CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Opening my eyes, I realize I’m still in bed next to Zoe; a place I want to stay forever. If I skip Church, my life won’t be worth living since I’ve been on the wrong end of Kick’s wrath one too many times. Saving them from being shot yesterday wouldn’t change anything.
Slowly, I extricate myself from Zoe’s arms, softly kissing her forehead as I pad naked into the bathroom. I was just soaping myself when the door to the shower stall opens, and the woman I can’t seem to stop thinking about steps inside. My dick seems to come to life every time she’s near, and now was no exception—and she hadn’t even touched me yet.
I let go of the soap and let her wash me from head to toe, a feeling of déjà vu overcomes me when she kneels in front of me and takes my impossibly hard dick in her tiny hand, sliding it up and down my shaft, while with her other hand she massages my heavy balls. Within minutes, I’m ready to explode, but I’m not going to. Not yet, because I need to feel her mouth on me.
When she finally envelops me in the hot cavern of her mouth, I can’t help but throw my head back on a deep groan. Simultaneously sucking me down her throat and playing with my heavy come filled balls, tonguing the piercing at the tip, I blow my load down her throat, coming for a long minute, emptying my balls completely. My legs shake and I almost find it difficult to hold myself upright as we look at each other, Zoe with a self-satisfied grin on her face and a glint in her eyes. And me wanting to kiss that smile off her lips. And that’s precisely what I do, lifting her to her feet, our lips connected, as my hands roam over her slick, wet body.
Breaking apart, I realize I’ve got her pinned to the wall of the shower, and I was ready to go for round two. But I hold myself back as we finally wash each other before getting out of the shower; her wrapped in a towel, and me with one around my hips. Dressing in my usual attire of jeans, T-shirt and my cut, I watch my woman as she dresses in tight jeans, a blue woollen sweater, and booties, with her hair up in what she calls a messy bun. I smile down at her and attempt to take her hand in mine. When she pulls back, I frown.
“I have to feed Mr Boots, and I’m taking him downstairs with us. Poor thing’s been cooped up in this room long enough.” She says, and I shake my head, not admitting that I’d forgotten about the little fluff ball.
“Fine, I’ll wait for you while you do that.” I tell her, sitting on the edge of the bed. Ten minutes later, with her hand in mine as we finally make it out of the room and down the stairs, following the voices we heard to the common room where the ol’ ladies and some of my brothers were.
Tiny and Sage were there, their kids Jaxson, Cash, and baby Silas with them. Asher, Kick’s son with a former club girl, was there also, excitement in his eyes over the kitten. Tiny’s two older kids’ eyes went round when they saw the kitten and practically rush me and Zoe. My woman smiles indulgently at them, bending down to show them the cat.
“Don’t scare the kitten.” Sage calls out, while signing at the same time for Cash’s benefit. The kid was born with a hearing problem, and when Jose Ramos killed his mother, Sage’s best friend, Sage took him in as her own.
Zoe patiently guides them over to the black leather sectional, speaking softly to them before returning to me. Since Caleb had kidnapped her, I’d been hovering over her, probably annoying the shit outta my girl. But I didn’t care if it meant she was safe.
She smiles indulgently at me, and before she could slide onto a bar stool, I had my hands around her waist placing her ass on the stool myself. The heat of her back against my chest enveloping me as I stand close to her.
I know I’m probably being overly possessive, but I can’t seem to help myself. And until she tells me differently, I won’t be changing anytime soon. She rolls her eyes at me, but just smiles, touching my bearded cheek. Leaning towards me, she whispers.
“I know you’re just watching over me and I love you for it, but there’s really no need, I’m surrounded by people, and if there’s somewhere you need to be for the club, go. Stop worrying about me.”
I growl at her words, cupping her chin, and turning her face to look at me. “I’m here because I wanna be here, do you understand me? I almost lost you, this time for good. And I won’t allow that to happen ever again.”
Zoe’s eyes go wide, but then a hint of a smile touches her face, tipping her head in acknowledgement of my words. I watch as Zoe pours herself a coffee from the carafe on the bar top, taking a sip, a full body jolt overtaking her, and I can’t help the smirk.
