Chapter Twenty-Two
Homicide
M ELISSA AND THE kids have been back for two days. We haven’t left her cottage in those two days. Food is delivered to us so Melissa doesn’t have to cook anything and we just hang out. Neither one of us has had the conversation we need to about the baby as we lounge around and spend all of our time with the kids. We literally move from the bedroom to the living room and that’s it. When the kids are awake, we play and watch their favorite movies with them. If they’re napping on the couch with us, we watch a movie and snuggle wrapped up tight in a blanket together. I have no desire to go to work, the clubhouse, or anything else.
I’ve never been so scared about anything in my life. Even when everything originally went down, I wasn’t as scared as the night I got home to discover they were missing. Before, I at least had hope Melissa was alive and okay. After taking out Venom and everyone else in their club, we had no clue what Mad Dog would do. He’s always been a little deranged. Then learning Brenda was involved in everything only made the situation worse. I honestly didn’t know what she’d do or how much damage she can land with more than her words.
No one from the club has been to the house once Omen and Grudge left the night we got my family back either. I asked Omen to give us some time by ourselves before anyone called or came over. I’m sure they’re not happy with my decision, but it’s mine to make. Our family needs this time together and we’re gonna take it. However, I do have to leave for a while today. It’s time to deal with Mad Dog and let Brenda know that she’s leaving with Dom. He has to get back home and handle his own business. So, today I have to leave my family alone and head to the clubhouse. They won’t be completely alone though. Two Prospects will be on the house while I’m gone.
“Baby girl, are you happy?” I ask as we sit on the couch together.
“I’m happy, Zeke. About the baby, being here with you, our twins being okay, and everything. Are you happy?” she returns, looking at me.
“I couldn’t be happier than I am right now,” I tell her honestly. “You’re givin’ me another baby and I get to experience everythin’ with you this time. Our twins are safe, happy, and healthy. You’re here in my arms and I’m never lettin’ you go. Why wouldn’t I be happy?”
“I just couldn’t get a read on you at the hospital when we found out I’m pregnant,” she answers with a sad look in her eyes.
“It was a shock. Not because I was unhappy about the baby. I was worried somethin’ is still gonna happen because of everythin’ you just went through. It’s like I don’t want to get my hopes up about this pregnancy bein’ okay and lastin’ knowin’ that bitch put her hands on you. That she kicked the shit out of you with her heels on. And that you choked her out as she struggled against you. What if there’s somethin’ that wasn’t seen on the ultrasound? What if somethin’ still happens to the baby?” I questions her, letting out all of my fears and opening up to my girl.
“That’s everything I felt when I was pregnant with the twins. Especially after I got away from my father and didn’t know what was going on. For days I didn’t know if I was still pregnant or not. Then, once I had an ultrasound and found out I was pregnant with twins, every day I worried something was going to happen to take away that last piece of you I had. This time, I wasn’t hurt nearly as bad. I feel in my gut this baby is a warrior like Zeke and Delilah. He or she will overcome anything that could have possibly happened because we already love him or her so much. I’m not going to think about what could happen because I don’t need the stress. You don’t need that kind of stress weighing you down either, babe,” she tells me, leaning in until our foreheads are pressed together and we’re as close as we can be while sitting on the couch.
“We’ll take it one day at a time. If anythin’ changes I wanna know immediately. I don’t care where I am or what I’m doin’, baby girl. We’re in this together and I need you to be open and honest about this with me. I’ll be at every appointment, ultrasound, and there when he or she is born,” I promise Melissa without moving from where we are. “I have to go to the clubhouse for a little bit. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Okay. We’re just gonna hang out here and watch TV. You’ve already got dinner getting picked up in a few hours so we’ll be okay,” she tells me, standing up and walking me to the door.
Giving her a long, deep kiss I open the door and head outside. The Prospects are already sitting outside in the driveway. After making sure they know what to do, I get on my bike, start the engine, and pull away from the cottage. Several times I look back in my mirror to see Melissa standing in the door where I left her. I don’t stop looking back until I can no longer see the cottage behind me.
