Chapter 10
“I see that there are also women club members. What are their roles in the club?” Jariyah’s eyes bounce from Trixx to Dimples, who are laughing at whatever Boston says.
Jariyah has been under me since her mini interrogation an hour ago. I don’t mind at all because I enjoy the feeling of her body next to mine.
“Of course there are women members. Too much testosterone would be fateful. We need a lot of female energy to balance us out. But Dimples, the woman closest to the man over there, is our treasurer. She’s also Boston’s wife.
Trixx is a regular member and our resident bartender.
Deacon’s wife, Squeak, is our secretary. ”
“Oh. That’s interesting.”
“What is?”
I shift my gaze from the threesome to Jariyah to see her eyes already on me. Curiosity shines heavy in her eyes before she speaks again.
“This club is more than the hellraisers people believe you all to be. I love it. Shattering myths is something I can fully get with. But I can help too.”
A low chuckle falls from my mouth when Jariyah’s words settle within me.
“Oh, really? How so?”
“I used to dibble and dabble with bartending during college. Maybe if I go over and make myself friendly, the men will warm up to me faster.”
“I don’t know about all that, but come on. I’ll introduce you to make shit easier.”
I stand and then turn to help Jariyah to her feet before we walk over to the bar just as Dimples and Boston walk away. Dimples smiles and giggles as Boston whispers in her ear. So, I make a mental note to introduce Jariyah to her another time.
“Aye, Trixx. Come meet my woman,” I say when we reach the bar.
Trixx rolls her eyes before she walks over to where Jariyah and I are.
“It’s about time. I’m waiting for you to act like you have some home training.” Trixx grins before her eyes shift to Jariyah. “Hey, honey. Welcome to the group.”
A warm feeling moves through my body when Trixx leaves the bar and hugs Jariyah. Trixx knows no strangers, so her actions don’t surprise me at all. Since it appears that Jariyah is good with Trixx, I leave the bar when they start cackling like two hens.
“I’m going to go help at the bar,” Jariyah says thirty minutes later.
My eyes shift to the bar, where Trixx is swamped by a steady flow of members and others vying to place an order.
My eyes then move to everyone in the vicinity to ensure I know all the key players, just in case shit goes left.
Some of the men are my brothers, and the relationship is still irrelevant when I consider Jariyah’s pending interaction with them.
The fire that simmers within me cools when Jariyah’s hand moves up and down my chest. My eyes land on her to see a small smile.
“I can handle it. I promise.”
“If something doesn’t feel right, let me know.” My tone is softer than I feel as I again shift to the men moving about at the bar.
“I’m sure you’ll be close if I need you.”
“Damn straight.” My hand hovers on her back as I lead her toward the gathering group in need of drinks.
My face is a mask of murder as I lead Jariyah behind the bar, before I lean down to gently kiss her lips. I want every nigga in this room to know that she belongs to me so they know the consequences should they get out of line with my lady.
“I won’t be far. But show these mothafuckas why you’re more than your last name. Show them why you’re mine,” I whisper before I turn and walk away.
My strides are confident as my heart thumps wildly in my chest. Not only is Jariyah showing me that she’s not just the mayor’s daughter, but also that she's determined to find her footing in my club. But her attempt at disarming my brothers not long ago confirms that she’s no shrinking violet.
I don’t know what qualifies her to bartend, but I’m curious to see how she handles her encounters with the people in my world.
I head toward Diesel, Gunz, Shadow, and Smoke, whose eyes watch me intently.
Squeak wasn’t feeling well, so she and Deacon left ten minutes ago.
Otherwise, I have no doubt that he would be among this group.
“Either you’re bold or foolish. I’m gonna wait to see which because are you really letting her green ass work the bar?” Gunz smirks before he folds his arms over his chest.
“My vote is cocky and stupid. Ain’t no way in hell I would throw my woman into that pit of vultures. They’ll sniff out her uncultured ass like bloodhounds.” Shadow laughs.
