Chapter 4
Ophelia
The moment we pulled into the driveway, Mr. and Mrs. Robbins headed out of their house.
I climbed out of my car and said, “I’m so sorry. We’re running late.”
That was when Soraya, who had unbuckled herself, opened her door and said, “We met Mr. Saint. But he told me it was just Saint. So, Monnie can’t yell at me for being disrespectful. Did you know he’s six foot two? Did you know his favorite superhero is the Hulk? He looks like a Hulk. And... and... he got me this.” And that was when she took in a deep breath and held up her Barbie doll for them to see.
Mr. Robbins looked at me and lifted a brow, a twinkle in his eye, and asked, “You met Saint. Huh?”
I narrowed my eyes at him, but Mrs. Robbins slapped him in the gut with the back of her hand, “Hush you. We can grill her later. Right now, our little Soraya girl has something she wants us to see.”
At her words about grilling me, I groaned.
Which caused both of them to laugh.
After they had seen Soraya’s doll, we unloaded the trunk, brought the tree in, and with an old record player I had scored at a garage sale last week and a Christmas vinyl record, we decorated our tree.
Of course, I popped popcorn, and we made a garland out of it.
It was as we were putting the final touches on the tree that Mrs. Robbins asked, “So, what did you think about him?”
I looked at the red glass ornament and sighed, “He was nice.”
I felt Mrs. Robbins’s eyes on me, and then I sighed.
We may not have lived here long, but I knew Mrs. Robbins wasn’t going to let this go.
“He told me that he had watched some punk jip me a tip. Figured that had I gotten that tip, I would have been able to get Soraya that doll.”
“Which is true. I’ve never seen a better mother than you, dearie.” Mrs. Robbins told me.
And for the second time that day, I felt tears well in my eyes.
I looked at her and smiled, “Thank you.”
She winked, then said, “Continue.”
“Well, when he talked to Soraya, he didn’t stand at his full height. No, he lowered himself down so he was at eye level with her. And not once when she talked to him a million miles a minute did he get frustrated with her. And... well... he carried our bags to the car and put them in for me. No one has ever done that for me but Mr. Robbins.”
“Did I hear my name? Wait, I didn’t. Because you won’t call me that.” I giggled as Mr. Robbins entered the living room.
I chuckled as I asked, “Will it make you happy if I call you by your name?”
He nodded, “Extremely. That Mr. Robbins makes me feel old as dirt. And after I made Lilly come twice this morning, I don’t feel so old.”
“Harold!” Mrs. Robbins gasped.
I started laughing, and I couldn’t help it.
Mrs. Robbins was rolling her eyes.
When I got my laughter under control, I looked at him and said, “I’m pleased to hear that, Harold.”
***
It was as I was tucking Soraya into bed that she asked, “What do you think we should do to pay that man back?”
I lifted a brow, “Do you want to pay him back?”
“Yes, ma’am. You always tell me that you pay kindness with kindness.” She said with as much vigor as she could muster.
For the third time day, I felt tears prick my eyes.
Oh, this girl. This sweet, sweet girl.
Damn that lying rat bastard for walking away from us. From her.
However, he was the one missing out.
Because I got to have all of her sweet moments solely to myself.
And I was okay with that.
And one day, Soraya would be too.
But not once has she asked about him since we left.
And yes, that worried me a little.
But now wasn’t the time to dwell on things that I had no control over.
Therefore, I asked, “Okay. What would you like to do?”
“I think we should make him our unicorn brownies.” She said with a smile on her face.
I winced at that, “Honey, he’s in a motorcycle club. I don’t think he would like unicorn brownies.”
She shook her head, “But they are good. And he said he still likes superheroes, so he has to still be a little boy at heart. And unicorns are not just for girls.”
Well, it looked like I would be raiding the kitchen to find stuff to make him unicorn brownies.
I nodded, then said, “Okay, pumpkin’ head. You win,” then I pressed a kiss to Soraya’s curly mop of dark brown hair.
***
It was after my shift at the diner the next day and picking Soraya up from school that we headed home and made unicorn brownies.
And yes, I had dressed up much better than I had yesterday.