The ride to the clubhouse doesn’t take very long at all. It’s one of the perks of Melissa living in the cottage. If I needed to go for a ride to clear my head, this would not be the one to take. I’m from point A to point B in less than ten minutes. There’s no time for me to clear my head or think about much of anything going on in my life right now. Pulling in, Robbie opens the gate for me and I ride straight to my place in line. Every single member is here and we have three Prospects on the gate since Dom and his guys are here today. Too many of us in one place to take any chances. There’s also a few guys stationed on the roof of the clubhouse with sniper rifles to ensure no one tries to come at us from the back or sides.
After shutting my bike off and getting off it, I make my way inside the clubhouse. Everyone is sitting in the common room. Including Marie and Brenda. That stupid skank smirks up at me as if I’m about to save her in this moment. Instead, I walk directly for her. Omen and Grudge get up from their chairs and have my back to make sure I don’t cross a line I can’t come back from. Rage instantly fills me just from one look in her direction. She seriously believes we aren’t gonna do a fucking thing to her skank ass.
“Did anyone fill her in on her new livin’ arrangements?” I grit out through clenched teeth.
“Nope. We wanted you to be the one to deliver the news since it was all your idea,” Rooster says, laughter filling his voice as everyone in the common room goes silent.
I could literally hear a pin drop in here right now with how silent everyone is. No one’s even moving in anticipation of the fireworks that are about to go off.
“You can sit there and smirk at me all you fuckin’ want, Brenda. Rooster already told your skank ass you were no longer welcome in the clubhouse, at any of our support clubs, any of our businesses, or anywhere else we go,” I start, looking directly at Brenda so she sees how serious I am. Sees how pissed and filled with rage I am because of her ass.
“And yet here I sit,” Brenda says, believing she’s going to be allowed to remain here at the clubhouse.
“There’s a reason you’re here right now. See, once they made sure my woman didn’t kill you, we wanted to make sure you didn’t get away. Not sure if you know this or not, but the room you’ve been in the last three days was locked from the outside. And there’s bars on both sides of the window. You had no chance of gettin’ away from us. Now that you’re up and movin’ around, it’s time for you to leave. We’re not just kickin’ you out of town so you can lick your wounds, regroup, and come at us again. This time, you’re leavin’ with Dom. You’ll be livin’ at his compound, workin’ for him, and he’ll be your boss in every single way. I came up with the idea because it gets you the fuck away from my family.
“None of us want you here. We don’t want to see you, deal with your fuckin’ bullshit, or anythin’ else. You’re nothin’ more than a pathetic piece of shit we took pity on in the beginnin’. Now, we don’t ever have to worry about you again. Dom will make sure you remain in line or you’ll suffer the consequences of your actions. You won’t like those consequences either. Dom isn’t like us,” I threaten her, knowing Dom will never put his hands on Brenda in anger.
He’s not that kind of man. That’s one of the reasons we work with him. Brenda doesn’t know what kind of man Dom is. She’s only heard rumors about him and those are never good. He’s made to look like a monster because he can be one when it’s necessary. We all can.
“You can’t fucking send me with Dom!” Brenda screeches, her voice causing everyone in the common room to flinch. “I belong here with you. Melissa won’t ever want you again after everything I told her.”
“Where the fuck do you think I just came from? See, there’s also news that only two other people in this room know about. I’m gonna spill the beans early and hope my baby girl doesn’t hate me for it. When you put your fuckin’ hands on my girl and kicked her to the point you broke open her skin and left bruises on her body, she’s pregnant with my baby. If we had lost our child because of you, I’d throw everythin’ out the window and bring in Kat. Her hearin’ you cost us a child would give you a slow, agonizin’ death. Thankfully, you’re nothin’ more than a drug addict who has no power behind your hits and kicks. My girl, twins, and new baby are perfectly healthy and fine,” I tell the bitch as her face pales and her entire body goes rigid. “Unlike you, she doesn’t have to lie about bein’ pregnant with my baby.”
“She is though. There’s no way she’s pregnant by you. You haven’t had time to have sex with her since she got back. That means if she’s pregnant, it’s with someone else’s baby,” Brenda tries, her entire body now shaking as Marie steps up in front of me.
