Chapter Twelve
Zeke
M ELISSA IS HERE and she’s in my fucking arms. I’ve dreamed of holding her close to me like this for so long that a part of me, a large part, can’t believe it’s real and finally happening. I don’t give a shit about her tears soaking my shirt or anything else in this moment. All that matters is her in my arms and being here in Frostford. Jace made it happen a few months ago and I haven’t seen her since she got here. I wasn’t there to help her move from where she was, get settled into the small cottage I got her, or anything else. However, that doesn’t mean the cottage doesn’t have my touch all over it.
Jace filled me in on Melissa’s being a mom when I found the cottage. He had no choice in the matter because I helped put everything together to make it a home for her. I built all the furniture she uses, filled the kitchen with everything I knew she once used to love eating and drinking, got the kids plenty of food, clothes, and toys. There’s not a single room I didn’t touch as we all worked together to make the cottage warm and inviting for my girl.
Yes, she’ll always be my girl and there’s no way around that. Melissa James is mine and I’ll kill anyone who tries to take her from me again.
“Let’s sit down at a table and talk,” I finally manage to suggest as Melissa starts to get herself under control and stop crying.
It’s a lot to take in and I don’t honestly know how I’m still standing here before her. My entire body is shaking with the knowledge of Melissa being in the Dirty Slayers clubhouse and in my arms. I don’t want to let her go, and I really don’t as I let one of my arms fall from around her body but hold her close to me as I lead her to the table Jace has Melissa’s kids sitting at. They’ve got food in front of them as Jace helps them eat, paying attention to both children at the same time. I can’t even imagine having two small kids at once.
However, I stop dead in my tracks as I take them in. Jace has pictures and offered to let me see them, but I couldn’t bring myself to look at the love of my life’s kids. I didn’t want to see children who should have been mine and weren’t. There was never a thought in my mind about them being mine because Melissa would have told me she was pregnant. Even if we were young, she wouldn’t have hidden it from me for any reason. I’ve sat and spent countless hours thinking about this and wondering what happened after she was taken from me.
Now, I wish I would have looked at the pictures Jace wanted to show me. The little boy looks exactly like me. He’s got my brown eyes that resemble melted chocolate and the smile on his face is contagious. Much like mine is when I’m around his mom. Melissa’s daughter is a mini replica of her. She’s so small but strong and determined. It’s the look on her face as she eats whatever Jace made them for lunch. I didn’t even know he could cook.
“Melissa . . .,” I start, not sure what to say or ask right now. “Are they . . .?”
“They’re yours, Zeke. The night everything happened, I was going to tell you I was pregnant. Instead, everything happened. I don’t even really know what happened. Can you tell me how you managed to get away?” she returns, completely flooring me and rendering me speechless.
I help her sit down, not taking my eyes off the kids before me. There’s no chance in hell of Melissa getting rid of me now. I want to be in her life, that was never in question. Now, she’s had my children and I am not going to walk away from her for any reason on Earth. This little boy and girl are my flesh and blood, my son and daughter. Melissa has been taking care of them on her own for so long and I missed out on everything. Every part of her pregnancy, the birth, and their lives up to this point. Well, I’m not going to miss a single second more. I don’t give a fuck what I have to do to make it happen.
So many questions fly through my mind, but Melissa asked me something. To tell her what happened that night so long ago.
I take a seat between Melissa and my little girl. My eyes stayed glued to the kids as they eat and my son stares at me.
“What are their names?” I finally manage to croak out.
My throat feels as if I swallowed a desert worth of sand with how dry it is.
“Zeke Anthony Jones Jr. and Delilah Rose Jones,” Melissa informs me, a small smile on her face.
Yes, we talked about babies when we were together and went so far as to name our children. The many we were going to have. Melissa didn’t take that away from me or change her mind about the names we fell in love with as teenagers. Joy and a sense of peace fills me at the knowledge.
“I want to be a part of their lives, baby girl. I’m not gonna miss another second of bein’ there for them or helpin’ you raise them,” I state, my voice stronger than it was seconds ago.
“I’m not going to keep your kids from you Zeke. I’d never do that to you. However, there are things we have to talk about before getting to the kids,” she says, bringing me up short. “How are you sitting here next to me right now when I watched them bury you?”
