Chapter 28
CHAPTER
TWENTY-EIGHT
Flyboy
It’s been two fucking months of this nightmare. The week after lockdown was set in place, I went and got the pins removed from my left leg and was put in a walking knee brace and an air cast. I also got the approval from physical therapy and was ordered to only use crutches when the pain becomes unbearable. The same day that I came home from having the pins removed, Coin also came home. We had church a few days later, officially voting in our prospect, Noah, into the club. A party is set in motion as soon as we get this other shit taken care of.
No one can seem to find these assholes that are hovering around our fucking territory. They haven’t threatened anyone anymore, they’re simply laying low. Which is making everyone antsy, short tempered, and ready for a fucking fight. Which is exactly what is fixin’ to happen between Coin and Pretty Boy over a game of pool. Looking over my shoulder at the men, I shift the sleeping Riley further away from what's about to go down.
“You fucking cheated!” Pretty Boy yells.
“No, the hell I didn’t. You’re just being a miserable fuck. Get your head out of your ass,” Coin growls, not angry but over Pretty Boy’s miserable attitude.
“Fuck you and fuck this bullshit. I’m fucking out of here,” Pretty Boy snaps, throwing his pool stick on the table before storming toward the front door.
Just as he’s about to slam through the door, it swings open, and in walks the one man that can truly make me nervous.
“Well, well, you don’t look happy to see me and here I was thinking I was bringing you a gift.” He goads the very pissed off Pretty Boy.
“If you’re here, that only means chaos is nipping at your damn heels. So what is it this time?” Pretty Boy glares.
“Can’t a brother just come see his little sister?” He shrugs like it’s no big deal.
We’re all watching the exchange, unsure if Pretty Boy is going to shoot the man or not. Which would be very bad because that would upset Lil’ Red, which in turn, will piss off Duck and well, that doesn't end well for anyone. Pretty Boy opens his mouth just as a squeal of an unnatural pitch pierces the air.
“Big brother, you’re here!” is bellowed, followed by a flash of red diving into his arms.
I watch as the man that’s always hard, the smile and laugh you get is never real, melt under Lil’ Red’s hug. They stand there for long moments, talking quietly into each other's ear. Looking away from the two of them, I kiss Riley on the top of the head, and take a pull from the beer in my hand, not ready to deal with whatever he’s about to drop into our laps.
“Somebody want to tell me why some man is manhandling my woman and none of you assholes are stopping it?” Duck booms, loud enough to wake Riley.
Riley stirs, stretching her arms high over her head causing a sliver of her belly to appear. Reaching down, I run my finger across the exposed skin, marveling at how soft she is. That small amount of skin causes want and need to rush to my cock. Reaching up, I tip her face upward so I can see her eyes.
“Keep wiggling like that on my lap and I might just take you right here in front of everyone,” I mumble low so only she can hear me.
She smiles into the kiss, wrapping her hand into my hair pulling me closer to her. I slide my hand over her hip grabbing a handful of her luscious ass. Moaning, Riley shifts more onto my lap, our kiss getting deeper. My cock is so fucking hard I’m surprised it’s not bursting out of my jeans. The kiss is steamy, causing us to forget about everyone else in the room.
“At this point, you might as well fuck her in front of everyone to stake your claim,” Wesson snaps close to my ear.
His words have more of an impact than he realizes. Riley goes from relaxed and enjoying herself, stiff as a board with her face bright red and buried in my neck.
“Why don’t you fuck off and quit being an asshole,” I snap back, now pissed as hell.
“It’s not in my nature not to be an asshole.” He slaps me on the shoulder before walking away.
The urge to get up and beat on him is nearly uncontrollable until I feel Riley slightly shaking. Glancing down, I tip her face up so I can see her eyes, deflating when I find her laughing silently, her cheeks bright red.
“Do you find it funny?” I whisper, my lips close to hers.
