Chapter Fourteen
A fter they entered the clubhouse, it took her body a little longer to relax. Kendrick left her at the bar while he and Andre went into a backroom with the others.
She spun around on the barstool, holding her glass of tomato juice. With a sigh, she got down and walked around the vast space. Each table was slightly different as it was a large slab of wood with a skull and crown burned into the center.
In the light of day, the place appeared different from the night of the reception. Although the lights were on, they were still dimmer than at a typical restaurant or bar. From what she knew, they’d expanded the original clubhouse by four and added a second level. The floor shined like it was polished marble. However, it was concrete, which Ayesha said had been done by a master craftsman to look that way. Sutton thought it was a genius move on whoever designed it since the cleanup would be less work in case of spills. And, if a fight broke out, there wouldn’t be any fear of blood ruining things. All they’d need to do was haul in a hose, and bam, the place would be clean. Like the floor, the tables had a thick layer of clear polish that made them easy to clean.
The word is such an oxymoron because she knew without a doubt the things she and Kendrick would be doing would not be clean. Hell, she hoped like all get out he would defile her in all ways possible.
“You’re nothing but a little slut, Sutton James. You’ll never be anything but a whore in training. Look at you, walking around the house dressed like that. Of course, it’s your fault. You got what you were asking for. Now I have to deal with what you brought on. Go to your room.”
“But, mama, I didn’t—”
Sutton fell to the floor as her mother slapped her across her face. Her broken arm hit the hard tile first, making her cry out as she rolled away, trying to avoid more abuse. The familiar scent of alcohol and weed filled the air. The only blessing she could count on was not seeing Jarvis. Or JarJar, as her mother called her stepfather.
“You did, or the cops wouldn’t have come and arrested JarJar, you lying little slut. Now get up and get out of my face. If social services weren’t coming tomorrow to see us, I’d—”
“Please, mama, stop.” Sutton dodged the foot aimed at her head.
“Then get your fat, lazy whore ass up and out of my sight before I kill you myself.”
She saw the hate and truth in her mother’s eyes and knew she’d follow through with her threat if given a chance. Sutton stumbled to her feet, using the wall to brace herself when she nearly fell. Without looking back, she hurried to the tiny room at the back of the house and shoved a chair under the door since she didn’t have a lock. God, why did her life suck so damn much? Next year, she’d be thirteen, and still, she couldn’t get a job, but maybe someone would hire her to babysit so she could save some money. Not that her mom or stepdad would allow her to keep anything for herself.
Sutton’s stomach heaved, and she stumbled. She had to grab onto one of the high-top tables and force herself to shut out the memories of her past. “Fuck, I got past that shit,” she whispered.
“Hey, are you okay?”
She spun around, facing a man who made Kendrick look tiny. “Um, yeah. I’m great.”
He shook his head. “It’s me, T-Rex. I won’t hurt. I swear, you know my ole’ lady would cut my dick off if she thought a woman got hurt on my watch. I promise you’re safe here. I just saw you standing here for a long time, and then...well, you started shaking. I didn’t want to touch you out of fear of causing you more trauma. Here,” he passed her a bottle.
Sutton took the bottle of water and unscrewed the cap. Until that moment, she hadn’t realized how thirsty she’d become. “Thank you,” she said in a rasp.
“Sutton,” Kendrick called out.
A whimper worked its way past her lips, despite her vow to stay strong. She took another long swallow, hoping he didn’t hear her.
“Baby girl, what’s wrong?” Kendrick’s arms wrapped around her.
She shook her head, unwilling to admit she’d lost herself in a memory.
“Doc said she could have PTSD.”
Sutton sucked in a breath and then reminded herself they didn’t know. They only had knowledge about the kidnapping. “I’m fine. The mind is the largest muscle in the body, and sometimes it fucks with us when we least expect it.” Stay close to the truth, and nobody will see through the facade.
“Ain’t that right. My ole’ lady and our kid are upstairs. How about I take you up there while the guys finish up?” T-Rex offered.
“Is that cool with you?” Kendrick asked.
“Yes.”
He pulled her body flush with his, spearing his hand through her long blonde hair until he gripped her neck with it. His hold didn’t hurt but made her feel immobile and cherished. The combination was weird but right. He pressed his lips to her forehead and inhaled. “You’re mine, and nobody gets to touch or hurt you ever again, Sutton. Got that? Call out if you’re scared or need me, and someone will get me. I don’t give a fuck if it seems stupid to you; it won’t be to me. Got it?” he repeated.