All I can do is grin like a fool when my eyes return to the bar to see Jariyah smiling as she vibes with Trixx.
Her green eyes seem to dance with happiness, and my chest tightens as I confirm how comfortable she looks.
The desire to take my vest off and put it on Jariyah fills me with a foreign feeling the longer I stare.
A statement from my president brings my focus back to the group of men I’m with.
“There must be something in the Redmond water that has you niggas falling like a stack of cards with women you shouldn’t blend your lives with,” Diesel says.
Jariyah definitely has me out of sorts and understanding why Deacon is now a married man with a baby on the way.
“Imagine knowing both of their fathers. Let’s just say the chip doesn’t fall from the Redmond trees,” Gunz adds with a shake of his head.
Gunz is Deacon’s best friend and has been around my family for years, so he knows what he’s talking about.
Deacon’s dad and mine are brothers who let it be known that they fell in love with their wives at first sight.
That’s probably the only trait Deacon and I would willingly agree to.
Gunz’s close proximity to my family is why we occasionally bump heads, but there’s no love lost on either side. Gunz is the cousin I didn’t ask for.
“That’s why both of y’all asses are single. You won’t expand your minds to—”
My statement is cut off by a loud commotion toward the front of the clubhouse.
When the first few guys push their way into the building, my feet instantly move toward the bar.
The menace in Knight’s eyes as he scopes out everyone in the room lets me know this isn’t a friendly visit.
If I had to guess, I imagine it’s a result of our retaliation against them a couple of days ago.
I pull Jariyah to my side and grip her waist as the music is cut.
“I guess you have a death wish, huh?” Shadow says, void of humor as he leads the pack of Baxtown Iron members.
Knight and a few members of Midnight Eagles stop in the middle of the room where our logo covers the floor. The fact that Knight and his crew are able to gain entry is not only a violation for them but for whoever is at the door. Never should our enemies be able to infiltrate our territory.
“Feeling is mutual, sunshine.” Knight smirks before he gazes around the room and stops when he gets to Jariyah and me. “Well, ain’t this cozy. I spy with my little eye something that can make a grown man cry.”
The members of Midnight Eagles laugh along with their leader, and the action turns my blood to lava. I release Jariyah and step in front of her to block the keen stares of our adversaries.
“I suggest you tuck tail and run like you did the other night. It seems to me that more than your eyes are small,” I say.
“That’s cute. But I came here to let y’all know that me and my crew ain’t like them other niggas,” Knight states.
“You know, I always find it funny when a man has to verbally express his lack of bitch qualities. In this house, we’re more of the show me types.” Shadow interjects.
Someone whistles, and the guns of various Baxtown Iron members point toward Knight and the men with him. The subtle flinch from Knight pulls his card without anyone saying a word.
“It’s been our extreme displeasure to have this little interruption. Now I suggest you use the sense your mama gave you and bounce while you still have a chance to do so,” Gunz says in a tone sharp enough to cut steel.
Knight smirks toward me as he raises his hand and makes a motion for his guys to leave the room. But not without one last piece of information aimed at me.
“Payback is something that crosses the track when you least expect it. So be careful playing in traffic.” The nod and sinister smirk Knight directs as he looks slightly to my left let me know he just issued a threat about Jariyah.
Fuck! Shit just got real.
Twenty minutes later, I’m breathless, and my hands are bloody from the constant punches I have yet to stop giving the dude who was at the door of our clubhouse. I wish I had time to go home so Diva could get active, but there wasn’t time. This ass whupping would have to be given with my hands.
“Hold. You need to hydrate, bro,” Boston says before he pulls me off the same probie from earlier who thought to question me about my woman.
The probie falls to the ground with a thud as my chest falls heavily and my nostrils flare.
“I swear these niggas don’t understand the roulette they play with their lives by trying to join our brotherhood. I ain’t got a woman to massage my knuckles after this shit. Go get Wild Thang for me, Shadow,” Diesel grumbles.
