Chapter 37 #2
“I understand,” I say, though it’s through gritted teeth. Freak and I should be able to live our lives together without Piero influencing it.
At the next church, the club apparently weighed up the pros and cons, and came down on the side that it was unlikely Piero had any idea what part of the States I’d landed in.
As long as I was careful not to draw attention to myself – which I guess meant not being caught dancing naked on the street – they decided the risk was so small it could be discounted.
A few days later, Freak had found a little two-bedroom house available for rent.
After I’d seen it and given my approval, he’d signed a lease and paid the deposit.
It wasn’t far from the compound and within easy reach of Royals.
In many ways, it was ideal. I was just happy to have a place of our own where we could concentrate on us, and be away from the ears and eyes of his brothers.
We agreed that for now, I would stay away from the club unless I went there with Freak.
Well it was my idea, and seeing I was set on it, Freak gave in.
I was delighted. At sixteen I’d dreamed of being mistress of my own home, but I’d been saddled with a housekeeper who’d ruled the roost. Now it was all down to me, and I freaking loved it.
It wasn’t all easy sailing. I couldn’t make a bed to Army standards, as Freak preferred, but he put up with my best efforts, and in return, I overlooked some of his worse habits, like leaving hair in the sink after he’d trimmed his beard.
Of course, it was our honeymoon period, but with the good-natured give and take between us, I thought we could weather all storms. The best bit? Him, Ace and I playing happy family.
Surprisingly, within my own four walls, I feel less lonely than when I was at the clubhouse, and happy with my own company while Freak’s at work and Ace at summer school or at Short’s.
Today, due to my stomach reminding me I’m female, I’m more than happy to lie on our second-hand couch, and take the opportunity to think about what I want to do with my life.
I don’t feel right with Freak being the only breadwinner. But how can I contribute?
Freak asked if I wanted to continue my education and get my GED. While I haven't made a decision yet, I’m still thinking about it. One difficulty is again that fucking ID, and that I don’t have it, nor any inclination to raise my head above the parapet to get it.
Now Freak has pointed out the club’s involvement, there’s another reason that I can’t risk Piero finding me.
He may have given up, but there’s too much at stake to bank on it.
My not-as-much-as-I’d-like ex is now approaching sixty.
Freak had been right to suggest he might want to marry again and get that precious heir he could have had if he’d kept his hands off me.
Would he be patient and wait the additional two years when he’d probably be able to have me declared presumed dead?
Knowing the man as I do, he’d not take the risk of me reappearing one day.
He likes all his i’s dotted and his t’s crossed.
Shuddering, I believe I’ll never be free of the risk, he’s still searching for me.
I’ve been careful to stay under the radar.
Even the club only knows me as Trixie, they’ve never used my last name, there was no need for it.
Club girls don’t get paid in anything other than sex or cash, and certainly don’t get medical insurance.
It would be almost impossible for him to find me in this small town less than twenty miles from the Mexican border.
And, until recently, I’d rarely left the club except to shop for necessities. I had no need to.
The doorbell rings. I startle having been lost in my thoughts, and go to answer.
Pippa narrows her eyes at me when I open the door. “You feeling better? Freak said you were under the weather.”
“It’s just my damn period,” I answer as I wave her inside our small rental. “Freak’s so damn overprotective. I’d have come in with Freak…”
“Shucks, woman. He wants you curled up with a hot water bottle and a blanket, then why argue?”
“Because it’s June in Arizona?” I quickly close the door before too much heat can enter.
She laughs. “Yeah, you’ve got a point there. At least the air conditioning works.”
“Freak got that all sorted before he signed the contract.” I sigh. “To tell you the truth, Pippa, I’m bored with lying around.”
She tilts her head to one side as she examines me. “Are your cramps that bad?”
“Not now,” I answer truthfully. “I took Advil which took the edge off.”
She grins. “How about I break you out of here?”
I brighten. “I’m not up to a ten-mile hike, but maybe a coffee?”
“You took the words out of my mouth.” She waggles her car keys. “I’m ready when you are.”