Just wait until you’re on the back of my bike again, and the thrumming of the motor between your legs,little one. You”ll find the coffee buzz to be nothing compared to the thrill of riding my sled.
I look at my brothers, and nod as a silent conversation ensues: today’s the day we get rid of Caleb. I thought I would feel something other than relief, since he had been my best friend back in school. But I just want to get this over and done with, he’s terrorized my woman for the last time.
“Let’s get to church.” Kick calls out, giving his ol’ lady Everleigh a quick kiss.
Tiny and I do the same with our women, and make our way into the meeting room. The officers in the club take their seats, me being one of them, as the rest find a free space to stand.
Spider brings up the rear, and I notice for the first time that he looks like shit. Seems the bitch Candy took off with Snake when he left for Washington, leaving their kid with Spider.
“Okay, as you’re all aware, Snake left for Washington. Good riddance, maybe there he’ll get his head on straight and work his way up in the club. Down the track, when things aren’t so fresh with his fucker of an ol’man betraying the club, I’ll let him back here. But for now, it seems he’s happy there, from what Ax told me,” Kick begins. once everyone has filed in and the door is closed.
“Are we keeping you from something?” He directs his question at his son, Spider, who is frantically tapping out a message on his phone, which he should have left in the basket at the front door before entering the room.
He quickly stashes the offending object away, and I notice how red his cheeks become, wondering if it’s Ella that he’s texting? Shaking my head, I remain silent, it’s not my place to raz the kid about his love life.
“Okay, getting back to the matter at hand. Are we taking out the trash in the basement today?”
“Yes,” I jump in without hesitation. I didn’t want him breathing for one moment longer than was necessary. I know it has to go to a vote before anything can be done, but I was ready to get him out of our lives for good.
“You know how it’s done in here, brother.” Kick warns me, before his eyes encompass everyone in the room.
“All those in favor, say aye,” he calls out.
As if they were one, every single brother votes with an aye, and a warmth spreads throughout my body that these men have my back.
“Okay. Once that’s done, we need a party to unwind. A family friendly party, so all ol’ ladies and kids are welcome.”
“Speaking of ol’ ladies, I know I’ve already said this, but I’d officially like to make Zoe mine.” I announce surprising my brothers. I don’t know why, because I’ve wanted to do it for a long time now.
There are whoops and hollers all around the room, and I can’t help but grin
Once the back slaps and congratulations die down, Riggs asks,
“We also need to vote in a new Treasurer.”
“Okay, who wants to throw their hat in the ring for Treasurer?” Kick calls out, to which Ky’s lone voice says, “I’ll do it. Why not?” He shrugs, and our President looks at his eldest son sceptically.
“Being Treasurer means you can’t spend a lot of time at the gym. You’ll need to delegate.”
“I’m up for it,” he replies stubbornly, and it suddenly clicks why he’s so adamant about it. He doesn’t want to spend so much time around the pretty vet next door. I can’t help the chuckle from escaping.
“What’s so funny?” Ky demands.
“Oh nothing, just another brother falls.” I say.
“Fuck you, brother. This has nothing to do with Sera.” he argues.
“Oh, so it’s Sera now?” My brows arch above my hairline.
“Okay, enough, you two.” Tiny’s voice booms around the room. “What are ya, kids?”
“Let’s take a vote. All those in favor of Ky becoming Treasurer, say, aye.”
We unanimously decided, adding another officer to the table.
Kick then bangs his gavel against the worn wood of the table.
“If there’s nothing else anyone would like to bring to the table? Meeting adjourned.” he tells the room, and the members who don’t hold a title file out. We stay seated at the table until the room clears, and only Kick, Ink, Tiny, Riggs, Angel, Ky, and I remain.
There’s a knowing look in the eyes of each of my brothers, and I get to my feet, taking a deep breath.
“Let’s do this.” I tell them, leading them down to the basement.
Only on rare occasions, like right now, do we bring anyone down here, and only people who deserved it. Even though Kick has allowed me to lead this little endeavor, I stand aside for him to enter first. He nods in acknowledgement and slowly takes the steep concrete steps.
