29. Chapter Twenty Nine
I drown out the majority of the rest of the meeting. Every now and then I tune back in to make sure I grasp some of what they are talking about but for the most part, nothing is retained. The exhaustion has slowly been creeping up on me over the last few days and I know that if I don’t focus on staying awake, I will fall asleep sitting up. The thought of anyone hearing me chop down an entire forest gives me enough incentive to keep my eyes open.
“Any more questions?” My father’s voice booms through the room as he looks around at each member before down the table. After a couple of seconds of silence, he slaps his hand down on the table, making me sit up taller.
“Alright. That concludes tonight. I expect to see you all at Pinks’ on Friday night. Initiation attendance is mandatory.”
I let out a sigh, slumping back down in my seat as the room slowly begins to empty. Relief fills me as they retreat. I know I should feel kinder towards the people I’m meant to lead one day but I swear their looks were starting to give me hives.
The only people that don’t leave the room are members of the leadership. Sonny leads the guys standing behind us around to the front of the table, lining up almost like soldiers.
“Thank you for staying behind,” Dad says, finally breaking the silence, “I wanted to confirm with each of you just how important Scarlett’s training is. I know just how capable she is but having to relearn everything, I want her to know she has a panel of men standing behind her in support.”
Each of the guys nods.
“Dawson, Nicky and Jethro. I want the three of you to rotate Scarlett’s combat training. Dacre and Wyatt, I want you to assist in her weapons training.”
Dad then moved onto Pike, “Pike, I want you to sit down with Scarlett and go through the ins and outs of our businesses and the workings of what we do both legitimate and not so much,” he laughs, making the guys all chuckle.
Leaving Sonny for last, he finally turns towards him, “Sonny, I’d like you to run Scarlett through our policies and laws. She needs to know everything .”
Sonny nods before turning his head towards me and smiling. His smile is soft and so very unlike him that I can’t help but return it.
“Even though I don’t mind stepping in and helping Scarlett to train, can I ask why we are the ones tasked with doing it?” My head snaps to Jethro. His brows are drawn in a frown which from what I can tell seems to be his normal facial expression. His arms are crossed over his chest as he leans against one of the tables. His eyes are locked on me.
I arch my eyebrow at him. He looks at me as if assessing me, like he is working out all my weaknesses. I hold eye contact with him. With the way he is looking at me, I know that he's trying to intimidate me and I already know that our training sessions will go much the same.
I don’t let it show that he’s bothered me, because he hasn’t. I can see right through him. I can read just from his expression alone just what he thinks of me being my Dad’s successor.
Women clearly aren’t valued, like they should be, in his eyes. It makes me wonder just why Rhodes is friends with this guy. I make sure to make a mental note. Seems like it'll be vital information one day.
Eventually the douche canoe averts his eyes and looks at my father. It clearly didn’t skip his notice the way Jethro was eyeballing me. He arches an eyebrow at him too and I give a questioning look at Grant who snorts, not bothering to mask the sound in the quiet of the room.
It takes him a moment to respond to Jethro as he gives him an assessing look.
“I want you all to train her because, when it's time for her to take over, you lot will be the ones at her side. If things were different, you would have developed these relationships years ago.” He blows out a breath as his mask slips a little, “I want to leave my legacy in the hands of someone who has people around her that she can trust. She’s being thrown into a dangerous world and I want her to know that the men standing with her now are men she can trust.” He then turns to each of the guys and gives them assessing looks, “Can I trust you men, ” he says putting emphasis on the word, “to stand beside Scarlett and help her lead The Thunderbirds to be successful?”
I watch as each of the guys nod without hesitation. Jethro is yet to nod though. His eyes remain on my father for a moment before he looks back towards me. His eyes give away nothing. It's like they are empty pits in his head. Eventually he turns back to my father and gives him a nod.
He nods before looking back at the rest of us. “Right. I expect each of you to be at Pinks’ Friday night. No excuses,” he says, voice stern as he looks directly at Rafael who chuckles and at least has it in him to look sheepish.
