10. Finally
FINALLY
BLUE
I was pissed when I got an urgent call from Black, telling me to get my ass to the clubhouse as soon as possible. He knows that I’ve been actively avoiding the place, but he didn’t give a shit. I don’t know what happened between last night and now, but it can’t be anything good.
I drag my tired body to the clubhouse door. The place is eerily quiet. Even at seven in the evening, there are usually people here. There’s always a party going on no matter the time. Unless…
They had church, fuck!
If they had a meeting with the members and Black called me, then I’m in deep shit. It can only have to do with the loan again. I’m so tired of dealing with this shit; I’m about to lose my fucking mind.
I greet Big Country as he opens up the door for me. The man who I consider one of the jolliest people I know looks so serious that I hardly recognize him. I’ve never seen Country look so grim.
“Uh, where’s everybody at?” I question the big man.
“Conference room, I’ll lead the way,” Country says, starting for the stairs.
I follow behind him closely without saying anything. I’m starting to feel like I’m walking the green mile. My stomach is turning from nerves, and my fight-or-flight reflexes are kicking in.
Logically, I know that I don’t have anything to be afraid of because these men would never hurt me, but something serious is going on.
I’m the type of person that likes to keep my head down and out of the bullshit. But for some reason, I always end up in the middle of mess. I swear I’m a magnet for foolishness.
I walk into the conference room behind Big Country, and the chatter instantly stops. There’s only six of the guys in here, and it makes me really curious. Bishop is here, but Rock isn’t anywhere to be found.
“Blue, come on in and have a seat,” Bishop says from the head of the room.
Everyone is seated and staring at me like I’m a stranger. I look to Black, and he looks mad as hell. That fire in my cousin’s eyes makes me turn away quickly and sit down without saying a word.
“I have some questions to ask you, and I need you to answer them and don’t leave anything out,” Bishop demands in an authoritative tone.
“O-Ohkay,” I respond nervously.
“Why were you paying money to the Vasquez Cartel?”
My brain stutters and my eyes bulge out of my head. I know damn well he didn’t just accuse me of dealing with a whole fucking cartel. What in the actual fuck is happening?
“What the hell!” I yell, but then I remember where I am and who I’m talking to, and I calm myself down. “I wasn’t dealing with the cartel; I was paying back money because I was helping…”
“Don’t fucking lie to me!” Bishop yells, banging his fist on the table.
I jump, and my eyes go wide. Bishop has never raised his voice at me like that. It pisses me off and scares the shit out of me at the same time. If he has already made up his mind, there’s nothing I can say to change it.
“I’m not lying. I was only paying money to the people…” I’m interrupted again before I can finish explaining.
“I already know you are dealing with the Vasquez Cartel because you paid Brick and he’s their enforcer.”
I look at Black like he stabbed me in the fucking back. He’s the only one who could’ve told my business. Even though I had no idea that Brick worked for the cartel, Black should’ve told them why I paid him.
“Black, why didn’t you tell them that I was paying the debt for my mama?”
“It isn’t Black’s responsibility to tell me shit! Why didn’t you tell me what was going on?” Bishop’s anger is reflected in his muddy hazel eyes.
“Why would I tell you anything about me? You’re not my man. I went to my family when I needed help, like I’m supposed to.” I glare at my cousin, hurt written all over my face.
I don’t know why me paying off a debt to who I thought was a loan shark has anything to do with the Hellhounds. I didn’t know I was dealing with the cartel. But they got their money, so me and Mama are in the clear.
“Clear the fucking room!” Bishop bellows.
He doesn’t have to tell me twice. I hop my Black ass up and do my best to skedaddle. I never want to deal with a pissed off Bishop.
No fucking thanks!
“Not you. You sit your little ass down.” Bishop stops me in my tracks.
“Bishop?” Black questions, looking between me and Bishop.
“It’s fine, Black. I got this,” Bishop reassures my cousin.
Black nods and leaves the room, following behind the rest of the cowards. I can’t believe those bastards left me in here. I’m gonna cuss Black’s ass out when I get out of here!
