23. Deacon
A week later…
“Aye, we need to make this quick because I don’t want to leave Squeak alone for too long,” I say when all the members gather for a club meeting.
Despite spending waking hours with Squeak over the last seven days, my chest is throbbing from being away from her.
“I never thought I would see the day ole Deacon would let a woman’s pussy juices linger on his beard in the light of day,” Boston says, causing everyone but Sinful to laugh at my expense.
“Shid, smelling her on my beard is the only reason I’m still in this room. Hurry up, Diesel, before I lose this savor,” I say, shrugging.
“Man, I can’t wait until I find a woman to make me say foolish shit in a room full of my peers without blinking. Damn, your sappy, pussy-whupped ass should hold a class, bro,” Shadow says, slowly clapping again, causing laughter to sound around the room.
“Fuck you, crippled nigga,” I say.
Seeing Shadow back on his feet has warmth and gratefulness flowing through my chest because Shadow is still with us.
“I love you too, my nigga,” Shadow says, tapping his chest.
“Welcome back, Shadow,” Diesel says before calling the meeting to order, silencing the room as everyone’s focus shifts to Gunz, who starts talking.
“I need to make y’all aware of some immediate changes within the club. The first is that Bulldog will no longer have any dealings with us. As our founder, we respect Bulldog for the foresight to establish what is becoming an amazing group of extended family. However, the leadership of Baxtown Iron rests with the officers who have been voted into the positions they hold. From here on out, any orders, guidance, or directives concerning this club will come from Diesel, Shadow, Deacon, or myself. Dimples will remain our treasurer, so if you are behind on dues, handle that shit today. Despite her absence and reluctance, Squeak is still the person we will have in the secretary position. For now, her duties will be handled by Makari. Despite not being a direct member of this club, Dutch has given his blessing for us to utilize her in the interim.” Gunz pauses to look at his phone, where I’m assuming he has the key points of this meeting written due to his finger moving.
“It doesn’t make sense to utilize someone from our brotherhood when there are able-bodied women within our club,” Sinful says before Gunz can start speaking again.
“It also doesn’t make sense for you to speak when our vice president hasn’t cleared the floor to make way for questions,” Diesel says, glowering at Sinful.
“I’m jus?—”
“Just jumping to conclusions as usual. Had you given a nigga a minute to check his notes, you would have learned that Sassy will be working with Makari for the in-house club secretarial duties. Your simple ass would have let me clarify that Makari is only handling the logistical aspects of secretarial duties until Squeak returns. While Sassy will handle everything else,” Gunz says aggressively, causing Sinful to cower and sit back in her chair.
“What’s wrong? You miss me, Squeak?” I ask with my back resting on the wall in the hall after answering my phone once the meeting is over.
“Mhm. It’s lonely in here without you.”
Smirking, I close my eyes, allowing Squeak’s image to settle in my mind before popping them open when I feel someone caressing my bicep.
“What the fuck do you want, Sinful?” I ask, snarling from the energy shift her touch causes me after invading my space.
“De—”
“Hold on a second, Squeak,” I say, cutting off whatever she’s about to say because Sinful’s ass got me fucked up. “Speak or walk the fuck away,” I tell Sinful.
“Why are you acting so cold toward me? Before she came, I was the woman fucking you three times a week. I miss us, Deacon,” Sinful says pouting.
“This bitch,” Squeak says in my ear, and I smirk because I can imagine her rolling her eyes after hearing the bullshit coming from Sinful.
“Why don’t you let me remind you of how good we are together,” Sinful says in a sultry tone.
“If you don’t give that bitch her walking papers, I’ll be throwing on some clothes and shoes to come to show her how good my fucking fist feels hitting her face,” Squeak says in an aggressive tone that causes my dick to twitch.
“Damn. I want you to take that aggression out on my dick when I get there,” I tell Squeak.
“Don’t fuck around and find out how crazy I can become. Dismiss that bitch now, Deacon,” Squeak says deadpan.
“Aye, what’s going on?” Too Sweet says, entering the hall and causing Sinful to step back like she’s been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
“W-who—who’s th-that, Deacon?” Squeak asks, stuttering, instantly spiking my body temperature from the shaky and fear-filled tone she’s now using.
With my eyes now assessing Too Sweet, I tighten my grip on my phone before answering my woman.
“One of the new members… Too Sweet,” I say, frowning when the nigga starts grinning and nodding like an idiot.
“The one and fucking only, bro. You already know what it is,” Too Sweet says.