“I wasn’t dead. They knocked my ass out and buried me alive. I managed to claw my way out of the shallow grave and make my way out of the woods. It took forever and most of my body was broken. I found your keys and took your car. That’s how I ended up gettin’ away from there. I drove out of town in case I was being watched and found a farmhouse just outside town.
“When I got to the stairs of the house, literally draggin’ myself there, I passed out. The farmer helped me out. Brought in a doctor to patch me up, let me rest and heal, and then sold me a bike to get away. I looked for you when I got here. Knowin’ if I had stayed in your hometown, your father would have killed me on sight. You’ve been on my mind every second of every day since that night. Our guy here in the club searched everywhere for you and it was like you vanished without a trace,” I tell her.
Melissa asks me more questions about our time apart and I give her every single detail. I don’t hold a single thing back from her as I return the favor and ask about what she’s been doing since we’ve been apart. Jace takes care of our children as Melissa and I talk and share the few years we’ve been separated.
“What made you join a club, Zeke? You never wanted to be in one when we were younger,” Melissa finally asks me, making me laugh because I knew the question was coming.
“You’re right, I didn’t want to join your father’s club. It was never what I wanted in my life with how my own father turned out to be. When I was recoverin’ at the farm and talkin’ with the man who saved my life, it gave me plenty of time to think and prioritize what I wanted in my life. Who I wanted to be as a man and what I had to do to get you back in my life once I found you. There’s nothin’ I wouldn’t do for you, baby girl You have to know that.
“Anyway, when I got here, I met Rooster. He’s the President of the club. I saved his life and he invited me to the clubhouse, gave me a place to stay, and I started prospectin’. These men are nothin’ like your father and the fucks he chose to surround himself with. They’re loyal, sober, kind, and help anyone in need. The complete opposite of what those other stupid twatwaffles turned into. Then, I ended up savin’ Rooster again and this time Carbon, our Vice President, was with him. I got patched in right after that and haven’t looked back since.
“They put me through trade school, gave me a roof over my head, food, guidance, help lookin’ for you, and have had my back no matter what’s goin’ on. These men would lay down their lives for me and I’d do the same in return for them,” I tell Melissa as she looks at me with tear-filled eyes.
There’s one more important thing I have to tell her before we can move forward with anything else. Before we can talk about the kids and I learn every single detail of her pregnancy and the birth of our children. Something I’m not sure Melissa is going to like, but she deserves to know the man she’s entwined her life with. I’m not the same man and I know she’s not the same girl she was before that night so long ago.
“You have something to else to tell me,” Melissa says, her voice wavering as she stares at me.
“I do. I’m not sure how you’re gonna feel about what I have to say though. It’s big and I’m scared to tell you,” I admit, not sure what her reaction will be to the news I killed her father and other members she once considered her uncles. “After I tell you, you need to tell me what the fuck they did to you. I know it wasn’t good based on certain things, but I want the details. It will make sense once I tell you what I’ve done.
“Shortly after joinin’ the club, I got the location of where your father and others in his club were. I didn’t stop to think or anythin’ else as I rode out and went to their clubhouse. The place you once called home. Rooster and everyone here went with me so I wasn’t alone. My President actually set up a meet with your father sayin’ he knew information your father was lookin’ for. We got there and were let in without hesitation.
“After we were led down to the basement, I killed every fuckin’ man there. Includin’ your father. He taunted me with things they did and said to you. I saw red and lost my shit, baby girl. Before I knew it, your father was dead at my hands. Once all the men were dealt with, we torched the clubhouse and didn’t look back. I didn’t look back. The only thought on my mind was I saved you after the few pieces of information your father said to me. Well, safer. You’re still not exactly safe. Mad Dog wasn’t there that day. He’s still hidin’ out somewhere and we haven’t been able to find him. Once we do, I’m gonna fuckin’ kill him too.”
Melissa sits there and stares at me for several minutes. She doesn’t say a word and barely blinks. I’m afraid she’s gone into shock and I have no clue what to do as I look to Jace. He’s staring at his friend when Melissa finally starts laughing her ass off. It’s not a hysterical laugh or something manic. This is her laugh that I’ve heard so often and missed more than I realized until right now.