“Homicide has spent every available second he has with his woman and kids. They’re building a life together and adding a new baby to our family. You always wanted a way in and didn’t give a fuck what you had to do to get there. Melissa is loved and respected by all of us because she makes Homicide happy. She’s his love, knows club life, and would never pull the bullshit you have since walking in our door. You have no honor, loyalty, or anything else a single man here would want in a woman. So, if they say Melissa’s pregnant, she is. The entire club will celebrate and party while you leave here with Dom and get treated exactly as you deserve,” Marie says, punching Brenda in her jaw with a resounding crack.
“You guys done with her?” Dom asks, his voice sounding as if he’s completely bored with the display here.
“I got nothin’ more to say to the bitch,” I tell him, turning my back on her as she falls to the floor behind me. “Thanks, man. I appreciate you takin’ her off our hands.”
“It’s my pleasure. I can always use more help in the stables and outhouses around the compound. Plus, there’s no way for her to escape with the armed guards I have stationed all over the place. And they’re loyal as fuck and won’t let her manipulate them,” Dom responds, giving me one of those man hugs. “Congratulations on the new baby. Let me know when he or she is born and I’ll return to help your family celebrate.”
“I will. If you need anythin’, give me a call.”
***
W e all wait for Dom to get Brenda from the common room. She tries to prolong her stay in our clubhouse by grabbing onto anything she can reach and trying to manipulate the Prospects inside by saying she’s carrying their baby. Fucking manipulative skank! No one listens to her as we all turn our backs and begin conversations as if she’s not here causing chaos as normal. The best thing we can do is ignore her bullshit and drama.
Once everyone with Dom is gone, we make our way toward the hall where the basement door is. Rooster goes down first followed by the rest of us. I’m right behind our President as we make our way to the cell they’ve had Mad Dog kept in since they brought him back here. I honestly can’t wait to laugh in his face because he knocked his own ass out. Granted the steps crumbled under him, but if he weren’t stoned out of his mind, he would have been able to realize what was happening and save himself.
Rooster waits for the Prospect to open the door for us to enter the cell. We all enter one-by-one. Everyone goes to lean against the walls of the cell while I stride over to stand in front of Mad Dog. His eyes aren’t open as he hangs from a set of rusted chains. They’ve been hanging from the ceiling for as long as I’ve been in this club.
“Wake up you piece of shit!” I yell, making the chains rattle as Mad Dog startles awake.
I can’t help but bust out laughing as he glares in my direction. Remembering him fall backward and knock himself out is the only thing I can see in my mind right now.
“What the fuck is so funny?” he barks out, anger filling his voice.
“You are. I have to say you’re the first person I’ve ever had the displeasure of dealin’ with that knocks himself out so we don’t have to do it. Made transportin’ your ass here a lot easier from what I understand. Not that I was with them to get you here. I had more important matters on my mind. And in my arms,” I inform him, glaring at the stupid fuck in front of me. “You should also know Brenda won’t be in Frostford for much longer. We found someplace for her to go. Someone will make sure she doesn’t get free and come near our club ever again.”
“Good. That stupid bitch deserves everything she has coming to her,” Mad Dog spits out. “I can’t believe that stupid bitch put me up against your club. I heard what you did to Venom and everyone. Don’t want no part of you. Any of you.”
“Well, that’s too fuckin’ bad. You stuck your dick in the wrong pussy and she manipulated your ass. Not only was she usin’ you, but you were never gonna get the money you were hopin’ for. Brenda was gonna take it all from you and leave your ass with nothin’. That’s what she does,” I inform the asshole. “Now, I get to dole out the punishment for you playin’ a role in takin’ my family and keepin’ them from me. You did it once before and didn’t learn that you can’t keep us apart. Now, I’m gonna take all my rage, fear, pain, and heartache out on you. I missed out on everythin’ with my twins. Melissa’s pregnancy, their birth, and everythin’ else until she moved here. That’s time I’ll never get back with them.”
“It was on the two of you. You’re the one who couldn’t keep his cock in his pants and had to knock the bitch up. I raised that girl and taught her to never fall for a slick fucker’s words. Then you start fuckin’ with Brenda while Melissa’s here. How does that make us any different?”
