Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
JULIE
As I make my way to Cobalt’s suite, I hear my name being screamed.
Turning, I barely brace in time for when Jimmy runs right into me, arms wrapping tightly around me.
I feel wet and am totally shocked that he’s crying while holding me.
My poor brother is my only thought as I put my arms around him, holding him tightly.
We both are sobbing by the time Cobalt reaches us and, to my utter surprise, surrounds us with his arms. The feeling of safety warms my heart as Jimmy tries to control his emotions.
Cobalt’s head is resting on mine but his hand is on my brother’s shoulder squeezing gently.
“Stash, take your time, brother, your sister is okay. Once she’s ready, I’ll have Incubus check her out thoroughly, but I’m thinking it would take more than Honey and whatever mob asshole she sold her soul to for help to bring your sister down.
You gonna be okay, brother? Remember, you need to take it easy too ’cause you ain’t all the way recovered.
Come on, let’s all go to my office so we can sit a bit. I’ll make some tea for you both.”
I look up to see Cobalt staring down at me.
With the look in his eyes, all my anxiety and fear melts away.
This man is everything I’ve ever wanted or dreamed of.
I just wish our mom was around to see how great Cobalt is with not only me but also my brother.
Jimmy needs a man or men in his life who don’t judge him on his choices and support him.
Sitting in his office with my brother, with no one talking, gives me the time I need to process.
I feel it before it even hits me and when the tears start falling down my cheeks, my brother is on one side and Cobalt is on the other.
Neither says a word, just lets me know by their presence they are there for me if I need them.
After a while I manage to pull myself together and finish my tea.
Jimmy looks at me to make sure I’m as okay as I say I am before he shakes Cobalt’s hand, thanking him for everything.
If you think about it, technically, Jim and I are millionaires now.
We are going to have to talk about what we are going to do with that amount of money.
I’d like to try to help survivors of human trafficking or maybe start up a foundation for kids.
We got time. Cobalt tells my brother, when he’s ready, they can look at the plans for his cabin, which will be built close to both Incubus’s and Cobalt’s cabins out on the farthest point of the club’s property.
He will also have a state-of-the-art technology room that has the best security around.
Jimmy, who is called Stash by all the Kings of Anarchy brothers, is now their technology prospect.
He’ll have to prove himself but from the way it’s looking, I have no doubt Jimmy will be able to handle everything.
Once he leaves, Cobalt loses no time lifting me up and carrying me up to his suite.
Gently he places me down and starts the shower so it’s warm and steamy by the time I get in.
Slowly, and ever so carefully, he removes my clothes, his eyes taking in every scratch, bruise, or mark before he places me in the shower on the bench.
I watch in awe as he strips his clothes off, entering his huge as shit shower.
He lifts me off the bench then reaches for the loofah, pouring my soap on it before cleaning every inch of my body.
He starts washing my hair, twice, then puts conditioner on it, running his hands through it.
When I’m done, he places me back on the bench and quickly washes himself before reaching out for a towel.
When he starts to dry me off, I realize it’s warm, so he must have a heated towel rack.
By the time I’m dried and in one of his Kings of the Anarchy T-shirts, my body is starting to shut down.
The stress and fear of being kidnapped, gagged, threatened, hurt, and everything else is weighing me down.
Last, I have Cobalt, no, I mean Liam, wrapping me up in his arms, holding on to me tightly.
Then right before I go under in nothing but his warmth around me and heartbeat in my ear.
* * *
Not sure what woke me up, but I open my eyes to darkness.
My first instinct is to scream my head off, but it dawns on me pretty quickly that I’m in Liam’s bed by myself.
It’s so quiet that I instantly hear someone far away either crying or screaming.
My heart is beating like crazy because, if that’s Honey, part of me wants them to go all the way, while the other part of me keeps saying in my head everyone deserves a second chance.
Slowly I sit up in bed, feeling my body struggling.
Between everything that’s happened, I’m thinking being dragged out from behind the shelves and over all the stuff has left me bruised and battered.
Thank God for Mammoth, otherwise who knows what would have happened to me.
I look down to see I’m in a Kings of Anarchy T-shirt, so I stand up looking for something to wear on my bottom half.
My tummy is growling so I need to find some food.
I grab a pair of Liam’s basketball shorts, pulling them up and using a hair tie to keep them up.
Going in the bathroom I brush my hair and teeth, then head out to the kitchen to find something to eat.
When I walk in the room, everyone in it suddenly shuts up.
You can hear a pin drop. I look around, trying to act normally, well until Rocket stumbles his way to me using a walker, giving me a pat on my shoulder.
Seeing him brings tears to my eyes, and next thing I know, one by one each brother in this club is either patting me on the back or giving me gentle hugs.
Tears are rolling down my face by the time Dreamer pulls me into his arms. When he whispers how glad he is I’m back, that’s when I lose it.
Gently, he moves me to a chair, setting me down then going to grab me a bottled water.
