Thirty
Meeting the brothers and their ol’ ladies in my father’s club has been interesting. Technically… My only experience with them was when I had a gun to Bull's head and when I put Princess on her ass. I assumed the ones that weren’t in the know would be wary and standoffish toward me and mine, but they aren’t. Despite Princess’s bitching and whining through the night once she and the other women were let out of the safe room. And man… did she bitch up a blue streak for being kept down there for hours. Such a fucking drama queen. It was hilarious how many people avoided her, pretended they didn’t hear her, or, my favorite, I watched people walk away mid-sentence. It was glorious.
After the meeting, I’d mistakenly texted Sam and Gabriella instead of calling. Of course, both of them were too nosey for their own good. My phone has been blowing up ever since. They’ve been demanding I explain what the hell I’d gotten myself into. Of course, Sin's fears were realized. I finally had enough of my bestie and her threats, so I called her. Gabriella is sending Sarafina and her brother Sebastian. I asked for Malikai, but apparently, he is busy with whatever Gabriella has going on. And my little Liv is off living her best college girl life and is out of the business for now. So, now I’m expecting my godchildren to come in and help me and my team monitor a few things. The two of them are a force to be reckoned with. They aren’t needed necessarily, but I never say no to my two favorite demon spawns.
All that is a worry for tomorrow. Tonight, I’m enjoying myself. I finally get to sit and talk to the people who make up Gunner's family, my new family. Sitting at the bar, I’m seeing things with fresh eyes. Less than an outsider and more of a newcomer. The officers, except Gunner and Taz, sit at their table, watching over the club. Everyone is relaxed, even after the attack. It’s not shocking. This is the mother chapter, after all. They have seen their fair share of shit, and it helps that I could take care of everything as far as repairs on the clubhouse.
According to Taz, they are gossiping like old biddies. My brother and I are the topic of conversation. I’ve received a few sideways glances. Of course, Taz, trying to make light of the situation, told me not to worry about the ol’ biddies, who promptly cussed him the fuck out when they heard him. Me being me, I’ve walked by a few times and heard them whispering and cackling like little teenage girls, so Taz wasn’t far off.
I smile at how things went from shit to this. The place is buzzing with kids and their moms chasing them around. I probably shouldn’t be holding someone's baby while I drink, but I’m a helpful type of bitch, so here we are.
It amazed me when I came out of church and entered the main room. After they let everyone out of the safe room, one brother screamed lockdown, and the whores scurried off. When they came back, they were wearing clothing that covered all their shit. Even though a few of them were pushing it at how tight their shit is, it’s not my circus or my monkeys.
Gunner and Taz are in his office decompressing, or whatever the fuck they do, after a night like tonight. I honestly think they are in there because Taz had to be an alpha douche and declare me his in front of every damn body, like a fucking caveman. Without my permission, might I add? I mean, if I am honest, I don’t mind. If shit doesn’t work out, I can always fake my death. Is that going too far? Meh.
He and I are still going to talk about that shit. I mean, yes, it made my lady bits scream hell yeah to the heavens, but I’m a boss, and being boss means he needs to be nice to me so I don’t tear out his nails one by one.
Blaze, Pain Rocket, and Sin went to pack up our stuff since we decided we were going to be staying at the clubhouse for the foreseeable future, or at least until we handled things with the whole contract shit.
“So, I hear you are Prez’s long-lost kid.” A busty brunette saddles up next to me. I don’t turn my head to look at her as I stare down at the little one in my arms. I can only see her jugs and dark hair falling past them. I debate whether to ignore her, but think better of it. I should be nice to these people until they prove friendly won’t work. Adjusting the little one in my arms, I turn to her, and my eyes connect with a stunning Latin woman. I thought I heard a little accent in her voice.
Please don’t be a club girl.
Please don’t be a club girl.
Please don’t be a club girl.
She is stunning with long black hair, but her eyes catch my attention. They are a beautiful green with specks of gold that make her eyes look like they glitter. Her amusement, of my perusal, is seen on her face. But I don’t give a shit. I’m trying to figure out if I see Club Girl on her. I know those bitches are notorious for being sweet and then flipping a switch and becoming fucking cunts. I have hope when I see she is wearing a fitted tank top with a… Oh, thank fuck, she has a property cut. Continuing my perusal, she is wearing ripped jeans and riding boots. And I’m thanking whoever that she is indeed not a hoe bag. I might not have to smack a bitch. The jury is still out on that. The ol’ ladies can be territorial, too. They are usually more discreet and underhanded about it. I activated my sweet persona and play nice for now.