“It was one time,” his thick Spanish accent draws.
“You were late to your own initiation,” My father grumbles.
Valen, Grant and Rick all laugh. “You haven’t let him forget it either, Ren,” Valen says as he leans back in his chair.
He attempts to shake his head as if dismissing Valen but I notice the way the corner of his mouth quirks before it drops again, like it was never there.
“Right, does anyone have anything else they need to add?” He asks the room, waiting for a beat while everyone stays silent. When nobody speaks up, my father nods. The guys' dads all rise from their seats and so do they; I follow suit.
A tap on my shoulder turns me around and I find the older Sonny smiling down at me, “ Hola, Princesa.”
I smile at the endearment. After Sonny’s use of Spanish back in Australia, I began to slowly learn Spanish.
“ Hola, se?or,” I say but cringe at the spin my accent gives on the words. Rafael doesn’t seem to mind though as he beams brightly .
“Not only are you beautiful but you are smart as well. Maybe it was a good thing your Papa kept you away all this time. You would have given us all a run for our money,” he says, making us both laugh.
“My name is Rafael but everyone calls me Rafe,” he says with a smile, “I’m so glad that you are home. Sonny told me all about the girl he met down on the beach in Australia. I have fond memories of you as well when you were a bèbe.”
Before I can reply Sonny waltzes over and swings his arm around his father’s shoulders and chuckles.
“I heard my name and you know I couldn’t resist coming over straight away.” He raises an eyebrow at his father in question. “I hope it was only nice things you were saying about me?”
I note the hint of unease in his voice.
Rafe chuckles as he pats Sonny on the back, “Actually, I was just about to tell Scarlett about that time you got your head stuck in the staircase railing. No-one knows just how long you were there as you refused to ask for help. Only indication of how long you had been was you had soiled yourself at some point.”
Sonny stares wide eyed at his father for a moment, a variety of looks flashing across his face. His arm drops from where it was hanging around Rafe’s back.
“Fuck Papa, now Scarlett will never agree to go on a date with me,” he mutters, as he turns towards me. I watch as he swallows sharply and tries to regain some kind of dignity.
I can’t help but roll my lips together in an attempt to keep a laugh from escaping, but it's useless as a snort escapes me. A chuckle soon follows until I can’t take it anymore and I burst out into a full belly laugh. It doesn’t take Rafe long until he is laughing right alongside me.
Sonny stares at us both in disbelief, “Wow, both my Papa and mi Corazón laughing at my expense.” He shakes his head as he looks between the two of us.
Rafe’s laughter dies down instantly as he looks at his son, eyes wide and a shocked look on his face.
“ ?Estás seguro hijo? Ella es tu corazón?”
“Si Papá. Ella es mi todo. Le rompí el corazón una vez pero seré yo quien lo arregle.” Sonny replies in his native tongue.
“Asegúrate de que lo hagas.”
Sonny nods before he turns back to me and gives me a small smile. “I hope my Papa didn’t totally ruin my chances with you before I even got the chance to repair what I broke?”
I look over Sonny’s face, not replying for a moment as I take him in. Seeing him like this, so vulnerable and open, his walls completely down for me to see the real him, just makes him even that more desirable. There’s something about a man that isn’t afraid to show his feelings and be so transparent with them that is just so insanely attractive.
The anxiety of my silence seems to affect him more than I realised. I watch as the hopeful look drops from his face to one of regret and understanding. His shoulders drop as his eyes find a spot on the ground to stare at.
He takes in a breath, “Scar,” he begins but I don’t let him continue.
“I expect there will be more of those embarrassing stories when you take me on this supposed date?” I say.
Sonny’s head snaps up as he looks at me wide eyed.
“Really?” he gasps before shaking his head, “Babe, you can have every single photo album Mama has of me when I was a kid.”
I chuckle at his reaction. If he was a dog, he would absolutely be wagging his tail. “I look forward to it.”
