Chapter 5 #2
“Meh,” she waves a hand at him then places it around her boyfriend’s neck, tugging him down for a kiss so passionate that I can feel my cheeks start to flame.
I turn away to give them a moment of privacy, only to end up staring directly into Vex’s dark eyes, his lips tipped up. “So, are you gonna tell me where you learned about sex dolls?”
I shake my head, eyes wide and Vex throws his head back in laughter.
“We’ve never used sex dolls, but we do use aids. I have a really nice replica of Rhodie’s co-” her boyfriend slaps his hand over her mouth, cutting her off.
“Sorry about that. This is the love of my life, and Ol Lady Chewy.” His voice sounds like he’s been gargling rocks for the past decade.
I hold my hand up in a lame wave. “Ah, Loyal.”
Chewy claws his hand off her face before launching herself toward me with an odd look in her eye. “Oh you’re Loyal! Nice to meet you. You’re a total badass going against the Keep while living here. That’s dangerous and crazy and I think we’ll be friends. Have you heard of the Girl Gang?”
A long, low groan behind me has me shuddering in place. I’m not a virgin, and I’ve heard men moaning and groaning before, but this seems more wrong or obscene somehow because I know it’s coming from Vex.
“Chewy, do not lure Loyal into your Girl Gang.”
“Too late.” Chewy grins before spinning to look at the bar. “It smells weird in here. Do you have any lemons?”
I watch as she walks off to who knows where, her man, Rhodie watching her every move as he talks to Dex.
It’s fascinating to watch. Eden’s Keep preached love and light and a godly existence, and yet I don’t ever remember any of the couples looking at each other like these two do.
They’re on a different level. It’s like one could not survive without the other.
Motorcycle pipes split the air, pulling me from my thoughts. The rumbling sound isn’t foreign to me as I’ve gotten used to hearing Vex and the MC’s bikes when they roll in, but this, this is much, much louder, like a roaring storm.
“How many are we expecting?” I ask Vex, my gaze bouncing around looking for Nell. She’s still skittish and I don’t want her or Greer to be afraid.
I really should check on River as well, although I’ve noticed over the past two or so weeks Nell has taken him under her wing. It didn’t surprise me when I came home from my training to find she had moved him into the spare room in her and Greer’s little Keep home.
“We’ll soon find out,” Vex says, grinning down at me.
The rumble of engines gets quieter, bikes turning off one by one until we’re all standing in the common room, almost with bated breath to see who walks through the doors.
Scanning the room one last time to make sure our guests are comfortable, I smile when my gaze lands on Nell.
She’s sitting awkwardly next to Sniper, Greer on his lap chatting his ear off.
River is on the other side of Nell nervously watching the door and Jason, our other rescue, is sitting at one of the tables, his thirteen year old daughter Izzy by his side.
The door opens and in walks a face I haven’t seen since I handed her and her daughter off to Blanche.
“Lovely!”
“Loyal!”
I rush across the room, throwing my arms around the other woman.
Lovely was my last rescue. Well, the last I snuck out of the Keep.
Not long after she was freed, her sister, brothers and the DRMC came and shut Eden’s Keep down forever.
Leaving me with a handful of survivors and a mission to help others in similar situations.
I pull back from the hug, holding Lovely at arm’s length.
The woman standing in front of me is very different from the one I helped in the middle of the night.
This Lovely has a leather vest over her blouse, and tight jeans highlighting her curvy body.
Gone are the floor length brown gowns and hideous sneakers.
“Look at you!” Lovely coos at me, her voice almost drowned out by the noise of the MC greeting their chapter brothers. “Who knew you had legs!?”
I laugh because I was thinking the same of her. I glance down at my jeans then back up to Lovely with a grin. “Who knew, huh? Can I tell you a secret?”
Her eyes grow wide as she nods her head, leaning closer. “I went shopping for normal people clothes and only bought jeans. And fancy underwear.” I roll my lips between my teeth, wondering if I’ve gone too far.
Instead, Lovely punches the air with her fist, a beaming smile on her face.
“Aw yes, you did!” She throws her arms around me once more.
“It’s so good to see you thriving, Loyal.
You deserve this and so much more.” Sniffling, I pull back, then echo her words back to her.
“Thank you. I have more than I ever imagined. Marx!” she calls over her shoulder and the largest man I have ever seen steps up behind her, his large tattooed hand snaking around her middle, pulling her against him.
“You yelled, Buttercup?”
“Yes, I want you to meet Loyal. Without her I would have never met you.” She looks up over her shoulder at him, and the large man melts.
Reaching around her he offers me his hand. “Thank you, Loyal. For giving me my Buttercup and my little Bee.”
Tilting my head I look at Lovely in question.
“My daughter-”
“Our daughter,” the big man murmurs.
Lovely rolls her eyes, “Our daughter, I named her after the two women who saved me. Blanche Loyal Paxton. Marx adopted her. We call her Bee so the Blanches don’t get mixed up.”
I barely hear the full story because after she mentioned my name my ears filled with my heartbeat and emotion clogged my throat. Someone thought I made a big enough impact on their lives as to name their child after me.
“Thank you,” I manage to croak out, barely a whisper.
“No, Loyal, thank you.” Lovely grips my hand and gives it a squeeze. “Come on, this is a celebration, let me introduce you to everyone.”
I smile at that. Lovely is a completely different woman to the one I helped that fateful night, all because of the love of a good man and a family of people willing to welcome her and her child. If this is the type of power the DRMC has, then I look forward to my own transformation.