“Got it, Sir,” she breathed. Never did she think she’d want a possessive man, but hearing Kendrick speak the sexy words to her and knowing he meant them with every fiber of his being did something to her. She reveled in his claims and wanted the fantasy he offered.
“Ah, Sutton, you don’t have a clue what hearing you say that does to a man like me.” He gave her a hard kiss that was over too soon for her liking.
“Mmm, maybe you’ll have to show me later.” She licked her lips, tasting a hint of whiskey he must’ve drank. “I think I’d like you to teach me many things.”
“Good girl.” He ran his thumb over the corner of her mouth before turning toward T-Rex. “T, if she needs anything, give me a holler.”
Her body trembled for an entirely different reason when he said good girl. A new kink unlocked right after an episode. What kind of sick woman was she becoming?
KENDRICK WATCHED SUTTON walk with T-Rex up the stairs to the second level, knowing she’d lied to him. Oh, he didn’t doubt some fucking memory had her in its grip, but it wasn’t from the most recent ordeal she’d gone through. No, the horror that flashed over her face as she’d looked at the tables and the floor had brought something to the surface of her mind, triggering her.
“She’s got secrets,” King said.
Kendrick turned his head around to see the president of the Royal MC staring after Sutton with a pensive look. “Do you know what they are, or are you guessing like I am?”
King shrugged. “We do a thorough background check on everyone who enters our lives, especially those we allow around our ole’ ladies and children. Keys can dig up just about anything about anyone, including shit the government thinks they’ve buried. Her story is for her to tell, but if she doesn’t tell you and it becomes an issue, I can help facilitate the finding.”
“Is she in danger from whatever happened?” Kendrick would kill for her if he had to.
“No.”
He exhaled. “I’ll see if she trusts me enough to give me her past. What’s a future if you can’t be honest about what built the person you are today?”
“Damn, I didn’t know you were so fucking wise.” King opened the door to the room they’d been in when they’d seen Sutton on the security feed standing frozen.
Keys looked up from his monitor. “Everything good?”
“It will be,” Kendrick said, nodding toward the computer. “Whatcha got?”
“A whole lot of shit going down, my friend. How do you know Taysey Rizzo?” The large monitor on the wall across the table lit up, showing his ex-fiancé. Her bleach-blonde hair and svelte figure stood proudly next to a man Kendrick would recognize anywhere.
“The man beside her is Frankie Dragna. His father and mine were once close back in Sicily. Their grandfathers were like brothers. I believe Gaetano and Ignacio are still alive but must be close to ninety. They’re the founders of the Dragna Family. Both men were trustworthy businessmen, unlike my father. Frankie Boy is a different breed. If Taysey hooked up with that little bastard, then she’d have gone from bad to worse.” Kendrick didn’t give a damn about her or who she fucked. Hell, he hadn’t lost a wink of sleep when she’d decided to marry Rizzo instead of him at the last minute. Did he feel bad for killing Geovani Rizzo, her lover? Not even in the slightest. The bastard tried to take out his little brother and the woman who was now his sister-in-law.
“From the intel I’ve gathered, she’s why there’s a hit on you and your brother. I believe there’s some twisted game they want to play, which involves taking what and who you both love and making you suffer before killing you both.”
Kendrick sat back and crossed his arms. “That’s fucking crazy. She left me, and I let her go.”
Duke barked a laugh. “Sorry, man. Women like her are batshit crazy. Also, remember Rizzo is dead, so she probably blames you and Jeter. It doesn’t matter that fucker had it coming. You can see madness in her eyes even through the camera.”
Taysey was a vane woman. She had a standing appointment at the beauty salon every week, getting her hair and nails done and whatever else she chose, all on her father’s dime. When they’d gotten engaged, he began picking up the bill without blinking an eye. The four-figure receipt made Andre’s brows rise the first time he’d seen it, but Kendrick figured if it kept Taysey from bitching he’d pay it.
“Holy shit. She’s still wearing my engagement ring.” He sat forward. “Can you zoom in on her left hand?”
After their rehearsal dinner had been an epic fail with her being a no-show, he didn’t bother asking for the ring back, assuming she’d return it at some point. If she didn’t, again, he didn’t give a shit what she did with it. Kendrick didn’t plan to give the damn thing to another woman, nor could he imagine returning it. Anything that she’d worn felt tainted to him. Shit, the thought of Sutton being near the bitch made his skin itch.