Prologue #2
I roll my eyes as Angel kneels before us and gently places her hands on my knees then slowly glides them up in front of the whole fucking room like an idiot as she says with a husk, “I’m ready when you are baby,” as she looks up at me with lust, her body still on view despite knowing she’s not allowed to walk on the floor without a thong or panties and nipple pasties especially when the guests are this rowdy.
I push her away as Blade snaps, “Angel, you know the rules on the floor!”
Her eyes widen and mouth parts as she looks at Blade with shock, clearly not seeing him there, and I state, “Not tonight, Angel. I’ve got shit to do, go get fucking dressed now before we get shut down.”
Shaking my head, I walk away, leaving her on the floor, Blade following as he tries to hold in his laughter.
Fucker.
“Message Viper and let him know of her antics, brother, she needs to be taught a lesson,” I mutter as we walk out of the club, and he laughs harder, making me roll my eyes.
All the brothers know she wants my cut, and I’m the idiot for entertaining her for as long as I have.
It’s definitely time to find a new fuck.
“You know you could always get an old lady,” Blade jokes as I climb on my Harley, and this time I do laugh along with him before I start my bike up and pull out of my space, speeding off towards the clubhouse.
Fucker knows I’ll never settle down, and not just because I’ve watched brothers cheat on their women repeatedly, including my dad with my mama and watched women try and trap brothers.
Like Cherri, a clubwhore did it with our mechanic Randy believing he was becoming a brother because of how close he is with Brick, not realizing he’s turned the brothers down several times and gave birth to his daughter Lake that no brother has met and had a label put on her head as a patch chaser despite Cherri not being in her life.
She finds her useless her words not mine.
Either way my mama wouldn’t accept any woman I may choose.
Throughout high school, every time I’ve tried to date, my mother has gotten involved and pushed them away to the point where I’ve realized that settling down isn’t in my future, and I’m alright with that.
Quick fucks are all I need.
Raya – Age Fifteen
“You’ve got some moves going on there, huh?” Mama says, making me jump and I spin around with a gasp and quickly turn my music down.
I swear I can feel my cheeks heat with embarrassment at her grin. Her caramel eyes that are so different from my icy blue ones I inherited from my dad shine with laughter, meaning she’s been standing there for a while.
Crap.
I give her a bashful smile before I clear my throat and quickly pick up the shoes I dropped during my little dance off.
“I knew I should have put you in dance class,” she says, and I can hear the laughter in her voice.
I look her way as I snort, “Mama, we both know I wouldn’t have been able to keep up. Most days, I have two left feet.”
She grins as she tucks some light blonde hair behind her ear, again, completely different from mine, which is white-blonde just like my dad’s.
The only two things I inherited from Mama are her short height and smile, the rest of me is all Daddy.
“I think you would have killed it,” she admits as she walks into my room and helps me tidy up a little before my best friend gets here.
“You have to say that, you’re my mama,” I remind her, and she laughs but nods, knowing I’m right. “Is Daddy home yet?” I ask, and Mama shakes her head. Disappointment fills me, but I try to swallow it, knowing he’s saving lives.
You see, my daddy doesn’t need to work, he’s rich, not that anyone knows.
He came from a rich family that didn’t accept Mama into the fold and decided it was best to kick him out and disown him when they gave him an ultimatum.
Of course, Daddy chose my mama, who is his everything.
Unfortunately for them though, after they disowned him, they didn’t realize his great-grandmother, who passed before he chose my mother had left him the family fortune.
His parents tried everything to get it back, but thankfully, everything they tried failed, costing them more money in the process.
He hadn’t heard from them since, not even after I was born.
Nothing. While we don’t live like people with money, living in a modest house and not owning anything with pricey labels, Dad could have spent his whole life at home but instead, he wanted to save people.
Being a firefighter was his passion, one I am proud of him for. I just wish he had been home earlier today.
“He’s been called out on a job, a family home has gone up in flames, but he said he will not miss your birthday dinner for the world,” Mama says softly, and I grin wide, knowing he won’t let me down, he never does, just like he never lets Mama down.
Twice a month, they have a weekend just for themselves, and honestly, their love is one for the books - one I want when I’m older.
Green eyes pop into my head, and I quickly blink them away.
Crushing on my best friend's brother, one who is a part of the Dark Angels and is dangerous, is not a good idea.
For as long as I can remember, my heart has always accelerated when he’s around and pounds hard like it’s trying to get out of my chest but I can’t go there and not just because he’s Ivy’s brother.
