Chapter 9
Venom – Five Days Later
“Thanks for doing this, Venom,” Eagle says as he takes a seat next to me at the bar at Dark Angel’s Nights, and I hum a reply, “No problem,” as I read through the time sheets for Dark Angel’s Girls, the hours like Eagle thought not adding up.
For the past three shifts, Angel and Jiggles have been down for extra hours, hours when the club isn’t even open.
Anger seethes through me, knowing they’ve tried to fuck over Eagle, hoping he wouldn’t notice, not giving a shit if we get an inspection they’ll see this and shut us the fuck down.
Two grand extra each, that is how much they’ve tried to basically steal from the club, all because Viper is still nomad – mother fuckers.
“Hey, Eagle,” I hear my sister say as she takes a seat next to him while I keep my eyes on the paperwork.
I know why she’s here. She wants to know what happened on Raya’s birthday, because, of course, she hasn’t seen her yet. This, according to Psycho, is apparently normal, or at least that's what my sister said to him when he threatened to drag Raya to the club by her hair.
She blocks out her friends and even her mama for at least a week before making contact. I may have kept my distance from her because I don’t know why, a small part of me knows she knows I fucked her friend, the same friend I still want, preferably wrapped around my cock day and night.
No one else has even tempted me, but then again, no one ever did anyhow.
It’s always been Raya, I was just blinded.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t think she is the one, but I do know I’m in love with her. I do know that I want her. I just fucked up a lot over the years, being stupid, ignoring her loyalty to my sister.
Damn, Dad is always right…
“Hey, little doll,” Eagle murmurs, “What are you doing here? I thought you hated being away from Huddy?”
I smile a little, hearing the teasing in his tone, and by the chuckle, I know Ivy has stuck her tongue out at him.
She does hate to leave Hudson, and no one can blame her, especially after everything he’s been through. You know, nearly dying and all that, it’s a wee bit traumatizing, so her being here is big, and Eagle is trying to help ease her.
“I actually came to speak to my big brother,” Ivy admits, gaining my attention as I look her way and raise a brow.
See, I knew she was here about Raya. She’s probably the only person who can get her to leave her son, even if he’s with his dad.
“What can I do for you, little sister?” I ask.
She tilts her head, causing her hair to fall to the side as she eyes me, trying to read me, but she knows she won’t be able to. I keep my emotions tightly to myself, and she knows this.
“Well, first you can explain why I haven’t seen you much this week,” she begins, and I manage to hide my wince as she finishes, “And then you can tell me what happened with Raya on her birthday because she’s gone quieter longer than usual.”
Shit.
Eagle clears his throat as he looks between my sister and me, and I sigh as I admit, “Eagle, Jiggles, and Angel have tried to fuck you over just like you thought by four grand.”
“Holy shit!” Ivy gasps while Eagle growls loudly, and I nod because yeah, I get it.
“Fucking bitches,” he curses, and I nod again as he snaps, “Surely they can’t think I’m stupid enough not to know the hours they do? That I won’t have you double-check my math?”
“They are,” I state, “and they are fucking done, the pair of them.”
I already wanted to kick the bitch out after I fucked up, and now I have my reason, thank fuck.
I look at Ivy, and I admit, “I sat with Raya for a while in silence. She didn’t want to speak. She just wanted to watch the sun rise, and I sat with until she got back in her car without a word and drove away.”
Ivy’s shoulders deflate, and concern hits me.
Why does Raya hate her birthday so much?
Eagle sighs as he shakes his head, then knocks on the bar twice, stating, “Guess I better get their asses out of the club,” before he stands and kisses my sister's cheek, who smiles widely at him as he walks through the empty nightclub.
The club is closed today for inventory. The staff is doing a deep clean while Trent goes through the alcohol for me, so I can get this done for Eagle before he goes back to watching my fucking mother.
I look back at Ivy as Eagle walks out of the door, shaking his head, and I tilt my head at her as she stares off, concern etched on her face.
“She’ll get in contact when she’s ready, little doll,” I say quietly, but she shakes her head as we lock eyes, hers tearing as she admits, “She’s never gone this long without speaking to me.”
