Chapter 11 #2
“Jesus Jen, you need to get over it. Roman isn’t the only brother in the club.”
Roman tenses and my eyes fly to Siera, who’s pretending she’s not listening.
“You don't understand, Star,” the next voice is much softer with a lilt to it, not as harsh as the first one.
“I do. You’re stuck on a brother. They’re not going to make a whore an Ol’ Lady, you know that. And that’s what you are, Jen. A whore, no matter how much you downplay it with the clothes you wear.” I wince at the harsh way this news is delivered.
“Fucks’ sake,” Roman growls and gets off the table as if he’s going to defend this Jen.
“Roman,” Garret warns. “Can’t get involved, brother.”
“It’s not what you think,” Roman glares at Garret. “It’s not what anyone thinks.”
“I’m not stuck on Roman. I don’t find him attractive at all, it’d be like fucking my brother.”
I wince at the disgust in her voice, and from the sharp inhales around us, I can tell everyone feels it too. Then Jen clears it all up by admitting, “He’s helping me study.”
“Then why are you sulking? Carnage and the other brothers seem to have no problem fucking you.”
Jen groans, “You wouldn’t understand.”
“Try me,” Star replies.
“It’s cutting into my study time,” Jen replies.
“I don’t want to be a whore forever, Star.
I want something more,” she hesitates, and we can hear the tears in her voice when she asks, “is that so wrong? To want more than spreading my legs? I’m not going to be in my twenties forever or look like this.
I want better than what my mama had. Roman was helping me get that. ”
“Fucks sake,” Roman growls again, then raises his voice. “Jen get your ass out here and make sure you’re decent.”
“Oh, fuck,” is echoed from the room behind us, and I laugh. The rest of those sitting with me join in. These men are so fucking ridiculous. Why Roman was keeping it a secret, I have no idea.
A young woman who I can only assume is Jen approaches us.
“Fuck me,” North hoarsely mumbles under his breath when she rounds the corner.
I’m not surprised. Jen is a breathtakingly gorgeous curvy bombshell with bright pink hair.
She’s wearing a pair of ripped jeans, a Saint’s Outlaws sweatshirt, and sneakers.
She doesn’t look any different to any other young twenty-something.
“I’m sorry, Roman,” she whispers, lowering her eyes, but not before we see the sheen of tears and trembling lips.
Roman sighs and tugs her towards him, enfolding her in his arms. He hugs her tightly. It’s definitely not sexual in any way, and how anyone could have thought they had something going on, I had no idea. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Dry your tears and come meet Axle’s lady.”
“Oh, I can’t,” she sounds horrified. “I’m not allowed to speak to Ol’ Ladies, Roman.”
Siera gets up and walks over to them. Taking Jen by the arm, she draws her away from Roman.
“Just as well I’m not an Ol’ Lady then. So you can speak to me and the last time I checked Angel wasn’t wearing a cut yet, so you most certainly can speak to her.
Come sit, tell us what you’re studying and why it’s such a secret. ”
Jen’s eyes are wide, and she looks a little shocked as Siera takes over and seats her in a chair Tru got up and pulled over. God, I love my family.
Janis comes back with a soft drink. I’d been so busy watching the drama I hadn’t realised that she’d even walked away. She hands Jen the soft drink and then sits back on the bench with North, who seems to be struck dumb as he watches Jen.
“So, sweetheart, why the secrecy?” Siera asks, leaning forward and taking Jen’s hand.
“Um,” Jen’s eyes flit to Roman, who nods at her.
“I’m not very clever,” she starts. Roman clears his throat, and she rolls her eyes at him.
“Fine, I’ve got dyslexia, and I’ve struggled with reading and writing my whole life.
Like most of the girls that work here, I didn’t have a good home life, but I always wanted more you know,” she turns big blue eyes at Siera, who nods.
“I wanted to do better than my mama. Not that she was a bad mama,” she hastily explains.
“But she didn’t know any other life, and I wanted more than spreading my legs for men.
” She winces at that last statement. “I ended up doing it anyway, just in a slightly safer way than my mama.”
“How did you end up here?” I want to know. “You sound like you come from the south.”
“Yes, ma’am, I do,” Jen nods. “I’m from Georgia.
I ended up here when the club was on a run.
They found me dumped on the side of the road, because I fought back when my ride tried to force me to give him a blow job.
Now I’d already paid for gas, you understand.
And I’m sorry, but nobody forces me to do something like that.
So he kicked me out on the side of the road.
Roman stopped and picked me up. Now before you tell me how stupid that was,” she holds up her hand.
Not that we’d made a peep, we were so invested in her story.
“I’m good at reading people, and both Roman and Axle don’t give off danger vibes.
Turns out it was the best decision I’d ever made. ”
She takes a sip of her drink before continuing, “Nobody forces you here. For the first time ever, I was safe.”
Jesus, this girl was breaking my heart. She couldn’t have been much older than the twins, but she’d lived twice the life they had. Siera and I share a glance. We’d give her employment if that’s what she wanted.
“Anyway, Roman found me struggling one day trying to study for my GED and sat down and helped me. He’s been doing it ever since. He’s also paid for my administration course. I’m nearly finished,” she smiles proudly.
“That you are, and you’re going to ace the exams,” Roman grins at her, pride clear in his gaze.
“So why pretend she’s sleeping with you?” Tru asks, looking confused.
Axle sighs, resting his elbows on his knees, hands sagging between his knees. “It’s the rule. Whores can only stay if they’re sleeping with the brothers. If they’re not then they get a warning, they only get one then they have to move on.”
“Roman used to give me the key to his room, and I’d study while he read and he’d quiz me. Help me. I’m sorry, Roman,” Jen looks devastated. “I’m going to get you in trouble.”
Roman smirks at her, “Don’t worry sweetheart, I’ll have to pay a fine, but you’re going to lose your place here. I can assure you, Star isn’t going to keep quiet. You’re popular with the brothers because you don’t cause issues, and with you gone she’ll move up.”
Standing up, tears fill her eyes, and one spills over as she nods, “I know. I’ll go start packing and find Maverick.”
“Now hang on,” I say, standing up. “Where will you go?”
Jen shrugs. “I’ll go to the motel for now. I’ve got money put away.”
I turn to Axle and he shakes his head as if he already knows what I’m going to ask. “She can’t stay on SOMC property, it’s in her contract.”
“That’s fucking stupid,” I grumble, incensed.
Jen laughs softly and pats my arm. “It’s okay. Our contracts are explained to us before we sign them. Maverick is very fair. My exam is next week, and hopefully I’ll be able to find a job soon.”
“Damn right you will,” Siera growls. “We’ll have a place for you, but not until November.”
“Axle,” North suddenly says. The two exchange a look. “Is there anything in the contract to say she can’t work for a SOMC business?”
“No,” Axle shakes his head.
“Brother,” Roman looks at Axle hopefully.
“Then give her the job. I’ll move out of the flat, and she can move in,” North says.
“What?” Jen’s eyes ping-ponged between the two of them.
Axle sighs and looks torn. “Are you sure? You’ve lived there for twelve years.”