Mind you, the same Ivy I have known since I was five years old and I hit some boy, giving him a black eye after he shoved her off the swing.
The sad truth is because he hates me, and I mean hate-hates me.
Every time I’m in the same room as him, all he does is glare, and I haven’t even done anything to warrant it.
Stupid boys.
I shake my head and quickly grab the thin silver chain with a heart-shaped pendant that says 'daughter' on it and put it on – my birthday gift from my dad – and I smile, seeing that it fits perfectly and complements my light blue, knee-length skater dress.
“Are you sure you don’t want a big party, sweetheart? I can swing it for the weekend if you’d like,” Mama asks, and I look in the mirror to see her looking at me with a little guilt, like she should have asked beforehand, which makes me smile.
I don’t have many friends and she knows that.
Most kids at school are aware of my family background and the amount of money I come from no thanks to my dad’s family, so I’m instantly put in the snobby box. I sometimes get picked on because of it, while others try to befriend me, hoping to get something out of me.
All I need is Ivy and my parents, not fake people.
I shake my head and admit, “I can’t think of a better way to celebrate my fifteenth birthday than to spend it with my best friend, my mama, and my daddy.”
Mama’s eyes soften, and she asks, “How did I get so lucky to have a daughter like you, huh?”
I shrug, “I don’t know,” and she giggles as the doorbell rings, and I grin and say, “That must be Ivy,” and I rush out of my room, Mama’s laughter following.
It’s very rare to find a friend like Ivy, and despite her brother being mean, I’ve clung to her while my heart has clung to him.
Pretty sure I have a problem.
I rush down the stairs and into the foyer, opening the door with excitement, but my smile disappears when I see the Chief of Police and Tom, a firefighter my dad works with, both men looking at me with sorrow, and my heart pounds.
Tom’s covered in soot, and his light brown eyes are watery, and a very bad feeling fills me.
Daddy…
“Mama!” I shout, not looking away from Tom as his tears fall, and I shake my head instantly in denial.
“Marty, Tom?” Mama says with confusion, “What’s happened?”
My body begins to shake as Tom looks down and wipes his nose just as Ivy announces, “I’m here!” and walks around the sorrowful-looking men. She looks at the men, then me, and sees the tension as she narrows her dark green eyes and demands, “What’s going on?”
“Tom?” Mama says again, before Marty chokes, “Chase, he uh, he was called out for a house fire.”
“Yes, I know, he called and promised he’d be back in time for Raya’s birthday dinner…” Mama states firmly, then demands, “He is hurt?”
Tom flinches as he looks up and croaks, “He ran into the fire after realizing a toddler was still trapped inside, and I-I shouted to him to come back, but-but…”
Tom looks down, and I begin to tremble as Ivy quickly grabs my hand with concern.
“Just say it!” Mama demands strongly as she grabs my other hand, and my tears fall as Marty admits, “The house collapsed with both the child and Chase inside, and by the time we found his body, he was-was… I’m so sorry, Grace, he didn’t survive.”
Mama chokes out a sob as she squeezes my hand, and a scream builds up in my throat as I hear, “Ivy Miller!” snapped with anger.
“Daddy,” Ivy sobs as she squeezes my hand tighter, and Tom chokes, “I verified his body for you, I-I don’t think you want to see him that way,” and Glock demands, “What is going on?” as he takes in the scene, and Mama sobs, “My husband is dead…”
“Fuck,” Glock whispers, and I lock eyes with Marty, his hazel ones looking concerned as he murmurs, “Raya, I’m so sorry.”
My tears fall fast and hard, my breathing quickening as the scream that was building pulls out of me, causing Mama and Ivy to grip me harder as my legs collapse and I fall to the ground.
“No!” I scream and sob, my whole body shaking as I try to loosen the grip Mama and Ivy have on me, their sobs just hitting my ears before soft hands cup my cheeks, and Mama’s heartbroken eyes lock with my blurry ones.
It’s not true, it can’t be. He’s not dead, no, he’s on his way home to celebrate my birthday, please…
“He promised!” I scream as I try to push her back, causing slim arms to hold me tightly, my breathing becoming choppy, my chest tightening.
“Raya baby, listen to me, hear my voice, baby,” Mama tries as she grips my cheeks to center me, but I scream louder as I try to fight whoever is holding me and Ivy cries, “Daddy help!” and strong arms quickly take me as I fight harder before Glock whispers, “I’ve got you, sweetheart, just breathe…
” but everything goes black, my pain consuming me.
Happy birthday to me, huh?