True to his word Sonny messaged me the moment I got home with details about our date. I chuckle as I look at his message.
SONNY
Monday night after training. You are mine mi amor.
I instantly copy and paste his Spanish into google translate. I can’t help the way my heart stutters as I see the translation. My love.
With the opportunity in front of me, I can’t help but play with him, if even only a little. He always makes it way too easy for me. I change the translation from Spanish to English and type in my reply before copying the translation and sending it to Sonny. It doesn’t take long before I get back a reply.
SCARLETT
No te preocupes, papi. Prometo que seré una buena chica para ti ;)
SONNY
Fóllame nena muerta. Te mereces un azotaina
SCARLETT
No me amenaces con pasar un buen rato
SONNY
Si tu papá no me asesinara, estaría allí mostrándote a quién perteneces.
My mouth hangs agape as I read the translation for Sonny’s message. I bite the corner of my lip as I read his message over and over again. Why the fuck do these men turn me into an absolute nympho?
With my phone still tightly in my hand I roll over on my bed, reaching over as I dig around in my bedside drawers. My fingers find my satisfyer and I pull it out. My old and faithful has never let me down and after the teasing from Sonny, I can feel my body desperately needs this release more than ever.
I quickly roll my sleep shorts and panties down my legs, not giving them any mind as to where they land. I turn the satisfyer on and place it straight on my clit.
I jolt at the sensation, my back bowing as pleasure rolls through me.
“Fucking hell,” I moan as I turn it up a notch.
I clutch my phone tighter in my hand as I inch closer and closer towards my orgasm.
The pulsing of the toy seems to vibrate through my entire body as my lower stomach clenches.
I can’t help but think of the exact scenes Sonny all but threatening me with. Sonny crawling through my window in the middle of the night. Him placing his hand over my mouth so I don’t make any sounds as he wakes me from my slumber. The feel of his hands on my body as he pulls me up off my bed, only to bend me over the mattress. The feeling of the cool air hitting my bare ass as he pulls down my panties. The sting of the slap as he fulfils his promise in spanking me; followed by the whisper of ‘ You’ve been such a bad girl ’ in my ear.
The thought immediately sends me over the edge, the most intense orgasm rolling through my body.
“Sonny, fuck, fuck, fuck!” I shout at the height of my orgasm. My back bows off the bed and for a moment I swear I black out for a moment.
I pant as I come down from the high. I lie still for a moment as I try to catch my breath. I hear a sound come from the side of my head. I frown, confused as I look at my phone that’s still clutched in my hand.
The screen lights up and I feel my gut drop out of my ass. I stare at the screen for a moment before I bring my phone to my ear.
“Hello,” I say quietly.
“You are trying to kill me aren’t you, mami?”
I feel my cheeks burn as embarrassment pulses through my system. I can’t believe I just gave him front row seats to one of the best orgasms of my life and over a phone call? One I accidentally dialled.
“I’m so fucking embarrassed right now. I can’t believe you heard that,” I say covering my face in some kind of fruitful attempt to hide my shame .
“That was single handedly the hottest thing I have ever heard in my life. The way you screamed my name,” Sonny groans, “I will never be able to unhear that. You are the most delectable creature, Scarlett.”
“Really?” I ask, uncovering a portion of my face as I stare at the ceiling wishing it would collapse on me.
“Absolutely. You have me wrapped right around your little finger.” He begins in a voice that sounds almost resigned to his fate.
“There’s not a thing on this earth that you could possibly do that would turn me in the other direction. Want to put a collar on me and walk me like a dog? You can bet that I would be on my hands and knees crawling through the toughest of terrains for you. And that’s not just because of the way you sound when you scream my name.” I can hear him smirk through the phone, and if my cheeks could burn any hotter, they would be the gates to hell.
“Sonny,” I start but he cuts me off.