I let a smile play on my face as I answered her, “Yep, the same. One of two. I have a twin brother, Blaze.” I look around as if I’m going to find him. I won’t. He isn’t back yet.
“Yeah, I heard about him, too. I heard you all were here giving Princesa troubles.” She laughs a little and shakes her head. Pulling out the stool next to me and sitting down. She signals the prospect to bring her a drink. I stare at her, not sure how to take her. “That girl is a handful. I’m Valeria.” She raises her hand. I look down at the baby I’m holding and back at her. She chuckles in understanding, tucking her outstretched hand away. “I’m Titus’s ol’ lady, by the way. Between you and me…” she leans closer to me, even though she’s already pretty damn close, “I’m glad someone is on her level and can put the mocosa in her place. I heard you had her flat on her ass,” she full-out laughs. Nevertheless, I’m still unsure about her, so I’ll play along.
I chuckle. “Yeah, she took some shit too far, and being the brat she is, as you called her, needed to be put in her place and taken down a few pegs. If you know what I mean, I don’t do well with disrespect.” My eyes narrow on her, leaving the threat in the air. She may not have given me shit yet, but I’m not one to leave it to chance. I stare at her in her eyes, ensuring I get my message across. She holds my stare and nods in understanding, the smile and openness of her expression never leaving her face.
“I get it. I do, but there is… a hierarchy between us women around here, and it must be followed whether or not we like it. And believe me, plenty of us ol’ ladies dislike particular people at the top. If you know what I mean.” It’s my turn to laugh as an understanding is had between the two of us.
“Whose kid is that?”
I’m startled by the unexpected intruder but quickly realize it’s Taz when he wraps his hand around my shoulder on the opposite side of Valeria. I turn to smile at him, and like a long-lost lover, he bends down and kisses me on the forehead. Whoa, there, big guy, when did we get on the kiss-the-forehead level? My eyes narrow on him, and he smirks and gives me a wink, knowing damn well what I’m thinking.
Looking down at the sleeping baby, I can’t answer. I have no clue whose baby this is. Well, I do, and I don’t. I saw a mother struggling to balance the baby and capture the toddler. As the newly appointed MC Princess I am, I took it upon myself to scoop the baby up. I told the mother to handle her business; I wasn’t going anywhere. It helped that Vex stepped in to reassure the woman that I was cool and I was his long-lost sister. That did it because the woman took off after the toddler, and I haven’t seen her since. Thinking about it, I haven’t seen Vex or Bull for a while. Yep, just like that, I was left with an adorable baby boy, and If I am being honest, I’m not mad about it. The little stinker is cute. I’ve always loved babies and kids. I know I’m an assassin, but I am an assassin with a functioning uterus. Either way, the mothering thing doesn’t scare me in the least.
“Do you even know?” Taz stares down at me with amusement in his eyes. And I want to smack his beautiful bald head and kiss it better. And then something happens. His eyes heat, and I look away because Hello… baby.
“Um…” I clear my throat, trying to ignore what those sexy as fuck brown eyes do to the down under. “See, I saw a sweet little mother struggling with a super cute little girl and this little guy. So, I thought, why not help? Have you looked around this place? It’s like a dive bar and daycare thrown up. No baby should be left alone. They might catch something.” I scrunch my nose and see that he is trying to hide his laughter. “Also, I’m a pro at this aunty thing. I’ve babysat my bestie quads a time or two. I’m very much qualified to care for a baby.” My eyes narrow at him, and he keeps smirking. “And he is sleeping, so yay me. I’m sure his mother is doing mothering things, so I’ll keep this little guy until she is done, whoever she is.” I clamp my mouth shut to stop my rambling.
I hear laughter erupt all around me, and I look around and realize that I most definitely caught more than a few people's attention.
Taz leans down, his face mere millimeters from mine, with laughter in his eyes and a smile on his lips.
“So, that would be a no.”
I huff out in annoyance. “Um, whatever.” I roll my eyes at him and try to convince myself that his lips so close to mine are a bad, bad thing.
Terrible.
Horrible.
Absolutely not… they are not beautiful, lush, plump, and in need of a good licking or ten.
Nope, I’m not thinking about his lips at all.