My long blonde hair was straight. I had on minimum make-up because I felt that natural beauty is more important, and it shines just so.
I had on a fitted red long-sleeve sweater that showcased my breasts and nipped in the waist just right.
I also had on the jeans that showed my hourglass figure.
I had tits and ass, and I was proud of them.
I had worked on getting it all back after we left.
I missed them.
On my feet were a pair of dark brown ankle boots with a silver buckle on the side.
Soraya was dressed in much the same manner as I was but without make-up, and her brown curls were still bouncy after the product I put in them this morning.
Thankfully, I had been able to get directions from Mr. Robb... Harold.
And as we drove to the clubhouse, as it was called, I sent up a silent prayer that Saint would be there.
Because I didn’t want to crush my little girl’s spirit.
She had been talking about him not stopping since we met him yesterday.
I had even gotten news that she had told her classmates that she made herself a new friend and that he was a giant.
Shaking my head, I saw the name of the road and turned right.
There, the building stood.
It had four levels, from what I could tell, and was painted gray and red. It looked pretty cool.
Above a set of French-style brown doors were the letters SOMC.
I now knew that meant Soulless Outlaws Motorcycle Club.
We had just parked beside a row of bikes.
I cut the ignition in my car, climbed out, and then moved to help Soraya out.
Once that was done, I grabbed the tray of brownies and tagged her hand.
“Lookin’ a little lost there, darlin’,” I jerked my head to that voice and felt a tingle of fear slide along my spine.
He was older, possibly a little younger than Harold.
His brown hair was graying at his temples, and he had green eyes.
But there was something in his eyes I didn’t like.
However, we were there for Saint.
And the way Harold had talked about this club, I tried not to allow my fear to show.
Instead, I proverbially pulled my big girl panties up and said, “We are here to see Saint. Is he here?”
The man jerked his head back and lifted his brow, “Saint? You did say, Saint. Right?”
He looked from me, then down to Soraya, then back to me.
And before I could answer him, Soraya did, but not before she moved slightly behind me. The man saw it and took a step back.
But that did little to ease our uneasiness towards this man.
“Yes. We are here to see Saint.” Soraya said in a small voice, I didn’t like it. Not one bit.
He nodded at her, then said, “Wait here. Okay?”
I nodded because I so wasn’t going in there without at least Saint in our vicinity.
Yes, we had met just yesterday, but as I lay in bed last night, I was able to put my finger on what I saw in his eyes.
Trust.
Yes, I know that sounds stupid and so out of left field, but you had to have been there and seen it to understand it.
Saint
Once every two weeks, I went through my weapons and cleaned them.
Right now, I was working on my Glock.
The door to the clubhouse opened, which caused my eyes to look in that direction.
Merlin walked in, closed the door, and then scanned the room.
When his eyes made it to me, he looked back at the door, then back at me, and started over to me.
I looked at the door, too, wondering what the fuck was going on.
The moment he made it to me, he said, “Saint, there happens to be a woman and a little girl outside askin’ for ya.”
My hands froze.
A woman.
A little girl.
I placed the Glock down on the table, then looked at the prospect we were thinkin’ about makin’ a member of our club, Gavel, and said, “Pick all this up, take it to my room. Now.”
He nodded and then moved to do as I told him to do.
A woman.
A little girl.
I only knew two.
And I hoped, like all that was holy, that it was the two beings I hated leaving yesterday.
As I moved to the door, Kettle stood up, followed by Nuke, Jury, Jasper, Grey, Xander, Agatha, and Tempie.
Nosy. Fucking nosy, the lot of them were.
But it wasn’t every day that a woman and a little girl came to the clubhouse.
And it was never that anyone asked for me.
Once I made it to the door, I opened it and didn’t even bother trying to keep it open for the men and women at my back.
Because what bothered me was the fact that Soraya was hiding behind Ophelia’s legs.
I looked at Ophelia and teased, “So, you stalkin’ me now?”
The brothers at my back all froze. I felt it. I knew it.
I didn’t tease.
Fuckin’ ever.
But seeing Ophelia’s shoulders loosen slightly and then seeing Soraya’s face peek out and smile a small smile at me, I would do it.
Every single second of every single day.