“No, mi corazón. I already know where I stand and fuck, do I deserve it. I deserve to be put through the ringer for what I did to you. You didn’t deserve that. If we had just pulled our head out of our asses, things would be so much different right now.” I hear him sigh.
“I’m sorry, Sonny.”
“Me too, Princesa.”
I sigh as I return my gaze to the ceiling. Sonny remains quiet and I know he's giving me a chance to collect myself.
“It feels surreal being here,” I finally say.
“In what way?”
“Like this is exactly where I need to be. Sometimes it feels like it's just a dream that I will wake up from. Or like I’m still waiting for the ball to drop. Shit, maybe I’m just waiting for Ashton Kutcher to jump out and say I’m being punked.”
Sonny laughs, “It sometimes feels like that for me too.”
“In what way for you?” I question.
Sonny pauses for a moment and I give him the same opportunity to collect his thoughts. “I’ve never told you or anyone really about this but I know if I want to get back in your good books, I need to start by being completely honest with you.”
“You don’t have to tell me anything if you aren’t comfortable with it, Sonny,” I say in a gentle voice. Opening up to people can be hard and I don’t want to force him to, especially not if he’s not yet ready.
“No, I want to talk to you about it,” he reassures me, “It's just it's not necessarily my story to tell; it's my parents story.”
I nod my head even though he can’t see me.
“My Mama and Papa’s families are rivals. They were destined to grow up to despise each other. According to them they did for years. Now the details aren’t too clear but there was some kind of situation that went down between the two families and a supplier or something and Papa ended up running into Mama.” I hear Sonny chuckle, the sound bringing a smile to my face.
“Papa said that Mama was this absolute light. He called her his tesoro.”
“What does that mean?” I ask.
“It means treasure. He said that she was the diamond in the rough. The shining light amongst all of the darkness of his life.”
I can’t help but smile. Their love sounds radiant.
“What happened after that? ”
“In all honesty, I checked out for the majority of the stories,” he chuckles, “Those two can get a little… much sometimes.”
We both laugh and I nod. If it's anything like the PDA I have been seeing between my parents the last couple of weeks, I totally get it.
“But basically, they began meeting up in secret, which was hard to do considering nothing much stays secret when you are heirs to the biggest cartel families in the northern hemisphere.”
My eyes widen. “Cartel?”
Sonny chuckles, “Yeah. The Martinez family and the Ladrón families have been the most prominent families in the drug business since the downfall of Escobar.”
“Holy fuck! How did they get out? Your Dad seems so nice, I don’t see how he could even be remotely associated with people like them. I have so many questions!” I exclaim, already thinking of other questions I need answers to.
Sonny laughs, “Don’t worry mi amor, I’m sure Mama would love to sit down with you and tell you her story. Honestly, you probably won’t have much of a choice.”
“Done,” I say, already excited to meet or remeet his mother.
“Anyways,” Sonny says, directing back to his original story, “Sometimes I get nervous. Even though my parents were able to detach themselves from their families and escape the life, the threat still looms over their heads. Being the eldest son from both of them, it would be a shit fight if they found out about me.”
I hear the anxiety in Sonny’s voice and it immediately sparks my own. “That can happen? That’s an actual threat? ”
Sonny blows out a breath, “Yeah, mi estrella. It's a real threat. But being a part of the club definitely has its protections and, with how well I’ve been trained, I don’t plan on letting them take me.”
I sigh in relief, releasing the breath I was holding. It still doesn’t relax the anxiety I feel. The thought of losing Sonny or any of my guys at this point is unthinkable. Even Dawson.
“Don’t worry Scar, none of us plan on disappearing anytime soon.” I hear the smile in his voice. He gives me the reassurance that I need.
“I’m glad. I haven’t finished making you lot grovel.”
Sonny laughs, “I haven’t either. I know you plan on seeing me on my knees more often.”
“You bet.”
Eventually we hang up the phone. It doesn’t take me long to fall asleep and like an absolute simp, my dreams are filled with Sonny and every single devilish thing I pray he does to my body.