Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
ROCHELLE
Istretch out, aching from Drifter’s much needed assault on my body last night. I smile to myself. He knows all the right buttons to press to make me feel like his queen.
I roll over and feel the coldness from his side of the bed. Of course, it’s empty. As always.
I sigh out loud. It would be nice to wake up one morning with him by my side.
I make my way into the bathroom to administer yet another injection. I pinch the skin between my fingers and inhale sharply at the sting of the needle. My dad used to joke that I would never have a drug problem because of my fear. If only he could see me now.
I stare at my reflection, barely recognising the woman looking back at me.
I’ve spent my entire life hiding my troubles.
Growing up surrounded by bikers and club whores teaches you one thing fast—you don’t show weakness.
Not even a crack. They’ll smell it and use it against you.
And as the Pres’s ol’ lady, I don’t just stand beside him, I rule alongside him.
He’d never admit it, but the truth is that without me, Drifter wouldn’t be the man or the President he is today.
He lost his dad in a turf war before he ever had the chance to grow into the role.
He was young when it happened, forced to step up fast and take control of the club in the middle of a war with the Steel Delinquents.
And now they’re back, I know it weighs on him.
I see it, even if he’d never say a word.
I make my way into the kitchen, and Mumma Bear throws her arms around me.
“Did you sleep well, my lovely?” I return the hug, squeezing her tight.
I lost both my parents a long time ago, and she’s really stepped up, taking me under her wing.
She has been like a mother to me. The club has always been my family, but Drifter’s mum has always gone the extra mile for me.
“Thanks, Maggie. I needed that.”
She releases me before grabbing a cup and making me a coffee. She turns, leaning against the counter whilst the coffee machine comes to life.
“Now, sit that arse down and tell Mumma what’s going on in that little head of yours,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest.
I smile at her fondly, pulling a dining room chair out.
“I feel like I’m losing it,” I admit, sitting cross-legged on the chair.
“Oh, lovely, we all feel that way sometimes.” She looks at me sympathetically, and I sigh.
“It’s been a long few days, and I feel like Drifter is getting sick of me.”
“Don’t be daft.” She chuckles, wafting her hand in front of her face. “You’re that boy’s everything. You know you mean the world to him.”
“Not more than the club,” I mutter under my breath, looking down at my hands and fidgeting uncomfortably.
Mumma Bear drags out a chair in front of me and sits down, grabbing my hands. “Did I tell you about the time his dad and I went through a rough patch?” I shake my head. “Well, it wasn’t pretty.” She laughs. “He was a fucker, you remember?”
“I do. I remember him giving Drifter the hard treatment, usually when I’d fucked up and he was covering for me.” She nods.
“The bastard ruled with an iron fist, but he got the job done, and this club was his life way before me. I had to slot in. It was always the honour of the club first, and it drove me fucking insane. One day, I’d had enough, so I walked out and left him.
” My jaw hangs open. I never knew she had walked out.
“I couldn’t take it anymore being second best to his brothers, but it wasn’t until I was gone that I realised he was my everything, and this club to him was that, I knew what I was getting into when I agreed to be his ol’ lady, but I was being selfish, I wanted more but this club was all he knew.
It didn’t mean he loved me any less. Fuck, he would’ve burnt the world for me.
But he would also do the same for his brothers.
Drifter would do the same for you,” she says, cupping the side of my face.
“I don’t feel I’m good enough anymore,” I whisper. “What if I can’t give you a grandchild, Maggie?”
“Children aren’t the be-all and end-all.
I only had Drifter. What’s meant to be will be.
You never have to worry about not being enough because you are enough all on your own.
He took you as his ol’ lady exactly as you are.
He doesn’t need anything else.” I swipe away at my cheeks with the cuff of my jumper as the kitchen door swings open.
I twist in my seat, keeping my back to the door to hide my tear-stained face. Mumma Bear gets to her feet.
“Good morning, son,” she chimes, and I quickly run my sleeves over my face again.
