Chapter 26
Chapter
Twenty-Six
Johny B
“ S hit,” I growl, running my hand over the top of my head with frustration. “I forgot about Mammoth. I thought it was him earlier when you came by, but I’m sure as fuck happy that it wasn’t.”
“JB,” Mammoth’s deep, distinctive gruff voice comes from the other side of the door. “I know you’re in there. You’ve got two minutes to make yourself decent and open the door before I break the fucker down.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming.” I shout back, before placing another breathtaking kiss to Scarlett’s lips. “Or should I say, I just have.” I snigger. “Here,” I scoop up her panties and sweatpants from where I’d tossed them on the floor. “Go into the bathroom and get dressed. I need to let him in before he trashes the place.”
I wait until Scarlett is safely behind the closed door, then grab the towel from the floor and secure it around my waist before opening the door to Mammoth. He immediately pushes his way in, eyeballing the room before focusing on the bathroom door.
“Please tell me it’s not Scarlett hiding in there?” he demands, scowling at me.
“It’s not Scarlett hiding in the bathroom,” I snigger. “Fuck, now you went and made me a liar.”
“For fuck’s sake, JB. Don’t be fucking with me, because if it is you and her that’s been rutting like rabbits, slamming the bedhead against the wall, being heard all around the club house, then you’re dancing with the devil, brother.”
“What can I say,” I shrug. “Slap me stupid and point me in the direction of Hell, but damn, it was worth every fucking second! If I have to face Smoke’s wrath, then so be it.”
“Jesus, JB,” Mammoth groans out as his ass hits the bed. The bed that is as messy as shit and coated in my ladies’ juices. “I knew you wouldn’t be able to keep it in your pants. Cannon is going to go ballistic.”
“Just a fucking minute,” I growl back at my superior, “Don’t you dare disrespect what Scarlett and I have. I’ll take on anyone who stands in the way of us being together if I have to. You, Cannon, even Smoke, but I sincerely hope that it doesn’t come to it, because the club is my family, my life, but now, so is Scarlett. So, don’t ask me to choose, because you might not like the answer.”
“Calm the fuck down, will you,” Mammoth jumps to his feet, quickly taking the few steps needed to close the distance between us. His big hand comes down on my shoulder. “If that’s truly how you feel, then I’ll back you one hundred per cent. And I’m sure that Cannon will, too. Hey, it’s not like we’ve had the easiest of rides when it comes to matters of the heart, so believe me, we get it. But Smoke, fuck. You’re going to have one hard as shit fight to get him on side.”
“But he won’t be doing it alone,” Scarlett announces, stepping out of the bathroom. “I’ll be right beside him.”
“No, Scarlett,” I walk to her, holding her by the shoulder and look deep into her eyes. “I need to face Smoke alone. How much of fucking pussy would I look if I drag you in there to fight my corner.”
“He’s right,” Mammoth backs me up. “You know your father better than anyone. At times, Smoke is a closed book, giving nothing away. One thing I do know, is that he’ll have more respect for JB if he stands his ground alone, rather than going in with half a dozen brothers vouching for him. He’d take that as him being a ball-less cunt, lacking a backbone.”
“I’ll ask to see him today,” I stand tall, determination in my voice. “The sooner we get this done, the better. First, I need to speak to Prez. It’s only right he knows the situation before anyone else does.”
“Well, you better get on it now, because Smoke wants to see you this afternoon.”
I kiss Scarlett one last time and watch as both her and Mammoth leave the room. Grabbing my phone, I quickly punching out my Prez’s number. It’s coming up to ten-thirty here in Nevada, so Florida being in front by three hours, at least I won’t be dragging Cannon from his bed. Unless, of course, he’s having some afternoon delight with his old lady, Leah, because he can barely keep his hands off her most of the time.
The phone rings out, but it’s picked up before it hits voicemail.
“Johny B,” Cannon’s voice filters down the phone line. “How you doing, Brother?”
“I’m doing good, Prez. Thank you for asking. I’m sorry to disturb you, but I need to talk to you.”
“The talk…” the line goes silent for a matter of seconds. “I was wondering how long it would be. Must admit there was a point when I thought it wasn’t going to happen, especially when you came up with the crazy idea of inserting yourself amongst the DVI. At one point I wasn’t sure you were going to come out of it alive. Thank fuck you did.”
“Sorry, Prez.” I’m shaking my head, confused. Not that he can see that, but what the hell is he talking about. “How long? I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Before you rang me to tell me that you’ve found your woman, and you’re asking for my approval.”
“You knew?”
“Of course I fucking knew,” he chortles down the line. “You were the most miserable motherfucker when you came back from Nevada. A quick call to Stone and my suspicions were confirmed.”
“What suspicions?” I question yet again.
“Son, whenever a brother is acting like his dick is in a clamp, his head is in the clouds and doesn’t even blink when a chick is parading around in the clubhouse naked, you know there’s a woman behind it.” He lets out a huge sigh. “Can’t say I was impressed when Stone let it drop that it was Scarlett. Talk about the heart wanting what it shouldn’t.”
“But I love her.” I sound soppy and pathetic. The most vulnerable I’ve ever felt and it’s while vomiting my feelings to my President.
“Then you have my blessing if you want her as your old lady.” Cannon replies. “And you can tell that to Smoke when you go plead your case, but know this JB, it’s not going to be easy. Good luck.” The call drops and I count my fucking lucky stars that Cannon is my Prez, and hope to fuck that my luck doesn’t give out with the other president prominent in my life.
Johny B
“He’s in his office waiting on you,” Stone flicks his head towards the back room.