“He wasn’t wrong. A few more minutes of you kissing me like that and I might have just begged you to.” Her grin is pure and happy.
That look is the balm to my soul. I now understand what Steel, Torch, and Razor mean when they say that keeping their woman happy is the only thing that matters. I know now, looking into her eyes that are shining bright with nothing but contentment and happiness that I would put anyone to ground if they were to try and take this gleeful look away from her.
“What is that look?” she ponders.
“It’s the look of a man that finally understands exactly how truly precious and unique the woman in his life is.” I’m as honest as I can be in a room full of people.
Riley slaps my chest shaking her head. “You have me, no pretty words are needed now.”
Taking her chin between my finger and thumb, I bring her eyes to mine. “I’ve never once sugar coated anything in my life. I don’t plan to start now. You don’t have any idea what you mean to me. The only way for you to understand, and not hate me forever, is that I would decimate anyone or anything for you. I’ve heard the men in this building talk about tearing the world apart or lighting it on fire for their women. None of that would come close to what I would do to make sure you’re happy.”
Riley’s eyes go wide before going soft. “If I didn’t know any better, I would almost say you’re catching feelings for me, Felix Holloway.”
“There is no might be. The feelings have been caught and I’m holding them tight. I’ve fucked this up time and time again. I pledge to you here and now, that I’ll work day in and day out to keep this look of pure joy in your eyes.” Not wanting to hear her say anything that might hurt, I kiss her hard on the mouth.
It takes every ounce of self-control inside me to not deepen the kiss. Owen being here only means that he has information to give, and he doesn’t usually bring the kind of information that has good things following them.
Slowly, I pull away from the kiss. “Fucking hell, as much as I would love to take this to the bedroom, I have a feeling we’re about to be in a meeting.”
Riley groans, running her hand up my chest to my cheek. “I need you so bad.”
Her words are like the lighthouse in a storm, bringing light and guidance to the never ending chaos in my soul. I lean forward kissing her forehead before placing mine on hers.
“When this is done, and life has leveled out, I’m claiming you. You’re going to be my Ol’ Lady,” I murmur, not ready to face the growing crowd.
Riley glances up, and the look in her eyes makes me feel as if someone turned the light out in the lighthouse that keeps me from crashing into shore. “Don’t make promises that you don’t intend to keep.”
I open my mouth to tell her that I mean every word when the front door bangs open, causing everyone to go silent and turn toward it. Standing there, like an extremely pissed off Viking, is none other than Steel.
“You standing in my clubhouse means nothing good.” His eyes sweep the room seeing that the club house is full of Ol’ Ladies, club girls, and prospects. “Everyone that isn’t a patched member, clear out.”
Riley places a kiss on my lips before standing and making her way toward the other Ol’ Ladies who’re headed for the back door. Once everyone is out, Duck goes behind the bar pulling out a bunch of beers, passing them around as the brothers move to maneuver seats closer together. I shift in my chair so that I can see Owen head on, not liking the game he seems to be enjoying. It takes exactly three minutes for Torch to be feed up with the fucker.
“Are you going to tell us why you’re here? Because we all know it’s not for the beer and company,” he snaps.
Owen smirks, taking a long pull from his beer. “I’m really starting to think that you guys don’t like me.”
“We don’t,” Razor snaps, playing with the straight razor he freed from his pocket.
Owen feigns being struck in the chest. “Ow, that hurts big guy, and to think I was so close to Vice at one point and time.”
Razor moves faster than we can stop him. His straight blade is laying at Owen’s throat. “The single and only reason you get to breathe, is because our Ol’ Ladies care for you. Do not push that luck. The way you live life, it wouldn’t be too hard of an assumption to make that you just poofed away like the fucking ghost you are.”
The man with a death wish in front of us doesn’t even blink, just brings his beer to his lips before speaking, “Oh, so that’s what this is all about. You can’t find anything on me, can you? Don’t worry, Razor dear, there will come a time that you get to see that stuff.”