The further down we go, the more the odor assaults my nose. As I clear the last step, my head turns up, a venomous smile on my face when I see the asshole—his arms tied to the ceiling with rope, his feet barely touching the ground. His head is down, and I can see his face is black and blue, his eyes swollen shut.
I look around the room at each of my brothers, and I know instinctively Ky has beaten Caleb by the smug look on my brother’s face. I give him a chin lift and a small smile. But now, it’s my turn. He needs to pay for everything he has done to my woman. The years of abuse that I wasn’t able to stop myself; something that still tortures me at night.
Silently and methodically, I remove my cut, draping it across a chair placed in the corner.
“Well, if it isn’t my dear old friend Bodie.” Caleb slurs. “Come to finish me off?”
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” I counter.
For someone who has no way of ever getting free, he’s a smug motherfucker.
“Well sure. You know I’d come back for the bitch. She’s been mine for years. So, you better make sure I’m dead at the end of this,”
His bravado is impressive, but that’s all it is. I can see the weariness in his eyes, and if he was trying to goad me into reacting, he’s done a good job of it. I ball up my fist, landing a punch to his gut. He makes a whooshing sound before a grunt of pain escapes. Hopefully, I’d broken a rib or two.
“She’s never been yours, even when you were married. Did she tell you she thought of me every time you touched her?” I goaded.
“Come on, just get it over with, I know you’re dying to.”
I chuckle. “For you, there’ll be no quick end.” I go to the metal table that holds all the torture tools. But instead of choosing any of them, I pick up the long piece of chain laid out on the metal table.
His face swollen from the beating he received from Ky; I can tell he’s shocked that I’d chosen that weapon to use. He’d already left the club when I made my first kill all those years ago, and he never knew why my road name was Chains. But he’s about to find out.
Then he suddenly changes tack.
“If you think once I’m dead, that bitch will be safe, you’re deluding yourself. Plus, you’ll have the whole Dallas PD on your doorstep.” Even though he’s about to meet his maker, he’s still a smug sonofabitch.
I narrow my eyes at him. What does he mean Zoe won’t be safe even if he dies? I can’t think about that now. I need to be in the present, whatever comes in the future, we’ll deal with it together. I cover my feelings of confusion with a chuckle.
“No one is going to come looking for you. Kon Sokolov made sure of it.”
“Kon Sokolov, the leader of the Bratva? What the fuck does he have to do with any of this?” Caleb asks, and I can hear the fear in his voice.
“You brought Kon into this by killing Zoe’s mother and sending that video of Max to him. Oh, and just a heads up, Kon and my Prez here, Kick, are brothers by birth.” I reply, unable to keep the smug sound out of my voice. Kon has most of the Dallas PD in his pocket, but of course, to cover his own corrupt dealings, Caleb had gone all out in trying to find anything he could use to bring Kon down and make a name for himself with the Dallas PD. Because of what this asshole had done, setting me up for Zoe’s assault, for which I spent months in jail. Now he’s about to pay the price. For Zoe, and for me.
Wrapping the chain around my fist, I swung with all my strength, wrapping it around his weakened legs, when they metal made contact, he screamed in agony. But all I felt was satisfaction at the ripping of skin and breaking of bones. A few more hits with the chain, and he was falling in and out of consciousness.
My brothers stood by me, watching on impassively. None of them wanting to get involved. This was my fight, and they knew it. When he couldn’t move any longer and hung there limply, I decided it was time to end this. Lowering him down, I wrap the chain around his neck and squeeze.
“You don’t factor in my woman’s life or heart. You never did. You are nothing, and she will remember you that way. As nothing.” I growl in his face as I squeeze the chain harder. He jerks a few times and finally stops moving.
Unwrapping the chain, I drop it to the ground, breathing heavily through my flaring nostrils.
“You okay, brother?” Kick asks me, placing a hand on my shoulder.
“Never better.” I reply. Finally, my woman will breathe easier with this filth taken out.
“I’ll get a few prospects to take him out back of the clubhouse and get rid of him,” he tells me, and I nod my head in silent thanks before turning on my heel and leaving the room.