“Are those the lies Brenda told you? I haven’t touched a single female here while Melissa and I were apart. I know not to stick my cock in random pussy when I have the best girl in my life. It was just a matter of findin’ her. So, there is a difference in the two of us. I’m not a selfish prick who only gives a fuck about money and what everyone else can do for him. That’s you. You only truly care about your next fix and the money to keep you drugged out of your mind,” I state, grabbing my knife from the sheath on my belt and twirling it in my hands.
Mad Dog watches as I play with my knife for several minutes. His entire face has gone pale and he’s trembling in fear. I’m just waiting for him to piss himself before I get down to work.
“That’s a record, Homicide. He’s already pissed himself,” Omen starts laughing from behind me.
And that’s my cue to get to work.
Walking over to the wall, I take my cut off and hand it over to Omen to hang on to. Then I remove my shirt because it’s one of my favorite ones. He holds that too. I don’t want to have this asshole’s blood and other fluids all over my leather and shirt. I can get rid of my jeans and boots once I’m done with this scumbag.
Turning to walk back toward Mad Dog, I continue playing with my knife. He keeps his eyes locked on it with every step I take closer to him. I have Melissa’s body in my mind where every cut and bruise is. Of every fucking mark Grudge told me she had on her body when they were done with her in the basement of Venom’s clubhouse. Without anything else in my mind, I get to work on Mad Dog’s body. By the time I’m done he’ll have just as many marks and scars on his body as my girl does. I’ve seen every scar they left behind as a constant reminder of what they did to her.
Like when I dealt with Venom, I black out and a red haze fills my eyes. I don’t think or care about what I’m doing to this man. He put his hands on my girl and made her hurt. Like Brenda, he almost took our children from us. No one stops me as I let every ounce of pain out. Pain I felt and went through as I recovered, of the separation between Melissa and I, Melissa’s pain, and me missing out on so much of my twin’s lives. This asshole was part of a group of men who chose to use a girl they helped raise for their own personal gain. You don’t do shit like that.
“Homicide, if you don’t want to end him too soon, you might want to pull back,” Omen calls out, pulling me out of my head.
Mad Dog is hanging in front of me almost dead. He’s got cuts and blood all over his body. Most of them in the same places where Melissa has scars. I’ve gotten his neck, arms, torso, legs, and his face. None of it registered in my mind when I was losing my shit on him.
“Honestly I don’t give a fuck. Anyone else want a piece of him? I accomplished what I wanted to. Even though he won’t be walkin’ out of here alive, he’s got the same marks my woman has on her body from those sick, twisted fucks,” I tell my family as I look around the room.
Grudge immediately steps up, removing his cut and shirt before taking out all of his anger on Melissa’s behalf. I honestly wasn’t sure if he had this kind of violence inside himself. Though, I suppose when you cared about someone, it’s inevitable to have a build-up of rage and pain inside you. Grudge has been there for Melissa and my kids when I couldn’t be. I will never be able to repay him for what he did for me.
“Take the killin’ blow, Grudge. Whenever you’re ready, end this pathetic piece of shit,” I tell him, looking around the room.
Grudge and I are the only two who have ever personally dealt with Mad Dog for any reason. We also have the strongest connection to Melissa. The one person who should be here to get her hands on this asshat. I won’t let her though. Not because she’s pregnant or because I don’t feel she deserves her own form of retribution against this douche canoe. I don’t want her here because she doesn’t need to face Mad Dog. She’s lived her life in fear of him after loving him and having him treat her as an uncle would. The two of us will get her vengeance and she’ll be able to live easy knowing he won’t ever breathe the same air as her again. Mad Dog won’t breathe the same air as our children, won’t be able to learn what they’re up to, or get anywhere near them. My family will be safe from this twatwaffle for the rest of their lives.
I stand next to Omen and watch as Grudge slits Mad Dog’s throat. He doesn’t decapitate him like I did Venom, but it’s pretty damn close. We don’t move as the blood drains from his body and the life drains from Mad Dog’s eyes. Rooster motions for the Prospects to make their way in to deal with the body and clean up the cell. Grudge and I make our way upstairs to take showers and get rid of our jeans and boots. I always keep new ones on hand for instances just like this. The sooner I get in the shower and wash up, the quicker I can get back to my family. That’s the only place I want to be. I want Melissa in my arms as we hang out with our kids. To put them to bed together before we go to bed ourselves. That’s the perfect ending to this day.