Ophelia shook her head, “Little Miss Pumpkin’ Head wanted to do something as a thank you for what you did yesterday.”
I looked at the tray I realized she was holding, and then I looked down at Soraya.
I moved slowly until I reached the two of them, and then I lowered myself to the ground and asked, “You made something for me?”
She leaned her head further around Ophelia’s legs, then she looked up at her, then at me, and nodded, “Yes. Monnie always says you should repay kindness with kindness.”
I liked that.
I really fucking liked that.
And that was when a cold wind blew over the lot.
I stood up and said, “It’s gettin’ cold. Come on inside.”
Ophelia shook her head and looked behind me, “No. It’s okay. We just wanted to give you these.”
I stepped closer to her and said the words that had been on my mind since yesterday.
“Hadn’t stopped thinkin’ about ya. Either of ya. Really like to spend time with the two of ya. Get to know ya better. Nothin’ inside those walls will harm either of ya. It does, I’ll take care of it.”
That was when she seemed to look even deeper into my eyes.
I wasn’t sure what she was lookin’ for, but I hoped like fuck she found it.
And I knew that she had when she nodded, then looked down at Soraya, “Do you want to go inside?”
Soraya nodded, “Monnie, it is cold. And we have Saint with us.”
Apparently, that was all my woman... yeah... I had already dubbed her that title in my head.
Ever since I had seen her at the diner a few weeks ago, she has been on my mind.
I’ve never walked up to a woman I was interested in and started a conversation.
Hell, I had never seen one I was remotely interested in until I saw Ophelia and heard her laughing at old man Frank.
Yesterday had been perfect, utterly perfect, for me to get my foot in the door and work myself into their lives.
There’s a sayin’ along the bayou in Louisiana.
A Cajun thing, if you will.
And as I walked away from them, a cold wind blew over my frame, and I could have sworn I heard the words, “You found your 'autre moitié.'”
Which translated to, You found your missing piece.
I stepped to the side, but not before I took the tray of whatever it was out of Ophelia’s hands and gestured toward the door.
Thankfully, the brothers and the women had moved out of the way, and as we passed them, no, I didn’t miss the way either of them side-eyed Merlin as they moved at my side.
And neither did anyone else.
Because at our backs, I heard Jasper ask, “Explain that shit to me. Would you?”
It was Nuke who said, “Explain what shit to you?”
Jasper scoffed, “How the hell are they afraid of the most easygoing man in the club, but they're not afraid of Saint?”
I heard Nuke sigh, “Can’t tell you, brother.”
As we stepped inside, I tried to see the clubhouse for the first time as someone who had never been here before.
Then I looked at Ophelia and Soraya as they were taking it all in.
We had knocked out almost every wall on this floor to make it an open floor plan of sorts.
The bar ran along the back wall.
We had recliners, couches, and a big television mounted on the wall.
Three pool tables, a little stage, if you will, and we had a ping pong table, along with some arcade games.
It was essentially a man cave.
A man cave that looked like Christmas had thrown up all over it.
I sighed, then looked at Ophelia and asked, “What do you think?”
She smiled, “I like it.”
Soraya chimed in then, too, and said, “I do too.”
I jerked up my chin towards a table that had three chairs.
They headed in that direction, and once we all sat down, I placed the tray on the table and then looked at my brothers.
They were all standing there; a few had their arms crossed, and a few of them looked at the three of us in a rotation of sorts.
I shook my head, then looked at Ophelia and Soraya and said, “Girls, from left to right. Grey is our vice president. Kettle is our enforcer. Xander is our treasurer. Jasper is our secretary. Jury is our road captain. Merlin is our tech guru. Beside him is his wife Tempie, and beside Tempie is Merlin’s sister Agatha.”
“Who is the man over there?” Soraya asked.
What I didn’t see was that Kettle moved to block her view of Gavel.
But not before I said, “That’s Gavel. He’s prospectin’ for the club.”
Then I looked at my brothers and said, “This is Ophelia and their daughter, Soraya.”
They all nodded, and it was Nuke who asked, “So, how’d the two of you meet?”
Before Ophelia or I could say anything, Soraya did.
And as she told the story about how yesterday went, I felt every pair of eyes land on me.
