Chapter 23
23
Steal – One Week Later
“So far, revenue is up by 23% this month. The Huntsmen Grub is bringing in most of it, and Huntsmen Arts is close second,” Piston says as he looks through the papers before him.
“What about The Huntsmen and the Huntsmen Angels?” Anchor questions and I wince as Piston sighs.
Crap, I knew there was something I was forgetting….
“They’re still profiting but haven’t gone up like the diner and tattoo shop. Some customers at the bar are complaining about Katie. She’s more interested in getting wasted than serving them. She expects them to buy her drinks, which is something we need to nip in the bud as soon as possible, and the strip club, I don’t know what’s happened there; we’re missing four days’ worth of income,” he answers, and every brother’s eye comes to me.
Damn, Cassidy is lucky I love her….
I sigh and admit, “Cherry decided to fuck up at Huntsman Angels.” The brothers look at me with a frown. “She offered a customer a ride in the back room for $1,000, and he happened to be a Fed.” The brothers curse. “I managed to prove, with footage, that we don’t condone shit like that, and she has never done it before, but I had to shut the place down for a few days while they investigated. The bitch is lucky she didn’t get arrested.”
“How come we’re only just finding out?” Pitbull asks, curiosity lacing his tone.
I groan, “Because my woman is a pain in the fucking ass.”
Pitbull furrows his brows before his eyes widen as he puts two and two together, then suddenly grins, already realizing she had something to do with it.
Cannon, not putting two and two together questions, “What does Cass have to do with us not being informed?”
I glare his way and snap, “Oh, I don’t know, maybe because she’s the one who called the Feds to begin with, and somehow convinced Cherry to offer the man sexual favors for money, so I’ve been spending my days trying not to kill her or fuck her, while cleaning her mess up because of her little tricks lately.”
Acid spits out his water over the table in shock while the brothers look at me like she’s lost the plot, and Cannon stutters, “She-she’s trying to get you to kick her out again?”
I nod. “The woman is doing everything she can to drive me away, but she’s fucking failing because I’ll never let her go. I just didn’t have time to fill you brothers in. The woman is pushing my buttons, and honestly, she’s giving Annalise a run for her fucking money. Yesterday, she allowed our daughter to paint my home office pink and purple; the floor, the walls, my desk covered, with added glitter for effect.”
Everyone looks at me in utter amazement that she’s not willing to give me a second chance yet. Even though I’ve ensured all my time is spent with her and our daughter, they have to realize that I deserve this treatment. I have to ride it out.
Piston laughs and then asks, “Oh God, was she the one who set off glitter cannons at the club yesterday and filled the pantry with foam?”
I groan again. “Yes, she was, and we all blamed Annalise until I got home to see her smirking, and when I went to my side of the closet was covered in glitter, and let’s not forget the coffee she made me with salt instead of sugar, and the phones calls I’ve been receiving from men and women asking for a good time, and the gay porn magazines that have been coming to the club every day.”
The brothers are quiet for a moment before they burst out in laughter, but I shake my head. “It’s something I need to put up with, something I know I deserve,” I admit. “And I still have a long road ahead to grovel, to show her that she will always be my priority, her and our daughter. It’ll just take time.”
And time is something I must give.
Having her back in my sights, and knowing we have a daughter, fuck me, is it gut-wrenching to realize I failed them over the years.
“Haven’t you told her why you did what you did? Why you put the club, put Faith first?” Anchor questions with confusion.
These men are fucking clueless when it comes to women.
I nod. “I have, and she understands it; she’s just deciding to put herself first as she should. She’s made a life for herself outside of this club. She’s raised our daughter alone. It doesn’t matter why I chose Faith or the club. I took her for granted. I missed her graduation, her dad’s death anniversaries, our anniversaries, our dates I fucking planned, all because I was scared about failing the club, scared about failing my dad.”
“You expected her to always be there because you made it clear she was the one having your cut,” Piston adds, and I nod.
“Yeah,” I admit, “and I was an idiot. Now, if she wants to make life hell for a little while, then fine, I’ll take it. I won’t lose her or my daughter.”
“What more is it going to take for her to forgive you, forgive us? We’re there for her every day; a different brother goes to the hospital with her and tries to talk to her, but she’s closed off.” Cannon remarks.
I shrug. “I don’t know. The Cassidy from four years ago is different than the Cassidy now. She’s not a pushover, and is unwilling to accept ‘I’m sorry’; she’s still hurt, and I don’t blame her, but I think she’ll forgive you brothers before she even considers forgiving me.”
“Doesn’t help that you’re holding her hostage,” Acid mumbles with a smirk, and I narrow my eyes at him, making him chuckle.
“Also, it doesn’t help that you won’t allow her to spend one-on-one time with ‘Uncle Tanner,’ as Moira calls him, according to Nat, anyway…” Piston adds, and I roll my eyes as the men chuckle.
“When do we get to meet her?” Anchor adds.