“You thought I’d hate you or be mad you killed them all,” she states, already knowing where my mind was at. “That couldn’t be further from the truth, Zeke. I love that you did that. It might make me a bad person for not giving a shit about the fact that my father is dead at your hands. Those men tortured and beat me for however long. I don’t even know how long I was strapped to that table as they beat me, cut me, and left scars all over my body.
“For the longest time I didn’t even know if I lost our baby or not. It wasn’t until Jace got me out of there and I got to Oaklynn that I discovered I was still pregnant. I’ve been chased, lost the opportunity for jobs, scared, and everything else until you took them out. They hurt Oaklynn in their attempts to get their hands on me. I know they would have used our kids against me as well. Nothing is out of bounds for them and now we have less of a threat to worry about. Mad Dog is a threat and should be treated as one. He’s fucking psycho. However, I have faith that you’ll find him, Zeke.”
Melissa doesn’t go into details about what her father and the others did to her when they had her strapped to the table. I’m not about to push her on it either. Some nightmares aren’t meant to be lived through again and again. If Melissa doesn’t want to go into detail, there are reasons for it. One day she’ll tell me and I have no problem waiting for her to do so.
We start talking about her pregnancy and how Oaklynn was at her side through every aspect of her journey into motherhood. With every word she speaks, a part of my heart breaks and shatters at what she went through. Of how I missed out on the most important moments in her life and pregnancy because of her father, the men of his club, and their fucking greed. Anger wars with sadness, happiness, and sorrow for everything I missed.
I turn my attention to my kids as they finish eating. Zeke wants to get down and explore the clubhouse. It’s written in his big, brown eyes that mirror my own. Delilah looks at me with her large eyes, trying to figure out who I am since she’s never seen me before. At least not in person. I’m not sure if Melissa has any pictures of me or not. Something else I’ll have to ask her about later.
Melissa stands from her chair and walks over to pick our daughter up as Jace cleans up Zeke’s face from the mess he made of himself while eating. I’m handed my daughter after Melissa says a few words to her. Delilah is so fucking tiny and feels as if she weighs nothing at all in my arms. I hold her close to my chest, not sure if I’m holding her correctly or anything while looking at Melissa.
“You’re not gonna break her, Zeke. She’s not made of glass and won’t get hurt by you holding her. You don’t have to support her head at this point and she’ll let you know what she wants or needs,” Melissa informs me, once again knowing where my head’s at.
The front door of the clubhouse opens and closes, but I don’t pay it any attention as my entire focus goes back on the little peanut in my arms. Delilah is staring at me with wonder filling her eyes and doesn’t look away for a second as we stare at one another. This is a big moment for us and I’m not sure what to do.
“What the fuck is going on here?” Brenda’s voice fills the common room, grating on my nerves more than anything else ever could.
Brenda is a Slayer Slit, what we call the club girls here. She’s been trying to work her way into my bed since the second we met. I have no interest in her or any of the other women. Not when my entire focus has been on finding Melissa and bringing her where she belongs—at my side. Melissa flinches at my side, but doesn’t say a word. I don’t even bother paying Brenda any attention. It will only fuel her madness and give her the attention she desperately craves.
“I asked a fucking question, Homicide. You don’t fucking answer me when I talk to you now?” she screams out, right at my back as I hold my daughter closer and tighter to my body.
Melissa still doesn’t make a move to do anything as she looks at her children and me. Pain and sorrow are written on her face and I know what’s running through her head. She thinks I’m with Brenda and haven’t told her. That Jace hasn’t told her I’m with someone else. What she doesn’t realize is I haven’t been with another female since the last time we were together. No one is her and they weren’t good enough.
“I don’t answer to you, Brenda. You’re not my ol’ lady, in my bed, or anythin’ else,” I finally manage to grit out, watching Delilah for any signs of distress.
My little angel is perfectly fine until Brenda puts her hands on me and attempts to force me to look at her. Delilah starts crying those huge alligator tears while Melissa jumps from her seat at the table and Jace grabs Zeke from wandering off.
“I don’t know who the fuck you think you are, but you don’t ever put your hands on someone holding my child,” Melissa says, her voice low and deadly. “My child has done nothing to you and I will have no problem putting your ass down for hurting her in any way. I don’t give a fuck what is going on here, or what you think is going on, but it doesn’t involve an innocent fucking child. Back the fuck off!”