Shock.
Awe.
And a few of them didn’t believe a word she said.
Cause never have they seen me react in such a way with anyone like I was with the two of them.
After Soraya told everyone what happened, she looked at me and said, “We made you unicorn brownies. Monnie said you might not like them, but I told her since you like the Hulk, you must have a little boy still in you somewhere’s, so you would like them.”
I lifted a brow at her and said, “Did you say unicorn brownies?”
She nodded, “Hey, don’t knock it ‘til you try it.”
At that, I started chuckling.
And a few brothers started as well.
That was why I pulled the tray over to me, removed the tin foil, and saw four brownies lying there.
“We only brought you four. If you want more, we will give them to you.” Soraya said.
I looked at Ophelia and asked, “What’s in them?”
She winked, then said, “Don’t knock it ‘til you try it.”
I growled lowly, which had both of them giggling.
The perfect sound of a song.
If I lost my hearing right then and there, I would grin and bear it because I had just heard the most beautiful sound in the world.
I picked one of the brownies that appeared to be white chocolate with pink and blue bits in them.
I sniffed it, which caused them both to giggle and then I took a small bite.
A wonderful taste, unlike anything I have ever tasted before, exploded on my tongue, and then I popped the whole thing into my mouth.
I chewed, swallowed, and grabbed another one.
And in minutes, it wasn’t until I reached for another one that I realized I had eaten them all.
Did I just fuckin’ pout?
And I realized I had when Soraya started laughing so hard she had tears streaming down her little cheeks.
Ophelia was in the same manner as her daughter.
The brothers looked at me, and it was Xander who asked, “You couldn’t fuckin’ share?”
I shook my head, “No.” then I bit out, “Watch your language.”
His eyes widened slightly, then he looked at the brothers, then looked at the little girl who was still laughing, looked at me, and jerked up his chin.
My eyes connected with every single person who was still standing there being fuckin’ nosy.
They got my message. Loud and fuckin’ clear.
Once they got themselves under control, that was when Soraya started with twenty questions.
That was how I spent the next half an hour going over what everyone does and explainin’ it to Soraya and Ophelia. And explainin’ to them about why I love my club.
As I covered that we worked to put a stop to human trafficking, I felt a presence of warmth envelope me from the woman at my side.
After I explained everything, it was Ophelia who tilted her head and asked, “So what do you do?”
I winced inwardly.
I loved what I did for the club.
But I wasn’t sure if she would want the type of man I was for the club around her daughter.
However, as I looked into her eyes and saw one thing, open-mindedness, I said, “I’m the Icer.”
She tilted her head to the side, “And what does that mean?”
I made sure I kept eye contact with her and said, “I’m the one that handles anyone who wrongs the club.”
She lifted a brow, “Isn’t that the same as the Enforcer?”
“In a sense. Yes. But to protect my family, there’s no limit to what I will do when someone wrongs the club.”
At that, she nodded and seemed to be processing what I said.
It was Agatha who asked, “Where are your manners, Saint? Offer them a drink or something.”
At that, Ophelia winced, then looked at her watch, then she looked at Agatha, “Thank you. But we actually need to get going.”
Soraya looked up at Ophelia and said, “Monnie, do we have to?”
She looked down at her and nodded, “Afraid so. We have to do your homework, and we have to make Harold and Lilly’s Christmas gift. Make dinner. And get you in the bath.”
Soraya groaned, which I thought was cute as shit.
Knowing that Ophelia was putting her mama duties over anything else, yeah, that was a woman I respected.
She was nothing like my mother, who couldn’t have cared less if I did my homework or not.
No, all she fuckin’ cared about was if I had made any money that day.
I shook my head, which caught Ophelia’s attention, and softly, she asked, “Are you okay?”
I looked at her and nodded, “Yeah. Come on, I’ll walk y’all out.”
As I stood, they both followed.
But what shocked the absolute hell out of me was what happened next.
Ophelia
After we stood, I watched a man who wasn’t as big as Saint but wasn’t a slouch either slowly walk over to where Soraya stood and knelt.
The big man said, “Think I’m going to call you Peaches.”