“Th-that’s h-him,” Squeak whispers, and had I not been listening intently, I might not have heard her from how low she spoke the two words.
“Say less, Ma. I’ll be there soon.” Disconnecting the call without another word, I walk away to gather Diesel, Gunz, and Shadow.
Using the moniker most associate with the woman who gave them life is intentional and purely to throw Too Sweet off. My blood is racing through my body like embers hitting firewood with every step I take away from the punk ass nigga who foolishly chose the wrong side. My mind begins conjuring up the ways I’m going to show Too Sweet how mixing the wrong sweetener can cause detrimental and life-altering consequences.
Step one… pull out this flawed nigga’s tongue. Step two, make him wish his life had a remix. Step three… sever the nigga’s knee.
“Aye, I need to holla at you, three,” I say, cutting off the conversation between Diesel, Gunz, and Shadow.
“He must be the man the Boogeyman has been using to torment me for all these years. How did I not know? Oh my God,” Squeak says, fueling my fury at the shaking from her body.
Squeak has been in my arms since I got home about an hour ago, and her body has yet to stop trembling. She’s also been spouting off random things that have gone on since she lived in Georgia. With each admission from her lips, my fucking adrenaline surges like lightning through my body. This is the one time having Squeak in my arms doesn’t fill me with warmth; for that, Too Sweet will have to pay for the pain I’m feeling.
“Shh. I got you, love. I promise I’m killing every last nigga responsible for every tear stain you’ve experienced since you were fourteen.”
“D-did—does he know… Did you say something to him?” Squeak asks, peering up at me with water lining her eyelids.
My chest tightens, and my pulse increases upon seeing the torment shining heavily in Squeak’s eyes. Wiping the lone tear that falls, I kiss her softly while praying some of my strength seeps into Squeak’s pores.
“I’m scared, Deacon,” Squeak says, her bottom lip quivering.
All right, God. I know that nigga, David, was a murderer, but how deep in those streets did he get? Is there a degree of murder Yyou won’t forgive? The things I’m gonna do to these niggas for this moment with Squeak might cause You to reconsider my worthiness for forgiveness.
“With me as your avenger, it’s a fruitless emotion, Squeak. Cry today, but those niggas’ mommas will be the ones shedding tears tomorrow. I guarantee you that.”
“Nooo… I can’t lose you after finally getting to have you,” Squeak says, and tears fall rapidly from her eyes, causing me to squeeze her tighter in my hold.
“Shh. Shh, Squeak. A nigga is way too hood to be crying and shit. Stop crying, love. I ain’t going anywhere. Shh. Come on, baby.” Rocking Squeak, I close my eyes while fighting against the splintering pain in my chest.
A sigh leaves my mouth when Squeak becomes silent except for the sniffles and rising of her chest an unknown time later. Without opening my eyes, I continue rocking Squeak momentarily, breathing more leisurely at the knowledge of Squeak sleeping in my arms. The memory of my impromptu meeting with my brothers flows freely.
The heavy cloud of smoke fills the air in the interior of my truck where Diesel, Gunz, Shadow, and I are after they follow me wordlessly out of the clubhouse.
“How the fuck did we not see this shit?” Gunz asks, blowing smoke from the blunt we’ve been passing around.
Given my occupation, I’m not one to smoke weed, but I desperately needed something to calm me quickly.
“Yeah, this shit is wild. Like, this nigga has been smiling and grinning in our faces for over a year,” Shadow says, shaking his head.
“Who brought the nigga to our doorstep? We need to kill their bitch ass too,” Diesel asks, glaring.
“Shid, I don’t know. He popped up one of the times we hosted a party in the clubhouse,” I say with my brows wrinkling while trying to remember who Too Sweet hit the scene with before coming up blank.
“Does it even matter, though?” Gunz asks.
“Fuck no. I’m killing Too Sweet’s wannabe CIA ass,” I say deadpan.
“For sure. How are we gonna handle this shit?” Shadow asks.
“For now, we’re gonna act like everything is cool. I want to catch the nigga and his people off guard,” I say, taking the blunt from Gunz and pulling hard until my lungs protest, forcing me to release the smoke gathering in my lungs.
“Mm,” Squeak moans and jumps in her sleep, snatching me out of the brief memory when I feel her jerk.
Opening my eyes, I kiss her forehead and start rocking again, reminding her of my presence and allowing her to settle down.
This is the last time you’ll deal with the aftermath of torment, Squeak.