I glance down at myself. The shorts I’d put on, part of my new wardrobe, reach mid-thigh and definitely cover my ass, and my brightly coloured and full-length top might not be high fashion, but respectable enough for the planned outing, and not unlike what Pippa is wearing. “I’ll just grab my phone and purse.”
Twenty minutes later, we’re at a coffee shop that’s not long opened, but one I’ve already decided will be getting a lot of my business.
Not only is the coffee excellent, but the cakes and pastries are melt-in-your-mouth, to-die-for.
After giving our orders to the barista, we grab a table by the window.
“How’s it going living with Freak and Ace?” Pippa blows on her still-too-hot coffee.
“Ace is an angel.” I chuckle. “His nana obviously has him well trained. He picks up after himself. And Freak? Well, his Army days are still with him, everything’s got a place and has to be in it.
” I shake my head. “I more used to letting shit lie around and then do a massive tidy up.” I grin.
“It drives Freak wild. He’s always picking up after me.
” I roll my eyes, “Though he’s not without his own faults.
Beard hair? Why the fuck leave that in the basin? ”
She grins as if in solidarity, then takes a tentative sip from her cup. “Both Saint and I are pretty disciplined.”
I shrug. “Then you wouldn’t like to live with me.”
To which she says drily, “I don’t swing that way, so I probably wouldn’t.”
Her response makes me laugh. And though my stomach is still reminding me it’s the first day of my period, I’m glad she got me out of the house.
“I’m not that bad,” I defend myself. “I just want to pull the covers up on the bed and not make sure the corners are all square.” Smiling, I admit, “But I do love keeping house. I love being able to take care of it myself.”
I notice she’s eaten half her pastry, while I haven’t yet taken a bite out of mine. I rectify that immediately.
“I’m so glad Freak got his head out of his ass.
” She leans forward, and speaks confidentially, “When I was with the Secret Service, I studied MCs like animals in the zoo, but it’s totally different living the life.
Take you, for example. MCs have a reputation of trapping women in sexual slavery, but in reality, or at least with the Kings, it’s different.
All club girls have their own reasons for being there – you, for one, had no damn choice.
And some just like sex.” Her brow creases, then she adds, “Though there are other clubs, like the MDMC who do live up to the hype.”
They sure do, I think in my head. As I’ve seen for myself.
But as for the Kings, “I like sex with men who don’t hurt me.
” At my sad comment, her eyes soften, and I can see the compassion there.
“My husband never made love to me. We never had consensual sex. Every time he laid hands on me, it was rape. He never pretended otherwise. I think it excited him.”
She finishes her coffee and I catch up to her with mine.
For a moment we sit in comfortable silence.
When we start talking again, it’s about other things, like how great Saint’s turning out as a dad.
He’s got Jade today, leaving Pippa free to come visit me.
She explained that she’s already expressed enough milk for a couple of feedings.
I’m dumbfounded how proactive he’s being.
The club’s VP had been a scary, moody asshole before Pippa came along.
Of course, I know Freak’s already a good dad, but it does make me wonder what it would be like if I could have his baby.
Especially when Pippa confides that Short and Bronwyn are trying to get pregnant.
Although my body still plagues me with bleeding and cramps every four weeks, there’s no guarantee that I’d be able to conceive. As Freak had said, it would be fun trying.
A sudden flash of lightning makes us both jump.
Pippa’s eyes immediately go to the sidewalk out front.
It had amused me to note it’s the same way as Freak would have done.
She’d positioned herself so she can see anyone’s comings and goings.
A loud rumble of thunder sounds from overhead, making the windows rattle.
And then the rain comes, like some faucet has been turned on in the heavens.
Turning in my chair I watch as the huge rain drops bounce off the ground.
Pippa shivers, and leans forward. “Is it wrong to say I fucking hate monsoons?”
I recall it was autumn when she came to the club, so this is all new to her.
Raising and lowering my shoulders, I respond, “I’ve gotten used to them.
” As rain lashes the windows, Pippa grimaces.
Chuckling, I reassure her. “The rain won’t last long.
Soon the temperature will be back close to the hundreds again and the sun will come out as if nothing ever happened. ”