But it was the shocked open mouths that had me looking up at Saint and realizing that he felt that way, too.
What on earth?
Soraya’s brows scrunched, then she asked, “Why’s that?”
“Cause when you laugh, your cheeks get pink like peaches.”
Soraya giggled.
And after the past seven years, there was nothing I would ever do to stop anyone from making her giggle and smile.
Even though I didn’t know a single thing about this man.
My little girl’s happiness was totally worth it.
Saint
After I picked my jaw up off the floor, literally, I watched as Kettle stood, then turned and walked away.
Oh, words were about to be shared about the man who never talked.
But he just talked to one little girl.
I gestured for the two of them, and at my side, we walked out of the clubhouse.
Once she got Soraya buckled in, I went with my gut and didn’t question what I was about to do.
I leaned in and said, “I’d like some more of those brownies. Can I still have them?”
She nodded and then giggled.
I winked at her and said, “Sleep tight, princess.”
She smiled, then yawned.
After I caught Ophelia’s eyes, who gifted me with that beautiful smile of hers, I closed the door, and then I said, “Let me take you out to dinner.”
She looked at Soraya, then back up at me, and sighed, “I can’t.”
I moved forward a few steps, placed my hand atop her car, and asked, “Why not?”
She sighed, then looked around us, and then back up into my eyes, and said, “I just got out of a seven-year-long relationship.”
I nodded, “I get that. You wantin’ to protect yourself. But I know that I’m not the only one who’s feelin’ this.”
She bit her bottom lip, and man, but I would love to tug at that lip with my teeth.
But now was not that time.
Not when I didn’t have the right.
And not in front of her little girl.
“I made a promise that I was going to put Soraya first after we left. I plan to keep that promise. And yes, I feel it, too. But how would that look? I get out of one relationship, not giving myself time to heal and jump into another one?”
I was silent because I felt she wasn’t done talking, she asked, “Does that make sense?
“Somethin’ I’ve learned. As long as something makes sense to you, then it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks,” I said to her.
She sighed, “Okay, let me think about it. Okay?”
I nodded, “You got it. But do me a solid. Yeah?”
She tilted her head to the side and asked, “And that is?”
“Give me your number,” I told her.
Then she smiled, and as I put her number in, I texted her so she would have mine.
It was as I watched them driveway that I felt a sharp pang in my chest.
They weren’t supposed to leave.
I was supposed to be in that car.
Getting them to where they needed to go.
Being the first line of defense.
But that time would come.
Oh yes, it surely would come.
And for the next hour or so, I fielded questions left and fuckin’ right from all of them.
That night, as I lay in bed in my house that had finally finished, I closed my eyes, and all I could see was Ophelia in my kitchen, Soraya at her side making unicorn brownies.
Somethin’ I would be askin’ for on every birthday.
I saw Ophelia curled up on my couch with a book in her hands while the fire blazed on.
I saw a swing in the backyard where Soraya spent most of her time.
Mostly, I just saw them in my life.
And what a life that would be.
Just before I fell asleep that night, my phone chimed with a text.
I flipped it open and smiled when I saw Ophelia’s name, I felt a smile form on my face.
Something I only seemed to do when it came to them.
Ophelia – If you were being serious, I’m going with my gut. I’m off for the next two days. So, whatever works for you.
The moment I read her text, I called Nuke.
He answered shortly thereafter and said, “Saint?”
“Need the next two days off,” I told him.
I heard him blow out a breath, which was a sign that he had a cigarette in his mouth.
He asked, “Care to explain?”
I smiled, “Taking Ophelia out on a date.”
One. Two. Three... “Your doin’ what now?”
I explained myself to him again.
“When I woke up this mornin’, that was the very last thing I thought would ever come out of your mouth. Hell, if I’m bein’ serious, I never thought I would hear those words. Least of all comin’ from you.” He said.
I sighed, “Yeah, well. Right one comes along. You know it. You feel it. You do everythin’ in your power to keep it.”
“Preach, brother. Alright, see you in a few days.” He said, and then we hung up.
Then I texted Ophelia.
Me – Pick you up tomorrow at 6.
Then I fell asleep for the first time in my life with a fuckin’ smile on my face.