CHAPTER 2
Shar
Downstairs, I enter the rec room and see Crack speaking to another brother. I walk over and smile as Crack introduces me to Cord, who I’ve never met previously. “Hi, Shar. How are you doing?”
Cord asks and I give him a smile and nod. “I’m good thanks, just hungry now as I’ve not eaten since yesterday.”
“Fucking hell, you’ve got to be starving.”
Cord, who had been standing at the long bar which runs from one end of the room to the other, takes my elbow and leads me into a kitchen, which is off to the side of the room.
Entering the kitchen, I come to a grinding halt and my eyes must be huge because it’s a gorgeous kitchen, with granite counters, black cabinets, and a massive fridge and freezer. They’ve got to be industrial, is my first thought.
But this beautiful kitchen is a diabolical mess. There is food everywhere, and I mean old, stale food in pizza boxes, takeout cartons, and empty juice bottles.
I’m not eating anything from here, and no one is going to make me. This place is a freaking health hazard. Two women are making what I think are sandwiches, but they are ripping the shit out of the bread and the salad looks like it needs to be dumped in the trash.
Cord is giving me an odd look and I squint my eyes at him, look around the kitchen once more, then look back at Cord. “Can you fetch Crack for me, please?”
I’m calm, I’m staying calm, I will not blow my top, I’m going to stay calm and deal with this calmly. I’m nearly chanting to stop myself from blowing my top and believe me, I’m a natural redhead. I can blow my top, as you’ve never seen before.
Cord gives me a nod and walks out of the kitchen, leaving me to watch these two skanks making sandwiches I’m going to throw in the bin any minute.
I walk over to the fridge, take out a dozen eggs, milk, cheese, and pre-packed ham which thankfully have not been opened, and are in date. The rest in the fridge needs throwing in the trash. I place them on the counter nearest to me. Stepping over to the sink, I take out the cloth, wash it out, then wipe the counter where I’m going to work.
I open a few cabinets and find a large bowl, whisk, and grater. The women are watching what I’m doing but don’t speak to me. I can hear them bitching about ‘what does she think she’s doing’, ‘who does she think she is’, and ‘where the fuck did she come from’. I ignore it all and continue organizing a cheese and ham omelet.
When I have the eggs and milk whisked with salt and pepper added, I look for a large skillet and taking the one that is hanging from a hook at the side of the stove I rinse it out to make sure it’s clean, then set it on the stove with a nice chunk of butter.
Crack walks through from the rec room. “What’s up, Shar? What can I do for you?”
Before I turn to look at Crack, I take the skillet off the heat and then give Crack my attention. “I need you to hear and see what is going to happen next.”
Lifting an eyebrow at me, he shrugs and folds his arms.
I give him a nod, then walk over to where the two skanks are still making a disgusting mess with the sandwiches.
I grab one of the ones they’ve made, take the top slice off and look at the contents, which have a tainted smell.
I lift it to my nose and can smell the butter is rancid for starters, and not even bothering to check anything else, I pick up the trash can and scoop the pile of sandwiches into it.
“WHAT. THE. FUCK!”
one screeches, which is loud enough to bust your eardrums.
“It’s rancid. Did you not smell the butter is rancid? You’re going to make them all ill,”
I state calmly, walking over to the sink and washing my hands.
“Bitch, you can’t just walk in here and throw stuff out like that,”
screecher shouts, but I’ve no problem sorting her out.
“Okay, sit.”
She places her hands on her hips and gives me what I presume is her deadly look. I lift an eyebrow at Crack, who shrugs and grips the back of the woman's minuscule crop top and places her at the table where I’d pointed.
The other woman who had been helping gingerly takes a seat, too. Wise woman, I’m thinking to myself.
I spread the rancid butter thickly on a piece of bread, which has some blue on the edges, yeah as I thought, moldy bread and rancid butter and these two bitches were going to have the men eating them.
Cutting the bread into two pieces, I pass one piece to each of the women, and lift an eyebrow, “Eat,”
I state and start making the next one.
“But it’s moldy,”
she whines.
I grin. “Yeah, it is. Eat.”
Crack and Cord are grinning. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see them, but I don't react to them. I continue buttering bread and passing it to the women.
“I can’t eat that. It’s nasty,”
the second woman states, and I lift my eyebrow before I respond, putting more bread onto her plate.
“You can, and you will. You expected the men to eat moldy bread with rancid butter, not to mention the shit you were going to put in it. So, you will eat it if I have to push it down your throat,” I snarl.
