Dagger beside me, I know I can. He’ll be at my side and not let anything bad happen. He’ll keep me safe.
Shaking the nerves away, I wash my hands and stop staring at myself in the mirror. I need to get back to Dagger before they show up. I’d only come in here for a moment to get my bearings.
Taking a breath, I open the door and step out into the hallway, only to come face to face with one of the girls Dagger warned me about. I knew this just from the bitchy stare-down she’s giving me. That and the minimal clothing she’s sporting.
“Excuse me.” I go to pass her, but she steps in my way.
“You think you have him all to yourself, keep dreaming, sweetheart. Dagger isn’t one for settling down,” she sneers, crossing her arms over her ample chest.
I straighten my spine, refusing to be intimidated. I learned from the best what a catty woman will do. “I’m not sure who you are, but Dagger and I aren’t here for whatever drama you’re trying to start. Frankly, we’re none of your business, period.”
She laughs, and it sounds like breaking glass. “Oh, honey. I’m Diana. And everyone knows me around here. Especially Dagger.” She leans in closer, her perfume overwhelming. “He and I go way back. He loves having me beneath him.”
The jealousy that flares in my chest surprises me. I’ve never been the possessive type, but something about the way she says his name makes my skin crawl.
“Right, great chatting with you,” I say, keeping my voice steady. No way was I about to let her know she’s affected me in any way. I won’t give her that power. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to him.”
As I try to step around her again, she grabs my arm. Tight enough for her claw-like nails to dig in and leave impressions. “He’s just playing with you. When he’s bored, he’ll come back to me. He always does.”
I yank my arm away, anger replacing my nerves. “I’m not interested in playing into catty games of jealousy,” I snap. “And I doubt Dagger would be into them either. Now move.”
Before she can respond, I hear Dagger’s voice from down the hall. “Katrina? Everything alright?”
I inwardly groan.
Great.
Diana’s expression shifts immediately, her venomous glare transforming into a saccharine smile as Dagger approaches. She’s good. I’ll give her that. The transformation is almost impressive.
“Everything’s fine,” I say, my eyes never leaving Diana’s face. “Just having a little chat.”
Dagger’s eyes narrow as he takes in the scene. He steps between us, his back to Diana, effectively cutting her off. “Diana,” he says without turning around, “we’ve had this conversation before. Stay away from her.”
“Hey, baby, I was just introducing myself to your . . . guest,” she purrs, but I can see the cracks in her facade. The way she bats her lashes up at him and tries to press herself to his side.
Dagger turns to face her now, his expression cold. He steps out of her reach and tucks me into his side. “She’s not my guest. She’s my fuckin’ ol’ lady, and you damn well have no right to speak to her.”
“She was just tellin’ me how you two go way back,” I sneer at the little announcement.
“That a fact?” Dagger growls, looking down at me, anger burning in his eyes, but I know it’s not directed at me.
“Yep, she said, and I quote, ‘He and I go way back. He loves having me beneath him.’ and ‘He’s just playing with you. When he’s bored, he’ll come back to me. He always does.’ You do know how to pick them.” Anger seethes just beneath the surface. I want to be mad at him. I really do.
“Interesting since she’s not been around long and I’ve never once put my dick inside her.”
Oh boy.
Diana’s face flushes crimson. “I didn’t say that.”
“You think my ol’ lady would lie to me?” he demands and glances back down at me, his eyes zeroing in on the red fingerprints on my arm where she grabbed me. “You put your hands on my woman?”
“I . . . I . . . “
“There’s no lying to get your way out of it,” Dagger snarls. “Get your shit and get the fuck out of here.”
“You can’t kick me out,” she gasps.
“The fuck I can’t.” Dagger takes a step forward.
“I’m a member of this club, meaning I can say if you get to stay or not.
You put your hands on my woman. Every last one of my brothers will agree with me.
Now, pack your fuckin’ shit and get the fuck out of here.
” He barks out the order so harshly it makes me jump a little.
“What does she have that I don’t?”
Oh jeez. Is this woman for real right now?
“Self dignity,” I pipe in.
“Fuck you bitch,” Diana snaps at the same time someone claps.
“Oh, my God. If I didn’t have to pee so bad, I would totally get in on the action, but I really gotta go. So, skanky hoe, why don’t you meander down to your quarters like a good little slut,” the woman says, laughing, making Dagger groan.
“Who the hell are you?” Diana seethes, her voice filled with attitude.
I wondered the same thing, but more out of curiosity.
“Not that it’s any of your business, twatwaffle, but I’m Chelsea.
” The woman smiles brightly and pushes into the woman’s space.
“Now, I seriously have to go, but I’ll leave you with this, mess with my cousin again, and I’ll make you wish you never stepped foot on this property.
I might not have Sassy with me, however, I do have a gift for Katrina here, and I’ve no issue setting him loose on you. ”
“Tell me you did not bring my woman a ball python,” Dagger growls.
I wasn’t even thinking about his demand, I was stuck on her announcing who she was. My cousin? Seriously?
“You’re a crazy bitch,” Diana says, glaring at Chelsea.
“Maybe so, but my man loves that about me. Now, are you going to be a good little slut and do as told, or do I need to drag you out by your nappy ass head? You should really consider getting a blowout and learning what shampooing twice can do for your hair.”
“Fuck you.”
Done with this, Dagger intervenes. “Diana, you were told to do something. I suggest you do it, now. Get your shit and get gone. Chelsea goes to the fuckin’ bathroom and stop toying with this bitch before your ol’ man comes to find you.
” He looks at me as he tucks me close. “Come on, we’ll head outside.