I rub my hands together at the knowledge of what’s to come as I work to regulate my breathing. This is why I love being a member of this club. The savagery of my brothers fuels me.
“Damn. Why did your dumb ass have to petition hell tonight, nigga?” Shadow asks with his eyes on the probie before he walks off to do Diesel’s bidding.
“Go shut down the party, Smoke. Then gather everyone for church,” Gunz says when he steps outside with a travel carrier, already knowing what time it is.
“See, this is why you’re the vice president, my nigga.” Diesel claps.
“Hold up! Hold up! I need to see this shit.” Shadow runs outside with a cheesy grin like he’s about to miss a heavyweight boxing match.
“Damn. Y’all done corrupted this nigga. He went from protesting to dang near nutting on himself to watch.” Boston laughs from beside me as my adrenaline decreases.
“See, this is why we wanted you to be sure about your old lady before you took it there. It’s clear we’re now at war with the Midnight Eagles, which means Jariyah has a target on her back.
Are you sure you want this shit? You really need to make a choice: the club or the woman.
” Gunz rants as he paces back and forth.
“Man, this is some bullshit. None of you niggas gave a single pushback when Deacon was in a similar situation not long ago. As my mothafucking brothers, y’all asses are supposed to have my back regardless.
Nigga, you have known me longer than anybody else here, so you of all people should stand with me,” I say with my heavy gaze on Gunz.
“Again, I want to ask, is she worth it?” Diesel asks.
“Without a doubt,” I say deadpan.
“Then fuck it. We’re going to war. Keep y’all heads on a swivel and be ready to cut the head off another punk ass president.” Shadow interjects.
Once church ends, I head to the back so I can lay eyes on Jariyah.
Despite the storm that brews within me, the urge to see my woman increases my steps.
Maybe I should have given myself time to come down from what just happened.
But my ability to think rationally or process any further comes second to the knowledge of Jariyah’s presence in my room.
“Are we going to talk, or are you going to continue acting like I’m not here?” Jariyah asks.
While church is over and I have my brothers' allegiance, I can’t help but stew over everything that has taken place tonight. Jariyah and I have been in my designated room at the clubhouse for the last thirty minutes, and I have yet to speak about anything.
“Righteous!” My eyes zero in on Jariyah to see the fire in her stare.
Storm clouds collide with the frustration she pins me with the longer our eyes remain at war.
The last thing I want is for Jariyah to be put in harm’s way.
But I did just that when I let Knight and everyone in the room know my weakness for her.
I should have joined my brothers instead of going to the bar which brought unnecessary attention to Jariyah’s presence.
“After tonight, your ass should be running back to the country club, galas, and whatever other high society shit you’re used to.”
“I should, but if I do that, then you won’t be there,” Jariyah tells me, her hands on her waist, which makes me lick my lips as my eyes rake up and down her body.
“I’m not good for you, Navae. That nigga is gonna try to come for you. Don’t you get that? I unconsciously put you in danger tonight,” I say, calling her by her preferred middle name for the first time.
“I’m not running from you, so stop trying to push me away. Besides, it seems that if danger is coming, you’re the best person to keep me safe. No matter how many times you try to dissuade me from being with you, I’m choosing you, and I’m choosing to be here.”
“Then you’re choosing the right place for you because you’re mine,” I say as my eyes communicate an emotion I’m unable to express yet.
“I’m glad you’ve finally caught up because you were mine from the beginning.”
Blood rushes to my dick, and it hardens to painful levels as it pushes against my zipper.
I pull Jariyah to me and put my head on her stomach as her arms cover as much of me as she can from this position.
My heart gallops in my chest as the vein in my neck thumps wildly.
I feel like I’ve won the lottery. No woman before Jariyah has staked a claim to me in ways that don’t involve my dick, and despite my rebuttal, I know I’m not going to let her go.
Come hell or high water, I’m going to do my best to keep my woman safe.
Knight and his minions will be the only ones with regret for fucking with what belongs to me.