“Morning, Mumma,” he says, leaning in to kiss her on the cheek.
He places his hand on my shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Morning, Hell,” he whispers into my hair.
I clear my throat. “Morning.” I glance up, and one look at my face has him frowning.
“You okay?” he asks, concern in his tone. I smile and nod, and he cocks his head to the side. “Hell?”
“I am, I promise. Me and your mum were just having a heart-to-heart.” He eyes me suspiciously but eventually nods.
Mumma passes me my cup of coffee and turns to make Drifter one.
“Don’t worry about me. I need to dash. There’s an issue at the garage. Gears just called, and it sounds like someone attempted to bust in the back door.”
“Oh no. Have they taken anything?” Mumma asks.
“Doesn’t look like it, just damaged the back doors.
Need to go down and sort it out so the fuckers can’t get in if they attempt again tonight.
This shit’s relentless.” He smooths his hand over my hair, leaning in and kissing the side of my cheek.
“Love you, Hell,” he says, making his way out of the kitchen.
“See, I told you,” she says with a smile whilst nodding towards the door.
I stand up, grabbing my coffee. “Thanks, Mumma Bear,” I say, making my way to the door.
“Rochelle?” she shouts, and I turn to look at her. “You can always speak to me. You know that, right?”
I offer her a weak smile but nod. I love her dearly, but I know her loyalties will always lie with her son. He’s her world.
DRIFTER
I couldn’t wait to get out the clubhouse this morning.
I know Hell is struggling, but I need some freedom, some peace away from her internal battles.
She’s never been the jealous type. If anything, she’s always been the one to make me jealous, but ever since starting this fertility treatment, she’s been losing her mind over the smallest things.
I park up outside the garage, feeling like I’ve walked right out of one shitshow and into another. But at least with this one, there is no second-guessing. This is what I was made for.
Gears strides over to me, anger radiating off him. This garage is his domain, and someone messing with that has gotten under his skin.
“Fuck, Pres,” he shouts. “Fuckers must have a death wish.”
“What’s the damage?”
“Low-key. Looks like they attempted to get in with a crowbar.”
“We sure it’s the Steel Delinquents?”
We make our way to the back entrance of the garage.
“Cameras picked up some kids, but you know what Reaper’s like.”
I nod. “Fucker will be getting them to do his dirty work.”
I lean down to inspect the damage. “I’ll ring the locksmith, get him to sort it. Show me the footage.”
He pulls his mobile out his back pocket, opens up the app, and hands me the device. I pinch the screen, zooming in.
Shit. It’s Ashton, Siren’s younger brother. I’d know him anywhere. He picks her up from the clubhouse regularly. He’s a bit of a loner who doesn’t talk to anyone, but there’s no mistaking that hoodie he always wears.
I forward the image to myself before passing his phone back.
“It’s Ashton,” I tell him.
He frowns. “Who?”
“Siren’s fucking brother.”
“How do you know?”
“That weasel hovers around at the clubhouse waiting for Siren all the time. Wait ‘til I get my hands on the little prick.” I make my way back to my bike. Siren will be at the clubhouse, so I’ll have her drag him there to save me digging around.
I look over my shoulder and realise Gear’s still standing at the broken door. “You coming or what?”
“I’ll stay here, Pres, ‘til the locks get repaired.”
I nod before getting on my bike and tearing out the parking lot.
I storm through the clubhouse and find Siren sprawled over Joker. He sees me first, reading my body language instantly, and sits up, lifting Siren off his lap and onto the bench beside him.
“Alright, Pres?” he asks.
“You can relax, Joker. I’ve not come for you.”
He exhales loudly, shaking his head. “Thank fuck for that.”
Siren’s eyes find me, and a smirk spreads over her face. She flutters her fake lashes, biting on her lower lip. I arch a brown, my jaw tightening with annoyance, and her smile soon fades.
“My office . . . now,” I snap, heading that way. I hear her scrambling to follow.