Well, that is either a blatant lie or my sister is delusional. Raya went no contact after her fifteenth birthday. Ivy snuck out to attend her lavish party, and Dad brought her back in tears, then nothing - radio silence.
I frown and remind her, “That’s not true, Ives. What about in high school, and she disappeared for three months?”
Ivy flinches then whispers, “That was different. I was in contact with her mama the whole time. I knew she was okay.”
What the fuck?
“Ivy–” she cuts me off and states, “It isn’t my place to say, and I won’t break my trust with my best friend, even for my brother. That was a rough time in Raya’s life, Cale, so please respect that.”
I tilt my head, not breaking eye contact with my sister, something deep is underlying.
She wants to open up to me, but she also doesn’t want to ruin her friendship.
I can respect that, especially considering Raya has been Ivy’s rock this past year.
Despite not wanting to attend the shithole wedding Mama tried to arrange, Raya was still the one to get Psycho out of his head and encourage him to intervene.
“Okay,” I finally say, knowing I’m going to get it out of Raya one way or another, well, that is after I get the balls to go see her.
Five days and not once have I seen her, five days since I allowed Mama to get in my head, and I fucked Angel raw.
Granted I didn’t come, instead I went soft not that she is aware of that but still.
I washed away what was left of Raya’s scent then spent the evening drowning my sorrows with a bottle of scotch and my one of my best friends, my Prez, sitting with me to make sure I’d be alright.
He was the ear I needed as I confessed my sins, my love and yes he swore never to mention that day again and act dumb if someone brings me and Raya up.
The fucker calls four times a day just to confirm I haven’t fallen apart and decided pull a Viper and drive off on the open road.
I wouldn’t be able to be away that long from Raya. How he does it, I’ll never fucking know. He has to be itching to get back, but is probably too stubborn and thinks this is for the best for a while.
Idiot.
I clear my throat and look away from my sister, looking at the time sheet Eagle brought over, and I admit quietly, “There may be a reason why she’s taking longer to speak to you, Ives.” I take a deep breath, feeling her eyes on me, and I murmur, “We slept together five days ago.”
I don’t look at her, even as I feel her eyes burning holes in my head, I don’t look at her.
“You slept together?” she confirms quietly, something in her tone that I can’t make out, and I nod and confirm, “I did, but as soon as the emotions caught up with us, she shut down and walked away without a word. She regretted it instantly, Ivy.”
My heart races knowing I can’t keep this next bit of information from her, knowing Angel is now going to try and use the fact I fucked her raw to keep her job. Knowing my luck, she’ll claim she’s pregnant and Raya and I will never happen again.
“Mama showed up,” I admit, and look at her. Ivy’s eyes are wide, guilt shining in them, and I nod and confirm, “Yeah, she told me you ignored her calls. You didn’t tell me, or the club, heck, or even Psycho. What were you thinking, Ivy? She could try to harm Hudson!”
Ivy flinches, and I hate myself a little, but she needs to understand the danger her son is in with that woman around.
The only reason she’s alive is because she’s our mother, it’s why she got the choice to run.
“I was going to tell Jax tonight after I spoke to you. I didn’t want him to lose trust in me again. I just, everything has been so good, you know…” She whispers, and I sigh as I look back down at the paperwork.
“You shouldn’t have waited, Ivy. It wasn’t okay that you kept it to yourself,” I sigh before I admit, “I didn’t handle seeing her very well, Ivy. She mentioned that she saw Raya with Hayden, that Raya had been seeing him for a while –”
She cuts me off and snaps, “That is bullshit, Cale, she’s trying to get in your head because she knows you're in love with Raya!”
I look and raise a brow at her and confirm, “You know I’m in love with her?” She nods firmly, and I sigh, “Well, if that is the case, why did I fuck Angel out of anger despite knowing Mama is a pathological liar, a few hours after finally having Raya?”
I look away from my sister, not wanting to see the disappointment, but granted, I most likely should have kept looking at her.
I flinch in pain, and a grunt leaves me as I quickly rub the back of my head, the slap throbbing as Ivy shouts, “Are you kidding me, you absolute idiot!”
