10. Chapter Ten
Chapter Ten
“You’re quiet,” I note.
“I’m taking it all in.”
“It’s not always this loud and chaotic.”
“Why do I doubt that?” Gwynee sucks down more of her fruity cocktail Gail made her. She hangs around sometimes on weekends when shit gets wild. She’s Dunnie’s Ol’ Lady and the mother of Kidd, who is next in line to prospect once he’s twenty-one. Gail’s request. Not mine. I respect her wishes, but she can’t keep him from following in his old man’s footsteps much longer.
He’s practically a legacy as long as he doesn’t go and fuck up too hard.
Music filters through the sound system and I pull Gwynee into my lap, needing her close as we watch the scene around us. She leans back against my chest, and I grip her thighs, spreading them slightly apart so she can feel the erection in my pants right at her ass. I’m thinking about fucking her right here, with no one the wiser as to what we’re doing in our dark corner.
“You ever fucked in a room full of people before?” I slide a hand under one of her tits, over her shirt, giving it a squeeze.
“No,” her answer comes out like a pant.
Fuck me, my sugar baby is already worked up at the thought of it.
Before I get the chance to make the fantasy a reality, my niece Lucie shows up and with her is one of the women I used to fuck. I’m going to string her up and tan her damn hide for this.
Lucie smiles at us as she marches toward us with Becky in tow.
“I’m busy, Lucie,” I warn, my tone low and lethal.
Gwynee stiffens in my hold, sensing the change in my mood.
“Look who I ran into while in town. You remember Becky, the woman you’ve been dating for the past six months?”
All color drains from Gwynee’s face, but I tighten my arm around her before she can make a run for it.
“Hey, BD.” Becky licks her lips and the sight of her pisses me off. She knew the score. We fucked once a week, if that. When I told her to lose my number, that also meant to keep clear of my club and my fucking family. I made the mistake of being seen with her at Shooters when Lucie was there a few months back. She misread the situation and thought Becky was my woman, but I told her as much. She’s just pulling this shit out of whatever spite she has toward Gwynee.
“Get lost, Lucie. I’ll deal with you later.” My niece looks put out that she doesn’t get to stay and watch the drama.
Hero comes over and leads her away. I wish he’d fucking claim her already and put a fucking baby in here to calm her ass down. He says he’s not ready to settle down and I can’t force him. I mean, I could, but I won’t.
With Lucie out of my face, I focus on getting Becky the fuck out of here before she ruins shit for me with Gwynee.
“Thought I told you we were finished.”
“I know, but I ran into Lucie and…”
“Lucie doesn’t speak for me.”
“I’m sorry––I didn’t know you wouldn’t want to see me.”
“Bullshit. I was with my woman when I called and ended it. Told you straight up we were done. Before that, I told you how it was. Did I ever bring you here?”
“Well, no.”
“Exactly. I don’t do repeats and I damn sure don’t bring women to my clubhouse to meet my daughter, who doesn’t fucking mean shit all to me. As you can see, I’ve got a woman in my lap that I’m two seconds from fucking right here, so unless you want to watch, I suggest you get the fuck gone and never approach me or my woman again. We clear?”
She nods and I wave one of my guys over.
“See that she leaves and doesn’t come back.”
“On it, Prez.” Toxic gets Becky out of my sight, and I give Gwynee a squeeze on the thigh.
“You good?”
“You don’t do repeats?” she looks over her shoulder at me.
“Nope. I don’t bring women around my girls. Lucie saw me out one night and got the wrong idea.”
“But I’m here. And you’ve called me your woman more than once.”
“Yeah, Gwynee. You’re here on my lap. In front of my club. Think that speaks for itself.”
“I’m confused.”
“About what part? I like you and want you naked in my bed when I crawl into it at night. Figure we can pack your shit up tomorrow or I can put the prospects on it.”
“Why would I pack my stuff up?”
“Babe. I just told you, and I’m not big on repeating myself.”
Before she can start an argument that we both know she’s going to lose, I bring my mouth down on hers and shut her up.
“What’s she doing here still?” Sissy glares across the breakfast table at Gwynee in my lap as I feed her some strawberries and whip cream.
Gwynee tries to move back into her chair, but I don’t let her.
“Because we’re together.”
Sissy’s mouth falls open and I could have gone about dropping this on her better, but I’d rather put it all to bed in one go. Lucie slings her coffee mug into the sink and stomps out the back door, probably running straight to Hero in the guesthouse to beg him to talk some sense into me.
“For serious? She’s your ol’ lady?”
“You got a problem with your old man doing what makes him happy?”
“No, but…”
“But what? Been a long time since someone has made me feel like I’m not dead inside.”
“Whatever.” Sissy picks at her plate and glares out the window. Girl could wilt flowers with that coldhearted stare, but eventually she’ll come around.
Gwynee has a sweetness that’s irresistible. I meant what I said last night about her being in my bed at night. I understand she has reservations, but I know what I want. I want my sexy little sugar baby all to my damn self. I’d tell her to quit her job if I thought she’d do it. I’m that sure about this gut feeling that she’s mine.
A guttural scream echoes through the house, sounding like it’s coming from upstairs. Footsteps sound from different directions. I order Gwynee and Sissy to stay put with Hardcore watching their back while I figure out if we’re under attack or if something else is happening.
Upstairs club members are gathered outside of the room I’ve got Daisy staying in. “Go back to whatever you were doing,” I bark. She’s probably having an episode or something. Who knows what the fuck she’s endured?
I knock on the door and let myself in. Daisy is sitting upright in the center of the beds, clutching her covers like a scared child.
Lunatic is standing by the window, scanning the perimeter.
“What’s going on?” I address him. Daisy doesn’t appear to be in the shape to talk.
“She had a nightmare.”
“I wasn’t dreaming. Someone was here. They want to take me back.”
“Who was here?”
“Hector.”
“He’s still in Mexico. I give you my word. Go fetch Gwynee from the kitchen, and get Doc Stevens to swing back by,” I order Lunatic and he looks at Daisy as though he’s seeking her permission to go. Fuck. He’s got a soft spot for her. He looks reluctant to go, but lifts his chin up and does as I ask.
“I know what I saw.”
“I get that, sweetheart. I’m sure in your mind you did see him. I don’t doubt that for a second. I can’t even begin to understand what you’ve gone through. But I need you to trust me when I say you’re safe here. I mean it.”
She looks skeptical and hell, I don’t blame her. I wouldn’t trust anyone either.
“How you holding up with the detox?”
She lifts a shoulder in response.
Coming off the hard shit she was being shot up with isn’t easy and can be dangerous if it’s not done right.
Gwynee appears in the doorway, concern etched on her face. “Hey, Daisy. Want to come downstairs and have some breakfast?”
Daisy shakes her head. I doubt she can tolerate much on her stomach with the hell her body is fighting.
“I can bring you a plate. You should try to eat something.”
“I’ll get it,” Sissy says from behind Gwynee, surprising me and startling my woman.
A sense of pride in Sissy washes over me, cracking another sliver in my hardened heart.
Gwynee is good for me, and I think she’s going to be good for Sissy, too.