Cord laughs when one of the whores starts to heave, but I point at her and bend to look her in the eye. “You can service a man and swallow numerous times a day, so you don’t have a delicate stomach for sure. You’ll eat this and you’ll not vomit or I’ll make you eat the fucking vomit. Are we clear?”
Crack’s shoulders are shaking with the laughter he’s holding back. Cord has had to turn around, so he’s not facing us, and I stand with my arms folded waiting because these bitches will make some men ill, and have no remorse for doing it.
Once they’ve eaten half a dozen slices each and try to move away from the table I snarl, “Sit. You’ll stay there until I say you can leave.”
“Look, bitch, you’re not our boss. You can’t tell us what to do,”
whore one states.
“Well actually Josie, she can, because for the next month, Shar is running the show. You do as she tells you when she tells you, or you’re out the fucking door.”
Cord leans down and gives Josie a stare to make his point, I’m sure.
Crack steps next to Cord, folds his arms across his chest, and looks from one to the other. His gaze lands on the second one. “You understand too Lizzie? You do as Shar tells you with no arguments. Make sure you tell the others, and if they don’t like it, they know where the front door is.”
Josie cries and I notice every now and again gives a little heave, but I’m not letting them out of the kitchen so they can make themselves throw up. They need to learn the lesson that shit like this is not happening anymore.
Crack looks at me. “Do you need me to stay longer? Cord will remain with you until everyone knows who you are and why you’re here.”
I give him a nod and smile. “Okay, I’m fine.”
Turning to Cord, I smile. “Can you make a pot of coffee while I look in the fridge and freezer, please?”
Cord nods and steps to the counter where the coffee machine is situated. I walk over to the fridge, open the door and close my eyes a moment, seeing the utter mess and rotten food.
I take out everything and lay it on the counter, wash out the fridge carefully, then check everything from the counter, throwing most of it in the trash can. I then ask Cord for a paper and pen so I can make a shopping list.
Once I’ve completed the list and placed the few items back into the fridge that were worth keeping, I open the freezer, which is a large upright next to the fridge, and check everything inside, which sadly is not much. Some hamburger meat, a few sausages, two large pieces of beef, and a bag of frozen mixed vegetables.
I add to the shopping list. Now I return to making the omelets as I was in the process of doing. Pointing at Cord, who is waiting for the coffee machine, I look at the ham. “Can you cut that into squares for me, please?”
While Cord is cutting the ham, I grate cheese and then pop the skillet on to warm. It’s not long before I have the omelet ready and plated, and I set to make more. I can’t make many as there are not enough ingredients in the fridge, but I’ll make as many as I can.
I take a small portion from one omelet and eat as I’m making the last one, but when I see Lizzie lift her hand to take one, I slap the spatula onto her knuckles. “Not fucking likely,”
I snap out.
After I’ve eaten and a few of the brothers wandered in and grabbed an omelet I had to smile at the groans when there were not enough to go around, but the ones that grabbed one were making the most of it, giving loud hums, groans and chuckles. I clean up the stove and skillet then point at Josie and Lizzie. “You two clean up after the men, make sure not a dish is out of place by the time I get back, and if you don’t, there is going to be hell to pay.”
I don’t even wait for a reply. I walk out of the kitchen, shopping list in hand, and head back to my room. I quickly freshen up, brush my hair and throw it into a messy bun, then grab my purse. I place my belt holster on so it’s sitting next to my spine, then checking my Glock, I slide it into the holster. Now I’m ready to go shopping.
Entering the rec room, I look around to tell Crack or Cord that I’m leaving. Zara runs over to me. She is growing into a really beautiful young woman. She’s 16 years old now and has dark blonde hair, which is shoulder length, blue eyes, and freckles across her nose. She is 5’5”, the same as me.
Zara throws her arms around me and laughs. “Hi Shar, it’s great to see you and you’re here for a month.”
I can’t help but laugh along with her as she has such a bubbly personality, which is surprising when you consider who her mother was, and her father is. “Where are you going?”
Zara asks.
“I’m going into town to find a grocery store, as this place needs food for the fridge and freezer. How you’ve not ended up in the hospital with food poisoning, I don’t know,”
I tell her. I have my arm around her shoulders and drag her along with me. She’s giggling when she tells me three brothers had food poisoning last month. I stop and look at her, trying to see if she’s joking or not, and at her nod, I shake my head in disgust.
As we both leave the rec room and head to the main door of the clubhouse, Zara grins. “You know we’re not getting out of here without a prospect or a brother tagging along, don’t you?”