“Blue Grace, what the fuck did you get yourself involved in?” Bishop growls, coming around the table to get in my space.
He’s already larger than life, but I hate how intimidated I am by him right now. It’s not just his size that has my heart beating out of my chest. It’s his closeness. It’s the smell of his spicy cologne. It’s the heated look in his eyes.
There’s no way I should be turned on right now!
I want to roll my eyes at myself, but I don’t want to set Bishop off. His temper seems to be hanging by a thread, and I do not want to be the one who cuts the string. Instead, I mash my thighs together and take a deep breath to get a hold of myself.
“Like I tried to tell you before you lost your shit, I was helping my mama. I won’t apologize for that. I’m her only child, and I’m all she’s got,” I reply unapologetically.
“Nobody said you couldn’t help Carol Anne. I asked why you didn’t come to me?”
“Again, why would I come to you? I was working and paying off the debt. I didn’t know who Brick was.
He let me pay in installments, and that was it.
He came to me yesterday with a warning, which, by the way, I still don’t know why.
He said I needed to pay ASAP, so I went to Black for a loan and paid the rest. The debt is cleared, and I have no more dealings with him and whoever he’s working for. ”
“You don’t just pay off a debt with the cartel, Blue. They deal in human fucking trafficking. You could’ve disappeared, and I would’ve never known what happened to you. Do you know how fucking terrified that makes me? Fuck!”
Bishop walks away from me and runs his hand through his carefully coiffed hair. He paces back and forth, muttering to himself. I sit still, wondering if he realized what he just confessed.
“Bishop, I didn’t just go out and borrow money. Chauncey set Mama up, and I stepped in to help. I didn’t go looking for a loan from the fucking cartel.”
“Blue, you should’ve come to me. Is that why you started working at the clinic?”
I nod my head. “Yes, I didn’t have much in my savings because I’m still paying off my school loans. Picking up extra shifts at the hospital wasn’t enough.”
Bishop nods and stops pacing. His face isn’t as red, but I know he’s still pissed. Those eyes of his still hold a blaze of anger.
“Blue Grace, you’re part of this family. Whether you like it or not, we have each other’s backs. If you had issues with Chauncey, you should’ve said something.”
I understand what Bishop is saying, but he knows me better than that. I would never ask the Hounds for a handout. I only asked Black because I had to.
“I know that I’m family, but you know that I don’t do charity. Working for Dr. Caesar was fine…”
“Until it wasn’t…” Bishop interrupts.
I sigh because he’s made up his mind. No matter what I say, Bishop will have an argument for it. That’s why you don’t waste your time disagreeing with a lawyer; you’ll never win.
Especially when he’s a stubborn ass.
“The debt is paid. Brick warned me, and it’s done. I promise it will never happen again.”
“You’re damn right it won’t happen again. You come to me when you need anything.” Bishop stares at me so hard, I feel a shiver.
“I promise to go to Black if Chauncey fucks up again. He’s in jail now, so…”
I don’t tell Bishop that Brick said that Chauncey made some kind of deal and that’s why he warned me, but it shouldn’t matter now. I’ll make sure Mama knows how much shit she was in this time. She needs to know that her drinking almost got us on the wrong side of a cartel.
“No, I said you come to me!” Bishop growls, pulling me into his arms.
My breath hitches, and I gasp before I can catch myself. I look up into his handsome face, hard lines forming between his brows. His plump lips look enticing, and I stand on my toes to connect them to mine.
I don’t know what came over me, but the sizzle I feel when our lips touch is overwhelming. I moan when Bishop’s hands pull me impossibly closer. The heat of his big body engulfs me, and I moan.
When Bishop pulls back from me, I sigh. I knew it was too good to be true. Bishop is going to pull away from me again. He’s going to keep this game up, and I just can’t take it.
Before I can spiral, Bishop picks me up and places me on the large conference table. I yelp, and my eyes go wide. He pulls down my scrub bottoms and drops to his knees.
“Oh, my God!”
This is finally happening!