Chapter 4 #3
That did not stop Holly. Using the wrist she’d likely just broken, Holly pushed the woman back, placing herself between the woman and me.
As the woman continued to scream, the employee just stood there with wide eyes.
The daughter and granddaughter came running into the hallway as KD and Beetle entered from the front waiting area with their guns drawn.
Using her wrist as leverage, Holly forced the woman down to her knees. Her eyes sparked in a way that reminded me of the fury in Aloiki’s just before he ordered someone onto Tommy’s boat.
I reached out, touching her shoulder lightly. In retrospect, that probably wasn’t the smartest move to make, since there was no telling what her reaction might have been, but it seemed to bring her back to herself, or at least, snuffed out the murderous look in her eyes.
“It’s okay,” I said gently. “I’m okay.” Taking her free hand, I placed it over my baby bump where my son’s foot was currently kicking. “We’re okay.”
Holly’s body sagged, and she released the woman’s wrist. I realized then that Beetle and KD had been holding back the daughter and mother from coming forward. The useless employee was still standing there frozen in shock with her back to the wall.
The daughter started shouting about lawsuits while the granddaughter recorded the entire thing on her phone. No one seemed interested in calling for medical aid for the grandma.
“Yeah,” I said hurriedly to Holly and the Prospects. “We should go. Now!”
“What part of ‘protect her at all costs’ was unclear to you?”
In the parking lot overlooking the beach where I would soon be marrying the love of my life, Holly and I stood under a canopy as Aloiki ripped the Prospects a new asshole. I tried to explain that what had happened in the spa wasn’t their fault, nor was I hurt in any way.
In my silent opinion, Holly had overreacted.
Injuring the woman’s wrist when simply stepping back from her would have sufficed, but I would never criticize Holly’s desire to protect me or my son.
Maybe because I was used to it with Aloiki, but I loved that she’d gone to the extreme for me.
And yes, I was very aware of how my two responses to the situation were the exact opposite of each other.
I never claimed to be sane.
After my order to leave the spa, Holly had casually walked over to my locker, broke the lock with her fucking hand, and then grabbed all my belongings.
She hadn’t gotten a massage, so she still had everything she walked in with on her.
I didn’t know what Neo and Bacon were doing at the spa to clear things up, but as soon as we’d called Aloiki to explain what happened, he’d sent them.
I did not want Holly getting arrested on my behalf.
KD and Beetle had been there to protect us, but it wasn’t like they’d been with us when the incident happened.
But there was no talking Aloiki out of punishing them.
If it was any other day but our wedding day, I might have been able to convince him.
But today, all I was able to do was keep him from killing them.
I didn’t want them to lose their Prospect cuts over this either.
Aloiki was ready to burn the spa to the ground, too.
I thought he was going to kiss Holly when we finally met back up with him.
No matter how many times I told him I was fine, he wouldn’t believe it until Tommy checked me over.
The club’s Medic was a former soldier with the SAS, the British Special Forces, and was the closest thing to a nurse or a doctor we had.
I didn’t know all the details of Nishi’s death, but I was aware that he’d given her morphine to ease her passing.
Aloiki had been the one to administer it, but Tommy had provided the drug and made the offer.
I would forever be grateful to him for that.
Tommy now stood next to Holly and me, though he looked like he was craving popcorn for a good show.
Others mingled around, too, trying not to appear too nosy as they set up chairs on the beach.
Lucifer was the only one who was wearing a shirt.
Everyone else was wearing just shorts. I also spotted other Royal Bastard members helping out, including Tick Tock from New Orleans, Louisiana, Creed from Jacksonville, Florida, and Lynx from North Ontario, Canada.
I’d met a good number of them over the past couple of days.
They were dangerous men with eyes only for their women. I could relate.
At the moment, Aloiki had all five Prospects, Mouse, Barnacle, KD, Beetle, and Doodles, in front of him. Even though only Beetle and KD had ‘messed up’, the other Prospects were witnesses. Aloiki was a hard man, and he took no chances when it came to my safety.
“My wahine has begged for your lives,” Aloiki told them. He was pacing like he was barely holding onto his anger. Was it wrong of me that I hoped he took that angst out on me instead of the Prospects?
I bit my lip, just thinking of the possibilities.
As if sensing my arousal, Aloiki suddenly stopped and glanced over his shoulder at me.
His eyes narrowed, but I also caught the amused twitch of his lips.
Quickly, he sobered and rounded on the Prospects again.
“Out of respect for my wahine’s wishes, I will not take your cuts.
Know that both of you are walking the volcano’s edge.
” To all the Prospects, he added, “And let this a lesson for all five of you. I do not give a flying fuck on a rooster’s tail what the circumstances are.
We have two women, two children and will soon have a third, under our protection.
No harm will come to any of them while there is still breath in your bodies. ”
“Yes, Paniolo,” they chorused together like soldiers.
“As for you two,” he pointed to KD and Beetle.
“Strip down to your skivvies and cuts. For the rest of the day, any time one of our guests or a brother needs something, you are to kneel before them, hand them a paddle, and say ‘I have been a very bad Prospect. Please spank me before I do your bidding.’”
Both red faced, they nodded their understanding.
I was about to ask, “What paddle?” when the twins came riding up.
They threw their kickstands before dismounting.
And in their hands were two spanking paddles with glittering pink rhinestones and a long strap on the end like it was a necklace instead of a wristlet.
As one of the twins handed their paddle to Aloiki, I caught sight of the other side.
Where in raised, bold letters was written:
BAD PROSPECT
Aloiki took both paddles as the Prospects started to strip to their underwear. He once again caught my eye. I knew in that moment that he knew I would advocate for their lives, and he’d planned accordingly.