“I’ve got half a mind to let these boys have their way with you. So, why don’t you just tell us what you’re here for, and then we can all go back to pretending like we’re one big happy family,” Steel cuts in, sounding bored.
Owen winks at Razor before looking over at me. “Word on the street is you have a pest problem that you can’t get rid of.”
Lifting one shoulder I lean back into my chair. “Some pest problems take more time than we like to deal with.”
“If it was me, I would want them dealt with sooner rather than later. Pests always seem to cause more issues the longer they’re around,” Owen continues with an eyebrow raised.
“We don’t even know that they’re still around. Seeing as we’ve not had a single issue in well over two months.” Torch does his best to act nonchalant, only the grip he has on his bottle giving him away.
“Haven’t you boys not learned anything by now? When they go silent, it means one of two things. The first, they grew a fucking a brain. Or two, they’re multiplying. I can tell you how often the first one has come to pass,” Owen says.
“Are you here to tell us where to find the pest problem? Or just to tell us things that we already know?” Pretty Boy glares, looking for a reason to cause someone to hurt.
“A man after my own heart, getting right to the point.” Owen smiles, yet it doesn’t reach his eyes. “I’m here to help with the issue at hand.”
“What’s the price?” Steel questions before he can continue.
“Why can’t I just be doing this out of the goodness of my heart?” Fuck, this man is starting to get underneath my skin.
“If I was talking to anyone else, I would say there was a chance. You on the other hand, I know that nothing you do comes without a motive. So, tell me what’s it going to cost us?” Steel watches Owen with an eyebrow raised in question.
“You’re right, there is actually several things. One, like always, the continued protection and well-being of my sister.” Owen starts before Duck stands slowly to his full height.
“Your sister's well-being and protection are never up for sale. She’s my Ol’ Lady, the mother of my child, and one day, my wife. If I ever hear you use her for anything again, I’ll accept her hating me for turning you into pig food. Do not push me, Owen.”
For a split second, and if I wasn’t watching the man the way that I am, I would’ve missed it but fear and respect flash in the man's eyes before going completely blank.
Owen raises his hand in surrender. “Understood. Let’s start over. One, Smith you’ll call your man off. Tell him to stop digging, and if he has questions, he needs to reach out to Luca and Yuri Volkov.”
All our heads snap to Smith, trying to figure out exactly what the fuck is going on here.
Smith just glares. “Way to be subtle, asswipe.”
“Never was my way,” Owen chuckles before continuing, “second, anything you find out about the Dazed Monkeys, you repost back to me. Dare I ask that you record the meeting and supply me a copy?”
“That’s it?” Steel is skeptical as we all are.
“That’s it. I won't give you any more than that. Deal or no deal?” Owen asks directly before taking the last swallow in his bottle and finishing his beer.
Steel looks at each of us, asking us our opinions without voicing the words. I watch as we all give him a nod to go ahead.
“You’ve got a deal.” Steel stands, holding his hand out to Owen.
The man jolts up to his feet, taking Steel’s in return. “It’s always a pleasure doing business with you. Y’all have a good night.”
Owen turns, walking toward the door and makes it halfway there before anyone moves or says a word.
“You fucking played us. You don’t know a motherfucking thing. Do you?” Pretty Boy growls, standing and stalking toward Owen.
“Pretty Boy, stop,” Steel snaps, holding up a burner phone for everyone to see.
Owen stops at the door, turning to look at Duck. “Tell Red I love her and I’ll see her soon.”
And like the ghost he is, Owen is gone just as quickly as he showed up.
“I’m going kill the son of a bitch one day,” Razor announces as he glares at the vacated spot Owen once stood before he walked out.
“I’m pretty sure there is a long fucking line, brother,” Torch states, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Steel spins looking at all of us. “Let’s get into church and find out what he brought us.”
We all file into church, going over the information he left us, and coming up with a plan to finally deal with our pest problem.