Damn.
“Okay, I deserved that,” I grunt as I rub my head, and Ivy scoffs, “No, you deserve another swift kick to the balls again! How could you do that to Raya?!”
I glare at my little sister and snap, “Oh, I don’t know maybe because Mama used our childhood against me and got in my head knowing the shit the older generation ingrained in us growing up.
The same Mama I could have had a meeting in the club about if you had just told us she was back in town!
” Ivy winces knowing I’m right and I sigh, “Look, Raya and I aren’t an item and while I went soft and didn’t even come –”
She cuts me off again and gags, “Too much info, big brother,” as she pulls a disgusted face, making me chuckle before I admit, “I felt like I was cheating on her, little doll.”
Ivy’s eyes soften and I shrug and say, “I want her, I think I have for a long time and Dad is the one who called me out on my feelings years ago. I just didn’t want to admit to them and after the years of back and forth between us, I don’t know if we have a future.
Especially not after I fucked Angel a few hours after having her. ”
Ivy looks away and I swallow the lump forming in my throat.
Raya’s beautiful icy blue eyes come to me, hitting me hard in the chest and I open my mouth to beg her not to tell Raya, to give me a chance to explain shit but the banging of the main door gains our attention.
We turn to see a pissed off Angel in mini shorts and crop top storm in.
Awesome.
“Guess Eagle fired her,” Ivy mutters, and I hum and reply, “And I can guarantee she’s here to claim she’s pregnant with my child.”
Ivy looks at me in shock, her eyes wide, and I huff, “I didn’t glove up, little doll.”
Her eyes race between mine, a little disappointment and a little guilt shining in her dark eyes as she confirms, “But you didn’t come?”
I shake my head, and she nods as Angel snaps, “Seriously, you allowed Eagle to sack me?!” I raise a brow at Angel as she sneers, “I told him we had sex, that it was unprotected, so I’m most likely pregnant. He can’t fire me unless he wants a lawsuit!”
“Bitch!” Ivy snaps under her breath while I admit, “I never came, Angel. It was your release you could feel, not mine. Instead, I went soft, so there is no way you are pregnant, and there is definitely no chance you’ll know this early.”
She tenses for a moment before she tries, “Pre-cum, it’s a thing, and I could be pregnant. You need to do the right thing and make me yours. You need to marry me and bring this kid up as a family, and like hell are you firing me because I will sue!”
Ivy goes to move, and I quickly grab her wrist before she hits Angel. The bitch will try to get her arrested for assault, and I say calmly, “I won’t be making you mine, Angel. I have a woman.” Angel’s eyes widen with anger while Ivy looks at me in awe at claiming her friend.
What can I say? It’s the truth.
I state, “I know for a fact you aren’t pregnant, but for now, even though we have enough proof of you stealing from us, we’ll keep you employed at the club until the stick comes back negative, then your ass is out!”
Angel’s breathing picks up, and right about now, she looks like a caged lion before she screeches and then shouts, “I am pregnant and this is not over!”
Angel turns on her too high heels and storms out, while I take a deep breath and get my phone out.
“Cale?” Ivy whispers, but I don’t look at her, too ashamed of my actions, the shit I’ve now caused all because I let my emotions get the better of me, and I pull up Blade’s number, pressing on it, then putting the device to my ear.
“Brother?” he answers after two rings, and I sigh and state, “Angel’s claiming to be pregnant after Eagle sacked her for lying on her time sheet, trying to get a couple grand more a month.
We need to monitor her because brother, she’ll try her hardest to get pregnant in the back room at the strip club. ”
The back room is where some girls like to have a little extra fun with the customers.
We look the other way as long as they pay ten percent of every sale they gain, and it was good until now because Angel will use it to her advantage.
I can’t ban her from that room because, knowing the bitch, she’ll report it.
“Fuck’s sake,” Blade snaps, and I hum as Ivy gently presses her hand on my shoulder in support, knowing that as soon as Raya hears of this, I’ll have a bigger fight on my hands than I already do.
Fuck’s sake indeed.