Seems your family is here, but I’m telling you now, if Chelsea brought you a snake, it’s not staying in your house. ”
“Why would she bring me a snake?” I shiver at the thought. I’m not a snake person. Definitely not. They freak me out.
“Geez, Dagger, I didn’t bring her a snake. No snake would be like Sassy, she’s the best.” Oh, thank God. “I brought her a beardy instead.”
“Are you serious?” Dagger demands, glaring over at Chelsea.
“A beardy? You mean a bearded dragon?” I breathe, unsure whether I should be thrilled or not. Out of all reptiles, those are the only ones I’ve ever found cool. Granted, I never thought of having one.
“Yep,” Chelsea answers and then crosses her legs, doing a wiggle. “Now, I seriously have to go. Who knew having kids could screw with your bladder so much.” She turns and stalks to the bathroom, but not before looking back and smiling. “Nice to meet you. Welcome to the family.”
Welcome to the family.
That’s not at all what I expected. I surely didn’t expect an intro like I just experienced, though I can’t lie and say it didn’t ease some of the nerves inside me.
“Come on, baby, let’s go.” Dagger urges me down the hall and outside. “You okay?”
“I think I am,” I say, nodding. “I mean, it wasn’t pleasant dealing with that . . . I don’t even know what to call that vile woman. She was horrible.”
“Swear I never touched her.”
I stare up at him, knowing what he says to be true. “I believe you. Only a pathetic person would say something like what she did to scare me off to get a chance with you.”
“That bitch doesn’t stand a chance in hell.” Dagger stops us, turns me to face him fully, and curls his arms tight around me. “No one compares to you, Katrina. Not a damn one of those clubwhores or any other woman for that matter shines brighter to me than you do.”
My heart races in my chest at his words. Tears threaten to spill down my cheeks.
“Thank you,” I whisper, burying my face against his chest. His heartbeat is steady, a rhythm I’ve come to rely on. “I needed to hear that.”
Dagger’s hand slides up my spine, trailing lightly until he cups the back of my head, tangling his fingers in my hair. “I’ll always tell you the truth, baby. Always.”
Always.
I like that he won’t lie to me. I didn’t have to question if he was lying to me or not. He’s protective, but open about it. For that, I’m grateful to him.
“Now, you ready to meet your dad and brother?” he asks and presses a kiss to the top of my head, giving me a squeeze.
I release a shuttered breath and nod. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
Loosening his arms, Dagger wraps an arm around my shoulders and tucks me back into my favorite spot. “I’ll be right there with you. Just breathe. It becomes too much, I swear, baby, I’ll get you out of there. You just say the word.”
I nod and lean into him as he guides me toward where people were crowded.
I notice the men who I hadn’t seen earlier talking with Hammer and Malice.
I also see Chelsea is now curled up with a man who holds her close to him, similar to how Dagger does with me.
It’s abundantly clear who he is to her. You’d have to be blind not to see that the man is hers just as she’s his.
He’s tall with dark hair and intense eyes that scan the crowd protectively.
His arm is wrapped around her waist, fingers splayed possessively across her hip.
My eyes drift to the other men. Two of them stand tall and look intimidating as can be. One is older, with salt-and-pepper hair and deep lines etched around his eyes. The other is younger, maybe in his thirties, with the same strong jaw and intense gaze. My heart stutters in my chest.
“That’s them,” I whisper, my voice barely audible.
“Yeah, baby, that’s Grinder and Boxer.” Dagger’s arm tightens around me. “You want to do this now or wait a minute?”
“Now,” I say, though my legs feel like they might buckle. “Before I lose my nerve.”
We move through the crowd, and I feel every bit of my anxiety starting to peak. The closer we get to the group of people, the worse it gets, especially when Grinder’s eyes lock on me.
His jaw visibly twitches, and his hands clench into fists. He scans over me, there was no missing the slight swell of my stomach before his gaze moved to Dagger. “You knocked my sister up and didn’t even say anything?”
“Grinder,” Dagger says, and there’s no missing the warning in his voice.
“Son,” Boxer states, placing a hand on Grinder’s shoulder as he steps forward, eyes on me. “Katrina, I’m Boxer, and this,” he gestures to his son, “is Grinder, your brother. He can be hot-headed when it comes to those he protects.”
Hot-headed when it comes to those he protects?
“Umm, hi.” What else am I supposed to say? I’d thought of the words so many times, and still none will come to me when I need them most.
“You look just like my mother,” Boxer announces, grinning. “Got her eyes and the same shade of hair she had when she was young. She’d hate that she missed out on knowing you.”
“I was always told I looked like Rena.”
“You don’t look anything like that bitch,” Boxer growls, humor leaving his face. “Sorry, I don’t mean to get pissed with you, I’m not. It’s not your fault. None of this is. You’re an innocent in this, just as your brother and myself. We didn’t know about you.”
“I didn’t even know your name. She never put it on my birth certificate.”
“Probably didn’t even know an actual name to put,” Grinder mutters and winces when I flinch. “Fuck. Sorry, Katrina, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m pissed and will say shit out of spite.”
“It’s okay.”
“Why don’t we sit down?” Dagger suggests. “I need to make Katrina a plate anyway so she can eat.”
“I can make my own,” I inform him tersely. “I don’t need to be treated like a child.”
Dagger dips his head down and whispers in my ear, “I’m not treating you like anything but what you are, my very own queen who should be treated as one. Now, sit your ass down and let me get you something to eat.”
The spot between my thighs quivers at the husky tone of his voice.
Well, okay then.