I want to jump up and down, cheering for my girl as she hasn’t lost her backbone. Not when it comes to those she loves and treasures. If this were about her, I could see her sitting there and not saying a damn word. This is about our kids though. And the fact that Brenda doesn’t give a shit about the little girl I’m holding in my arms.
“I don’t know who the fuck you think you are, but I’m Homicide’s girl. You have no right fucking talking to him, looking at him, or letting him hold your stupid fucking brat,” Brenda bitches, sneering at Melissa as she looks her over from head to toe.
Melissa is still gorgeous as ever. Her long blonde hair still has the light brown, almost caramel, highlights in it. The only difference is it now hangs down to her waist. Her eyes are still the bright, crystal clear blue that reminds me of the brightest summer days without a cloud in the sky. She’s still got the tan skin and is essentially the same person I fell in love with so long ago. However, there’s noticeable differences in her appearance now as well. The dark circles under her eyes, wrinkled clothes covering her body, and the exhaustion filling every single move she makes. Still, Melissa is the most beautiful, sexy, and gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen in my life. The same way I felt years ago when we met and the way I still feel about her today.
“If you were really Zeke’s girl, he’d have told me about you. And if you ever say a bad word about my children again, I will fucking gut you and watch you bleed out. I’ll spit on your corpse and make sure no one ever finds your body. I know how to do all that shit and won’t lose a wink of sleep doing it to you. A single word about either one of my children, our children, isn’t to come out of your mouth again. I’m not playing games with a skank like you. Cause I’ve seen your type before and you won’t last long here as it is.
“You’re nothing more than a fucking slut who will spread her legs for any man here. Zeke is an officer which puts him high on your list of men to fuck. You’re nothing more than a patch chaser who wants to fucking tie herself to an officer of the club and become his ol’ lady. Every fucking man in this room knows this about you, I guarantee it. You’re a bitch who would fuck over her own flesh and blood in a second if it meant getting what you want. A man worth anything doesn’t want that kind of scum in his life because it means you’ll do the same thing to him when you find someone you feel is better. Get the fuck away from my kids before I make you get away from them,” Melissa growls out, her voice echoing in the now silent common room.
It’s silent until the few guys in here start clapping because every word she said is the absolute truth. I look at Brenda to see her face turning a shade of red and know she’s about to lose her shit.
“Homicide, I hope you don’t expect me to play ‘mommy’ to your fucking brats. I’m not raising some skanks kids with you. So, I suggest you choose and make it known now how you’re gonna play this,” Brenda threatens me.
“I warned you, bitch!” Melissa says, turning her body in a second and landing a punch directly in Brenda’s face.
Blood gushes from her nose as the crunch of her nose breaking fills the air. Brenda falls to her ass, screaming and holding her nose. She’s making a spectacle of herself and no one makes a move to help her. We all look at Melissa as she stands over the bitch with fury filling her face.
Standing up, I hand our daughter to Melissa before leaning over Brenda. “I would never choose you over my children. I’ve never fucked you, looked at you for more than it takes to brush you off, or anythin’ else. Stop this fuckin’ claimin’ act, Brenda. It’s not fuckin’ sexy at all.”
Before I can say anything to Melissa, I look up to find her heading for the door. Jace is following close behind with Zeke in his arms and the diaper bag over his shoulder. I go to follow them out, but Brenda wraps her body around my legs to stop me.
“Don’t leave me, Homicide. I’ll do whatever you want. Even if it means raising your kids from another woman. I was just mad and didn’t mean anything I said,” she begs and pleads with me as I look down at her with disgust.
“Fuck off, Brenda. You mean nothin’ to me and I won’t ever touch you. You won’t ever be my ol’ lady or be anywhere near my kids. Melissa is my woman and the only woman I’ll ever want. I’ve never touched a single girl here and you certainly aren’t about to change my fuckin’ mind about that. Your fuckin’ loose pussy can’t satisfy anyone here and you’re on borrowed time,” I growl, knowing I’m losing precious time with my family.
Brenda continues to cry, scream, beg, and hold me in place. It takes Omen and Knuckle to disentangle her from me so she doesn’t get hurt. None of us would ever intentionally hurt a woman for any reason. It’s the only reason I didn’t separate myself from her when Melissa was still here. This fucking bitch is going to find out I don’t play games when she finds herself out of the damn clubhouse and banned for life.