I laugh, “Yeah, but they’ve got to catch us first,”
and we both run out the main door and to the SUV. I click on the fob to open and we jump in, laughing harder. Looking around, we don’t see anyone but I know Cord was supposed to be with me all day, so I grin at Zara. “Cord is supposed to be on Shar watch, so he’ll be along any minute, but let’s see how far we get.”
I switch on the engine and we hightail it out of the compound, laughing and waving at the prospect on the gate. I keep looking in my rear-view mirror as I drive into town and before we get near the store Zara is directing me to, we hear a bike settle in behind us. I grin. “Cord is behind us, so it didn’t take him long.”
We both giggle but know he’ll ream us out about leaving without him.
Once inside the grocery store, Zara grabs a cart and I take out the shopping list, and it’s a long one. People are saying hello as we pass and again I feel this is a great place to live. Zara is relaxed and telling me about her choices for a career, but her dad is being pretty negative about everything she tells him.
“What does he want you to do with yourself? Has he said anything?”
I’m not a lover of Gunner and as yet I’ve not met him since I got here, but there is plenty of time.
“He thinks I should have a business, so I’ll have something that will grow and develop. On the one hand, he says that, but then he tells me I’m too young yet to be thinking of a career. He can be so frustrating at times,”
Zara says with a big sigh.
“Didn’t you want to write at one time? That could become a big business.”
I stop and look at her as she rolls her eyes.
“I did, but my ideas dried up so I’m not sure if it was a whim, or I’m suffering from ‘writer’s block’ already!”
She laughs, and it’s good to see her happy and chilled.
“I’ve been thinking about something that would involve meeting people and that wouldn’t necessarily be a Groundhog
Day of the same thing. I’m swaying towards becoming a hairstylist. It will take a lot of training and studying to get the qualifications.”
She looks at me thoughtfully before asking, “Would you check up on the local area for salons and see what there is? I’ve done a bit of research, but I’d like a second opinion to see if I’m right. I think the town could do with a quality salon with a wider range of services.”
I give her a grin and think to myself, ‘Girl, it sounds like your research is pretty thorough already.’
“I’ll let you know in a couple of days what I think. How's that?”
“Thanks, Shar. That would be great.”
As we are talking and walking up and down the aisles I’m placing everything on the list into the cart, but it’s about overflowing and I’ve not hit the meat counter as yet. Cord is looking at the cart, then looks at me. I shrug my shoulders and turn to Zara. “Can you get another cart, please? I’ll push this one and you have the one you fetch. We’re not done yet. We’ve the meat counter and the bakery to go to before we call it done.”
“Did we need all this, Shar?”
Cord asks, and I grin. “Well, you do if you ever want to eat anything worth having,”
I reply and look around while waiting for Zara to come back.
A young woman walks up, which I think is supposed to look appealing, but it’s far from it. Looking at Cord out of the corner of my eye, I see the moment he notices her coming towards us as his body language stiffens, and I see his jaw clench.
“Hi, Cord,”
she says down her nose, and I wonder if it’s been busted at some time.
“Hi, Clarice,”
Cord answers, but that’s all he does. I can’t help the little giggle that pops out of my mouth. Cord, I note, is trying not to laugh at my giggle, but Clarice is not so impressed.
“What are you laughing at, bitch?”
She asks, and I look her up and down, then respond. “Well, not much, and has someone already busted your nose, as you have a horrid nasally voice.”
Before she can say more, I hear, “What do you want Clarice? Gonna give one of the brothers another STD?”
Not knowing what the relationship is with these three, I manage to keep quiet until Clarice snarls and steps toward Zara. I’m well ready.
“Back the fuck up, bitch,”
I state in the hardest tone I have, but I keep my voice low so I don’t attract attention. “You come over to us dressed in your Daisy Dukes that are up the crack of your ass, t-shirt that’s so thin everybody can see your nipples, and you're gonna have a go at us? Get real and get the fuck away from us before I make sure you can’t walk away without crutches.”
Cord is laughing as I can hear the deep rumble behind me. Zara is outright laughing and not caring if anyone pays attention. “You’ll be sorry,”
Clarice snarls, then struts her ugly ass out of the store. Turning, I raise an eyebrow and look at Zara, then Cord.
“Long story.”
Zara sighs and then pushes her cart. “Come on, Shar, let’s get shopping.”
I look at Cord and he’s still chuckling, but nods his head to follow Zara.
By the time we’ve paid for all the groceries, we must have spoken to a dozen people. All friendly and kind towards Zara. Some are giving Cord the evil eye and some are undressing him with their eyes. It’s amusing if I’m honest, and I keep grinning at Cord, who knows what I’m thinking half the time, I’m sure.