Once inside, I slam the door, and she jumps in fright. I place a hand to her shoulder and push her down to sit in the chair.
She visibly swallows, sinking into the seat.
“Why the fuck is your brother trying to break into our garage?” I demand, throwing my phone on the desk in front of her with the photo as clear as day. She eyes me for a second before picking the device up and bringing it closer to her face. She gasps, slamming a hand over her mouth.
“Oh my god. Pres, honestly, I had nothing to do with this,” she says, the words rushing from her. Her hand trembles as she stares back at his picture.
“I’ll ask again. Why’s your brother caught on our CCTV trying to get into our garage?”
She jumps to her feet, grabbing my arm in desperation. “I have no idea. I know he’s mixed up with the wrong crowd, but I didn’t think he would be stupid enough to do something like this.”
I snatch my arm free, and her hand drops back to her side.
She hangs her head, like all the fight is suddenly gone.
“He’s fucking stupid at times, but I promise he’s harmless.
He’s eighteen, I take care of him because our parents—” She clears her throat and lowers back into the chair.
Once she gets her composure, she straightens out her shoulders and finally meets my eyes.
“He’s been messing with the wrong crowd for some time now. I’ll speak with him, I promise.”
I shake my head. “No fucking chance. You’ll ring him and tell him to get his arse across to the clubhouse now.”
“Please, Pres. You can’t hurt him. He’s my little brother.”
“I don’t give a fuck if he’s the Pope. You’ll call him and tell him to get over here now, because if I have to leave this club and go hunting for him, the consequences will be worse.”
She nods, her eyes filling with tears, then she pulls her mobile out her bra and brings it to her ear.
“Ashton,” she croaks, staring up at me, her eyes still pleading. “You need to come to the clubhouse.” She goes silent briefly before continuing. “No, now, Ashton,” she snaps before disconnecting the call. I lower myself into the seat opposite her. “He’s on his way,” she whispers.
Twenty minutes later, my office door swings open and Ashton strolls in. He keeps his gaze fixed on the floor as he enters, and you’d never imagine this scrawny kid breaking into an average Joe’s business, let alone one that belongs to the club.
Siren shoots to her feet, grabbing her brother’s arm and hauling him closer to the desk.
“What the fuck do you have to say, Ashton?” she screams. Her brother’s gaze remains fixed on his feet. He doesn’t even acknowledge her. “Ashton,” she repeats.
I stand up, making my way around to the other side of the desk, my frame towering over his.
“Look at me, kid,” I growl, and he flinches. “If you have the fucking bottle to try and break into one of my businesses, you can at least give me the fucking respect and look at me.”
Siren slaps him around the back of the head, and he rubs it but brings his gaze up to my own.
I see a glint of defiance in his eyes. And right now, I want nothing more than to teach this kid a fucking lesson, but I know Hell would lose her shit.
She’s always going on about how we need to be better, especially to the next generation.
I inwardly groan. Thanks for giving me a fucking conscious, Hell.
My jaw tightens. “You’re fucking lucky your sister works for the club,” I growl. “If it was anyone else, I would’ve put them on their arse before they walked through that fucking door.”
Siren eyes me warily.
“So . . . I’ll ask you once, and once only, why the fuck are you trying to break into my garage?”
He looks at his sister and then back at me.
“Ashton,” she screeches, “if you don’t fucking tell him, I can’t stop what comes next. You best own your shit.”
He sighs. “I was paid to do it,” he confesses.
“By who?”
His eyes flit between me and his sister again, and she nods in encouragement.
“Reaper,” he mutters reluctantly, pinching the bridge of his nose. “He’s gonna fucking kill me.”
“He won’t touch you, but if you cause any more shit for me, I will fucking kill you. You understand?” He nods. “Now, get the fuck outta here before I change my mind.”
He scurries out my office with Siren hot on his tail. She pauses at the door and turns to face me.
“Thank you,” she murmurs.
“I didn’t do it for you,” I snap, already regretting my decision.