I shrug. “When Cassidy feels comfortable allowing the brothers near her. While Cass is working, I’ll stay at home with her and work from home in my newly painted pink and purple office, but I’m not going to push my luck by bringing Moira to the club; we need to go at Cassy’s pace right now.”
The brothers all nod, and I sigh. Looking at the paperwork, I state, “Right, The Huntsmen Angels is back in business; Cherry has been demoted to bartender instead of dancer, though apparently, my lovely woman withdrew nearly three grand out of my account so, by the time she goes back to a dancing, it’ll be like she was never demoted.” The brothers snort. “We should easily make the money back within the month. And as for Katie,” I look at Pitbull who’s taking over management for the place, “give her a warning. She fucks up one more time she’s gone.” He nods. I look at Acid. He gives me a smile.
“She’s good,” he confirms, and I nod with relief, and he gives me a smile.
I know Perrie’s struggling with being pregnant; she’s scared she’ll lose this baby as karma for getting revenge on her rapists, but she won’t.
That baby will be one lucky child.
“Alright, if that is it, Piston, you need to get back to your wife before she strangles you for being gone for too long. She messaged me before church that you need to be back at your house within the hour.” I look at him, and he grins and admits, “She’s tired….”
The brothers chuckle, not surprised. She’s had Piston’s child, and the kid is just like her dad, always wanting Nat’s attention.
“Okay, so that’s everything,” I state and bang the gavel. The brothers all stand and trail out of the room while Anchor groans and stands, stretching his back.
“You good?” I ask him.
He snorts. “My wife is apparently dating again.”
I wince. “Yeah, I heard.”
His son called, admitting he’d been trying to mess up his mom’s dates. He wants his parents together, but Heaven hasn’t been able to forgive Anchor’s betrayal, even ten years later. She loves him but some things are just hard to overcome.
He shakes his head. “I get it, I fucked up. I never should have gotten drunk after our argument, and I certainly never should have fucked Ginger, but it’s been years, brother, fucking years, and she won’t forgive me.”
I stand with a sigh and remind him, “Her dad cheated on her mom her whole life.” He flinches at the reminder. “You know infidelity was a non-negotiable for her.”
He looks at me. “I know, and I’ve been trying to show her ever since that she is my all. We should have at least five kids by now and not one. My son wants a sibling but seems to think it won’t be with me and his mom, and I can’t fucking have that, I won’t….”
I lock eyes with him, and instantly, I read him. Ah fuck….
“No,” I snap as I point at him, but he smirks.
“What?” he asks innocently.
I shake my head at him and demand, “Don’t fucking do it, Travis.”
He grins. “Too late.” I groan, dropping my head as I put my hands on my hips.
He states, “For ten years, we’ve fucked on and off, and we both know she wouldn’t have slept with me if she didn’t still love me.”
“That doesn’t mean you fuck with her contraception, fucker,” I snap, knowing full well my VP is going to lose his life, or worst, his balls.
“Hey, I could have followed in your footsteps and locked her in my house on club land,” he says cockily.
I chuckle darkly and point at him, stating, “She kills you, I’ll bring you back and kill you myself. She is worse than Cassidy, Travis; Heaven is going to kill you.” I shake my head and ask, “When did you mess with her contraception?”
He thinks for a moment, then admits, “Two months ago.”
“And what happens if she’s slept with someone else?” I ask because, clearly, the fucker hasn’t thought this through.
He glares at me and admits, “She hasn’t, because Micha calls her during her so-called dates.”
Fuck’s sake…
“Seriously, you got your son involved?” I snap.
He shrugs. “He wants his parents together. He’s gone his whole life not knowing his parents together because I fucked up. I want my wife back, I want my family back, and it would be real fucking nice for the brothers to know that I’m still married and have a kid. Micha has a whole family she doesn’t want involved in his life.”
I sigh. “Because the clubwhore you fucked is still here. Ginger still wants you, Travis, and you know this. Heaven will not allow Micha in this clubhouse with Ginger here.”
He flinches. “She’s the brother’s favorite,” he rasps.
I shrug. “And you are their brother; your son is family. I’ve been in a place where I put the club first, so trust me, brother, don’t fucking put the club first any longer, and go tell your wife that she could be pregnant. And if I were you, I’d wear a fucking cup and hide your piece.”
That said, I shake my head and walk out of church, grabbing my phone from Killian, who nods.
Anchor is a fucking idiot. I understand wanting your woman back, and I know he’s been trying to get her to forgive him for nearly ten years, but he can’t expect her to come back to him with open arms when the clubwhore who took advantage of his drunken state is still here, still wanting his attention.
Not a day goes by when she doesn’t try and get in his pants.
“Hey, Steal,” Brandy says as I walk past her, but I ignore her, causing her to scoff, “Seriously?”