A plate of food is put in front of me by Sparkle, who gives me a real smile for the first time since I’ve arrived.
Looking around I don’t see Cobalt, Incubus, Psycho, or Mammoth.
When I look back at Sparkle, she gives me big eyes and leans down, whispering they are taking care of business.
I get what she’s trying to say without putting it into words. Honey business.
Everyone goes back to what they were doing as some of the sweet butts come by to keep me company.
In the short period of time I’ve been here, it’s become quite apparent these women are unique, each having a reason for what they do at the club.
A few are working their way through college, while others are recovering from domestic violence.
And a few honestly say they love the life of being able to—and I use their words “fuck whoever they want when they want.” Go figure, there are men who do it and no one questions it, so why should it be different for women?
Not sure how long I’ve been sitting when the door flings open, and at what I see my mouth drops open as my eyes get huge.
Incubus walks in like it’s absolutely normal for him to be in a pair of boxer briefs and nothing else, covered in blood and whatever else is on him.
Even his beard has stuff in it. When he looks around and sees me his head drops and he refuses to look my way again, almost like he is embarrassed or something.
One of the sweet butts, an older girl, moves around grabbing stuff, putting it in a plastic container.
Without a word he turns and walks back out.
Not sure what’s up, so when Bowie and Ajax make their way to me, I wait because something is definitely up.
Both men sit down and it’s Bowie who explains.
“Okay, Julie, what you just saw, I need you to forget it like you never saw it. This is not a demand but a very sincere suggestion. And, no, none of that shit on Incubus was Honey’s, just so you know.
There are things that are up to Cobalt to either tell you or not.
It’s no one’s business except both of yours.
And to answer your question, your ol’ man is not with Incubus either.
He had to do a run to speak to Gino, the mob boss, who is trying to figure out what the fuck went down here and who is actually responsible for everything.
It doesn’t help that Salvatore is related to him through some marriage shit.
As you know, Sal is a total jagoff but he also has a wife, kids, and one on the way, I think we were told.
Tony, on the other hand, is a very aggressive son of a bitch wanting to advance in the Mob.
Well, he did but that ain’t gonna be happening any time soon.
Shit, don’t repeat that to anyone, Julie.
Any questions? And just sayin’ please don’t ask me any questions. ”
Looking at Cobalt’s two brothers, who look scared to death I might ask them some questions they can’t or won’t answer, I lean forward, making it easy on them, and just shake my head with a smile on my face.
The relief on both of their faces almost makes me laugh.
I look down just as the plate of food is pulled back and a fresh one is placed down right in front of me.
Looking up I see Sparkle glancing my way before she turns and walks away.
Suddenly hungry, I start eating and looking around at everyone.
A few of the brothers are openly watching me but most are either eating their dinner or having conversations with those around them.
Sweet butts are filling up glasses, removing dirty dishes, or being pulled into brother’s laps once they are finished eating.
Cobalt tried to explain to me that some of the brothers have no qualms about getting busy in front of everyone, and it seems he was telling the truth.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see a young, newer-looking sweet butt moving off I think it’s Ore’s lap to kneel between his legs.
To give him some credit, he moves in closer to the table so it’s not open season for all to see.
When his head drops back, I can only imagine what she is doing, and for some reason I can’t stop watching his face and body.
His eyes are closed, his mouth has dropped open, and his body is tense.
I can see his one leg is bouncing up and down, and when he jerks his head up and his eyes open, the expression says it all.
Ore probably just experienced an orgasm, but it’s what he does next that totally surprises me.
His hands go between his legs, which I’m assuming is where the girl is, and I can see his arms moving so he must be either massaging or at least caressing her head.
Not such assholes after all is my thought right before his eyes find me staring and he gives me a sexy as hell grin with a wink.
Then he reaches down, pulling the woman up, and drags her out of the kitchen, which I’m sure is so he can go fuck her in one of the rooms, as I’m not sure if he has a room here or not.
That’s the kind of stuff I still don’t know.
Finishing off all that I could eat, I stand, taking my plate to the sink, rinsing it off, and loading it into the dishwasher. I hear a high-pitched whistle and turn to see Sparkle pointing at me.
“Yo, y’all see what Julie just did? Fine example of what you do with a plate when done eating. Learn, assholes, because I’m done being everyone’s fuckin’ maid, you hear me? Thanks, Julie, appreciate you being so considerate. Enjoy your night, sistah.”
With that she turns and walks back to the walk-in pantry, while I get flak from just about everyone left in the kitchen.
Oh well, I think to myself I’m not going to be able to please everyone every single time.
Feeling tired again, I make my way to Cobalt’s room and close the door.
I almost forget but turn to lock it knowing Cobalt can get in with his Bond scanner.
I leave a side lamp on before I climb back into bed.
My head barely hits the pillow when I pray, as sleep pulls me under, that I don’t have nightmares because Cobalt isn’t here to protect me.
That is my final thought before nothing else penetrates.
Well, that and I hope and pray my ol’ man is okay.