A snicker comes from beside me, and I lean back and snap my head toward the offender who messed up my internal debate. Then I hear Taz bark out in laughter. Shit.
“Wow, I also heard about that.” Valeria waves a knowing finger between us. And if I could blush, I would blush in the most badass of ways.
I look at her and decide to be, well, me. “What do you mean?” I stare at her in confusion and furrowed brows because the surprise on her face nearly cracks my resolve. “Me and this guy are... Nothing, he is my long-lost father’s VP. So…” I release one of my arms from under the baby to pat Taz on his very firm chest. It takes everything in me not to rub all over those pierced nipples. Shit, hands off, hands off. Shit, he’s way too damn firm. Oh lawd, the things I want to do to this man. Looking up at him. “Aren’t we, Mr. VP? You helped me out when I got shot and got me all patched up as a good right-hand man to my father would.” My face stays impassive.
Watching Taz’s face harden and become blank, I think I may have fucked up. He glares down at me, and his eyes shudder in a way I do not like. He says nothing as he stands to his full height without a word and walks away. Umm. I watched him stomp away as my brows furrowed.
“Oh, girl, I think he is mad, mad.” She gives me a wide-eyed look. Smoothing my features, I play it off and give her a shrug in response.
Hell, I was just fucking with the guy. I mean, seriously, hasn’t he realized I am a little crazy? It was a fucking joke, for fuck's sake. I mean, I let them man in my tunnel of happiness and joy within hours of meeting him. He and I both know what this is. At least I do, and I thought he did, too. He was the one to claim me in front of the club. A little jokey joke as payback should not have him stomping off. It was supposed to be the opposite, you know. Him going all caveman and carrying me away and showing me who I belong to and all the romance novel shit. Closing my eyes, I take a breath, shaking my head. What the fuck. I don’t know what I’m doing.
I not so discreetly try to find him while looking through the mirror above the bar. No dice. I’m not one of those girls who will fall into the drama of a third-act breakup, and we are not turning this into some weird miscommunication thing. Yes, it's a stupid misunderstanding. All he had to do was open his damn mouth and ask questions. I would have said. I’m fucking with you, jkjk hahaha. We haven’t been dating or whatever long enough to be broken up over some silly shit like a joke. For him to have this big of a reaction is ridiculous.
You know what? I’m not worried about it. If his ass wants to be a sensitive Sally, then by all means. Don’t expect me to apologize for being me. Nope, not going to happen.
A sweet voice breaks into my thoughts, snapping me back into the here and now. “Oh, thank you so much. He was no trouble, was he?” The mother whose baby I’m holding in my arms burrows in between Valeria and me.
Releasing the tension, I didn’t know I was holding. The little guy squirms a little. I smile at the mother. I don’t get to answer before Valeria pipes up. “He was perfectly fine, Mary-Sue. This Ni?o could sleep through anything. I’ve told you that. Only someone with a cold, dead heart would have a problem with the Ni?o. He is a perfect ángel. Right?” I smile and nod.
Mary Sue is her name, cute. I stare at them as they continue their conversation without my input.
Cutting in, “Um, yes… P.S. I don’t think I told either of you my name. I’m Bellamy.” I smile at them and shift the baby to hand him over to his mother. “And this guy was a perfect angel, as Valeria said.” Gently, I switch him to his mother's arms, and once he is situated, I look around the room at the running, playing, and screaming kids. “I hope all the babies around here are amazing.” I look around nervously and don’t know where we are sleeping tonight. We haven’t gotten that far. I may like kids, but I like my freaking sleep way more.
“That… look… on… your… face…” Mary’s laughter jars me out of my horrible thoughts of kids screaming and sleepless nights. And living a napless life… Oh, this will not work. The baby shakes in her arms as Mary-Sue and Valeria laugh at my genuine problem.
“Your face,” she swirls her finger around my face, “…is saying a lot. It’s telling me you like your sleep and are afraid of the crack of dawn wake-up call and the pitter-patter of little feet. Bellamy. The families have their own space.” Valeria gives me a broad smile, shoving her shoulder into mine. “You’ll most likely be sharing a bed with your man. Or on El Presidente's floor.” She gives me a knowing look and a wink.
“Wait, what did I miss? Who…” Mary looks back and forth between Valeria and me before either of us answers. The main entrance door closes pretty fucking loudly. I swear the door is made of solid steel, with how loud it is when it closes. My head snaps over to see that my family walks in, looking furious as fuck.
What the fuck happened?