“How’s his mood?” I ask him. Can’t deny that I’m nervous as hell. Not because I’m scared of Smoke, but because of how important this is. My worry is, that although I’m willing to go up against anyone and everyone, when it comes to Scarlett defying her dad, I’m not sure I’d even want to push her into doing that. He’s her only true family.
“Grumpy, but that’s nothing new when it comes to Smoke,” he replies.
“Not helpful,” I snigger back.
“Suck it up buttercup, and get your ass in there, because the longer you keep him waiting, the angrier he’s going to get.” Stone gives me a firm pat on the back before making his way out of the clubhouse.
He’s right. I need to fucking do this.
With every step, I suck in a deep, calming breath so by the time I get to the door of the office, I have on my game face. I rap quickly on the door and wait.
“Yeah!” Smoke’s voice bellows from behind the door. I grab the handle and fling open the door, stepping inside, showing confidence and determination that I don’t really hold. “Sit your ass down, JB.”
I grab the back of the chair and swing it around before straddling it, my chest to the back, and my arms resting across the top.
“You wanted to see me, Prez?”
“Cut the cocky bastard shit, JB, that won’t cut it with me,” he warns. I search his face for any signs that will give me a clue to how this is going to go. “It’s no surprise to you, or anyone else, that I’ve never liked you, JB. You excrete arrogance, insolence and self-importance, and it fucking riles me.”
“Or you would look at it as confidence, bravery and audaciousness,” I offer in defense.
“What the fuck? You check that out in a dictionary before you came in here?” He accuses. He taps out a smoke and brings it to his lips, but surprises me when he doesn’t go to light it. “No less of the cockiness. For once, shut your mouth and listen to what I have to say before I lose my shit.”
I mime closing an imaginary zip at my mouth and tilt my head, waiting for him to continue with his character assassination. My guts are rolling like a milk churn. If my stomach wasn’t empty, I’m pretty sure it would have been by now. The contents littering the floor.
“You’re fucking infuriating, do you know that?” he hisses, shaking his head at me. “Yet, you’ve gone way beyond any brother’s expectations for this club, and despite the earlier misgivings I had when it came to you and my daughter, it’s clear that you care for her.”
“I fucking love her,” I can’t help blurting it out, regardless of Smoke’s previous warning.
“You say that, but how do I know this is not just another challenge for you. Reel in the daughter of the president, then drop her and move on to the next pretty girl who shows you attention?”
“Because that’s not who I am anymore,” I growl at him, pushing up out of my seat, my body tensing as a mix of anger and fear starts to grip me. Anger at his ignorance and a fear of losing Scarlett. “Fuck, Smoke. You don’t get it, do you? Not once have I even looked at another woman since you fucked me off back to Florida. Jesus…”
“Then help me understand,” he cuts me off, leans back in his chair, rolling the unlit cigarette between his teeth, unfazed by my outburst. Oblivious to my internal torment. “Tell me, how do you know you love her?”
“The pain… the pain I feel when I’m not with her. The utter euphoria I feel when I am.” As the tension begins to ease from my body, an uncontrollable smile takes over my face. “She’s so beautiful, so incredibly astute. She lights up the darkness, erases the bad and has the ability to bring me to my knees. The months away from her have been nothing but a living hell. I walked around in a haze going through the motions, doing what was needed for my club, but I sure as hell wasn’t living.”
Getting to my feet I do a one-eighty and walk the few spaces to the door, but needing to say more I turn back to face him.
“I’m addicted to her. Don’t you see that? And when you’re addicted to something, that’s all you want, all that you crave. Scarlett is my addiction and like any addict, when I’m not with her, I’m not a complete man.”
Silence falls over the room. Smoke finally flicks open the lighter that he’s been playing with, and puts the flame to the tab still in his mouth. He takes a deep draw, filling his lungs with the nicotine, holding it there before releasing it through his nose and mouth. The tension rises along with the plume of smoke.
“You can have my blessing to date my daughter, but it comes with conditions,” he says firmly.
“Anything,” I quickly respond, not quite believing what I’m hearing. His ultimatums don’t faze me, because I will do anything for Scarlett. Anything other than give up and walking away.
“You patch over to Nevada, because if you think I’m going to let you take her away from me, you’re deluded.”
“Done.”
“Hold your fucking horses, that’s not all. You let her continue with her career, and if you do make her your old lady, you wait until she’s established before you put any babies in her belly.”
“Sure thing, I will support her in every way she needs me to, and more.”
“Last but not least,” he points the two fingers holding his now half-smoked cigarette at me. “You treat her like the precious woman she is, because that’s what she deserves.”
“Nothing less,” I confirm. “Thank you,” I choke out, moving around to his side of the desk, I grab him by the shoulders, bringing him to his feet before wrapping my arms around him. I hug the fucking life out of him. Smoke doesn’t realize it, but he has just given me the world. A life where I will give and receive love that I never had before, and only ever dreamed of.
Smoke doesn’t hug me back. His arms stay exactly where they are, by his side, cigarette butt still cradled between his two fingers. I let him loose when it becomes obvious that he’s uncomfortable with the situation. With my arms relaxed, he pushes me away and waves his hand towards the door.
“Now fuck off out of my office, because if you start blubbing like a fucking baby, you’re not man enough for my girl and the deals off.”
I laugh because I’m fucking ecstatic.
Once I’m in the hallway, the door to his office still ajar, I can’t resist having the last word.
“So, will I call you Prez now, or Daddy?” I say with a deadpan expression.
“Fuck you,” Smoke shouts back at me.
I just manage to shut the door before something hard hits it from the inside, but I’m not out of range to hear the laughter come from inside, too.