It seemed to take forever to pack the bags into the SUV but we keep talking as we get it done, and on the way back to the compound we turn on the radio and sing rather out of tune, I have to admit, but Zara and I don’t give a shit, as we’re enjoying ourselves.
Back at the clubhouse I give Cord the receipt and tell him he can give it to whoever needs it so they can reimburse me for the groceries, then he shouts for a couple of prospects to come and help carry all the bags inside.
In the kitchen, I have a good look around and check the dishwasher has been emptied and everything has been put away as it should. The club whores have saved themselves a taste of my temper this time, I think to myself.
I hand Zara a bottle of water, and after drinking half my bottle, I place it on the windowsill out of the way while I wash my hands, before getting started on putting away the perishables in the fridge.
Zara is working alongside me placing all the canned goods away, and we’re talking about everything and nothing when she surprises me. “Clarice will be here on the weekend. She’ll be all over the brothers. She’s a couple of years older than me, but she has no plans apart from being a club whore. She’s had more of the brothers than I can count.”
“Well, that’s her life choice, Zara. If she wants to see herself like that, then it’s sad. You are going to be someone, and I don’t mean famous. I mean, you’re going to be your own person, whether or not you have a man in your life. You’re strong, determined, and have a brilliant head on your shoulders. How can you fail?”
I give her a quick hug, then carry on emptying bags.
“Thanks, Shar. I’m looking forward to seeing what your findings are about the salons. It could become a club business that I could manage for them. It would mean I wouldn’t have to come up with the finances to kick it off!”
She laughs and I can see there’s more to this girl than meets the eye.
The door opens and Gunner walks in. I don’t speak, I keep my head down and continue with what I’m doing. Zara walks over and hugs her dad, and he pats her back, looking over at me. “Hi, Shar, are you okay?”
“Yeah, thanks for asking, Gunner. We’ve been getting groceries.”
I keep my voice pleasant, as I don’t want to upset Zara.
“That’s good.”
Gunner kisses Zara on the top of her head, then sits at a table. “Are you staying at the clubhouse?”
I hear, but am not sure if he’s asking me or Zara, so I keep quiet.
“Yeah, I’m going to stay here while Shar’s visiting, if that’s okay?”
“I’m okay with that as long as I know you’re here and not going around with some of those girls from school.”
Gunner is sounding unhappy about these girls, whoever they are.
“No, I’ve not been around them since they came here,”
Zara replies, then picks up some bags we’ve emptied and sticks them in the trash can.
“Okay. I’m going to be at the strip joint this week, so I’ll not be around from 6:00pm, but if you need me, I’ll have my phone,”
Gunner tells Zara and I have to say he’s sounding better than what I’d heard. “Make sure you eat,”
Gunner says, then kisses Zara’s forehead before giving me a nod and walking out of the kitchen.
Once we’ve finished putting everything into the fridge, freezer, and cabinets I look at the clock on the kitchen wall and rub the back of my neck. I’m tired and it’s been one heck of a long day.
“Do you think we could have a pizza or something tonight? I’m tired and about ready to drop,”
I say to Zara, and she grins. “Yeah, I’ll order. Do you want to eat in the kitchen, rec room, or your room?”
she asks. “My room. I’ll make us some drinks and you order the pizza, then we’ll chill out while we eat.”
Crack walks into the kitchen before we get the pizza ordered. “You two okay? Did you get all the shopping put away? I saw the amount you purchased, and I gotta say, Shar, you sure know how to shop.”
I laugh. “Well, it’s all put away now, and starting tomorrow, I’ll get some meals cooked. But can I ask that people stay out of the kitchen cabinets for tonight at least? Just so I can get a meal plan on the wall.”
“Meal plan? That sounds interesting. Yeah, I’ll tell a prospect to keep everyone out of the food,”
Crack laughs. “You can bet they’ll want to get their noses into the cabinets and fridge to see what you’ve got in them.”
“I’m going to order pizza for us tonight,”
Zara tells Crack, and he nods to her, smiling. “I’ll order, then I’ll get some for Sharp and a couple of others at the same time. Oh, I had a TV put in your room, Shar. I thought it would be good if you wanted to step away for a while. I used the master key and knew it would be okay.”
“Oh, thank you, that’s good of you.”
I turn to Zara. “We can watch a movie while we eat now.”
We wash up, put our PJs on and settle down to eat and watch TV. I’m not sure when but I must have fallen asleep because when I wake in the darkness I’m still on top of the bed, TV is still on, and Zara is lying next to me softly snoring. I cover us both up and snuggle down to sleep after I turn the TV off using the remote.