Now, normally, clubwhores know not to piss me off, not to try shit with me. I ignore them, they move on, yet Brandy, just like Ginger, doesn’t seem to give a damn when a brother says no, or tells them we’re taken, and unlike Axel and Snake’s clubs, I won’t have my clubwhores thinking they can cause shit.
I pause and look at her, and state coldly, “I have never fucked you, and I never will, so give it a rest or get the fuck outta my club!” Her eyes widen in shock, and I look around the room. “Any clubwhore that thinks they are above an old lady, or a woman a brother has publicly claimed, like I have with Cassidy and Anchor has with Heaven, you’ll be out on your ass. The women have been claimed, and that’s all that matters.” I look at Brandy again. “No means fucking no, so listen or fuck off—and go get some clothes on—it’s only five in the evening!”
The brothers grin and cheer ,while the rest of the clubwhores glare at Brandy, who looks down at her bra and panties. Some look toward Ginger, who is trying her darndest to hide. I raise a brow at Anchor, and he nods as he leans against the doorframe from church.
A clubwhore can be replaced, they know this, and it’s time he understood it.
With a smirk, I turn and leave the clubhouse, heading to my bike.
I need to put my eyes on my girls….
It doesn’t take me long before I walk into the living area of our home and my eyes lock on Moira coloring on the little princess coloring table I brought home yesterday. I grin.
Her tongue is poking out, her brows furrowed. Fuck, she’s adorable.
Instead of making my presence known to her, I look around the room for a certain redhead, wanting my arms around my woman before I give our daughter my whole attention.
When I don’t see her, I walk to where the delicious smell is and grin when I find my girl dominating the kitchen.
She’s in her fucking element.
“What are you cooking, Trouble? Is it actually edible this time?” I ask as I lean against the wall, putting my hands in my pockets.
She looks my way and rolls her eyes before admitting, “Moira wanted her daddy to eat spaghetti with her, so yes, it is edible, which means no chilies this time, though I’d be careful when you open your drawers upstairs.”
I groan, “Please tell me you didn’t fill my boxers with shaving foam again?” She smirks, and I sigh. “You are lucky I love you, Trouble,” I admit, and she shakes her head but doesn’t reply. I sigh again and push off the wall, and walk over to her.
As soon as I get behind her, I grip her hips and whisper, “It smells delicious, Cassy,” as I watch her stir the tomato sauce over her shoulder.
“You need to back up a little, Colt,” she says, but I don’t. Instead, I wrap my arms around her waist tightly, and place my face into her neck, inhaling her strawberry scent.
“Why? We both know your body likes my touch, and we both know your heart still loves me just as much as I love you. We just have to get your mind to forgive me, to allow me to grovel like you deserve,” I whisper.
She sighs. “Colt, you’ve done up a room for our daughter, you take me to work and back or ensure a prospect or brother does, who then proceeds to beg for my forgiveness. You spend all your time here with our daughter and me instead of attending club parties….” She moves back a little, causing me to loosen my arms, and she turns and grips my biceps as we lock eyes. “You have been groveling the past week, but I can’t get past the shit you put me through for four years. Day in and day out, I made excuse after excuse for you, for this club, as to why I’m never a priority, and I’m not doing that anymore.”
I nod. “I know, and I’m not asking you to. All I’m asking is for you to give me a chance, Cassidy, which is something you haven’t done. There has been no one else, only you, Trouble. The decisions I made were for the club, for my father, and yes, I fucking regret them. I’ve brought this club fucking far; I’ve ensured the brothers have more money and stability, and yet, I regret everything because I lost you; I lost the chance to see you grow heavy with our daughter and give birth. I missed everything.”
She shakes her head, her determination to stay strong taking over, and it pisses me the fuck off. I’m trying everything, but her walls are high, and I get it, I do, but I just want a little leeway.
Growling, I grip her cheeks and slam my lips down on hers, snaking my tongue into her mouth when she gasps in shock, and I fucking melt at her taste.
For the past week, she’ll fall asleep on the couch or in Moira’s room, and I have to carry her to our bed every time. There’s no real touching or intimacy…so this kiss…is everything.
I groan when she kisses me back, and I deepen the kiss, memorizing her taste, knowing she’ll hold back on me after this.
Before I can rip of her shirt and spread her out on the counter, I pull back, knowing our daughter is in the other room.
Gently, I peck her lips, once, twice, three times, then mutter, “I can’t lose you again, Trouble, I won’t survive it.”
I kiss her again before pushing away and walking to the archway to see our daughter.
I hear her mumble, “Put yourself first, dammit!” and I can’t help but grin and say, “You not giving in is not putting yourself first, Trouble, and we both know you want me….”
She glares at me, and I just grin, not giving a shit that she’s going to fuck with my food again.
“Now, where is my little red,” I call, causing Moira to squeal and run over to me.
I catch her as she jumps, and hold her close as she squeezes my neck, before I catch a glimpse of Cassidy’s tearful eyes watching us.
Yeah, I’m not losing this….