Chapter 11
Eleven
HITTER
I t’s late by the time we get back from our ride, but I’ve never seen Izzy look so happy. We started the day early, riding back roads, winding and swerving until we hit the beach. I packed our swimsuits, and we spent hours in the water, playing, splashing, and enjoying the sun. We ate the small lunch I had packed on the beach before changing and returning on the bike when the sun went down. Riding at night is one of the most peaceful experiences you will ever have, and I could feel every bit of the tension Izzy’s been holding onto for her brother finally let go. She relaxed against my back and enjoyed the cool air rushing past as we flew down the pavement. By the time we got back to the compound, neither of us was ready for the ride to end. I know I’m disappointed that this day and the ride flew by so quickly. Izzy pouts a bit as I help her off the bike, and I can’t help but lean over, smoothing the lines between her eyes.
“What’s wrong, my angel?” I ask, kissing her forehead.
“This was the most magical day of my life. I’m just not ready for it to end,” she says, and I smile, happy she enjoyed the day as much as I did.
“Well, the ride might be over, but it doesn’t have to end yet,” I tell her, sweeping her up into my arms and carrying her through the compound as she giggles into my shoulder.
We spend the rest of the night making love. There’s one thing that I’ve learned since the moment I met my angel: she’s completely irresistible. I can never get enough of her. I don’t leave her body until the next day, when I have to get up and get some work done.
I lean down, kissing Izzy softly and smiling when she growls as I pull back.
“I’ll see you in a bit, Angel. Relax and call me if you need anything,” I tell her before stepping out of the room and letting her fall back asleep. I kept her up all night, so I’m hoping she sleeps most of the time I’m gone.
My first stop this morning is Comp’s office. I knock on the door and wait until he calls out a greeting before pushing open the door and walking in.
“Hey brother, what’s up?” he asks, not even bothering to look up from his computer.
The guy is so big he makes the desk and chair look comically undersized next to him. He’s not as big as me, but he’s the only brother who could come close. From the size and muscles of the man, you would never think that he spends most of his days at a desk, behind a computer. Finally, he looks at me, not hiding his scars like he usually does. He’s better with the brothers than with everyone else, but I can tell it still bothers him.
“Were you able to get Izzy’s computer up and running?” I ask him. The day she told me she lost hers in the fire and it had special accessibility capabilities for her, I texted Comp. I told him I wanted to buy the best computer on the market and have every software Izzy could need. He sent me a link, and I bought it that same day. Comp set it up to ensure all the programs run smoothly before I gift it to my angel.
“Yup, it’s good to go. It has every software on the market for your Ol’ Lady. If you have an issue with it, just bring it back to me, and I’ll fix it, but you shouldn’t have any problems,” he explains, handing it to me.
I thank him before leaving and heading toward my office. I hear Prez loudly cursing and yelling from the common room, so I detour and head that way.
“I swear to fuck, Beau, if you don’t stop dancing and swinging your dicks around in here, I will bury you alive. Put some fucking clothes on.” Swift’s face is bright red, and he’s yelling while holding his hands over Piper’s eyes. I swear to fuck; either Prez is about to commit murder or have an aneurysm.
“Where the hell are we supposed to practice, Prez? The bar doesn’t open for another month, and with the renovations, we can’t do it there. We have to get at least one dance right,” Beau says, way too comfortable for a guy in a speedo and chaps. God, please don’t let him fucking turn around. I don’t want to see his pasty white ass.
“I don’t give two fucks, just find a better place,” Swifts says while Piper is trying to hold in her laughter. As I walk in and see the situation, I can’t help it. I burst into laughter, making Swift look over my way. If looks could kill, I would be six feet under with a one-way ticket to hell.
“Oh, just wait until it’s your woman’s out here with all these fuckers,” Swift barks angrily.
“My woman can’t see the shit they are doing, thank fuck. We wouldn’t have any more prospects left if she could,” I tell him, still laughing. He gets a smirk on his face, and I know I’m not going to like what he’s about to say next.
“Yeah, but what if she stumbles out here during one of their fucking scenes and stumbles into one of these swinging dicks?” he asks as his smirk turns into a full-on smile. Immediately, my laughter cuts off, and I see red.
“Oh, fuck,” Beau says before I turn to their group.
“Get. The. Fuck. Out. Now,” I growl. They waste no time scurrying away, smart fuckers. Unfortunately, I get an eyeful of every single one of their naked asses on their way out. Swift finally pulls his hand from Piper’s eyes, and she looks over at me.
“How’s Izzy doing? Is she settling in, okay?” she asks.
“She’s doing really good. Which reminds me, I need to get Cutter’s ass over here for our property tattoos. Shit, I also need to get her cut made,” I say, thinking aloud.
“Hayden can give Cutter a call, and I can get her cut taken care of. I know you’re trying to get her settled, and the house built, so we can help,” Piper tells me, and I smile at her.
“That would be amazing. Thanks, Piper. I actually wanted to go check on the house this morning, but I need to get some paperwork shit done first,” I tell them, about to head to my office.
“No need. I took care of all the paperwork, brother. The bars, restaurants, and the club are all up to date with their shit. Inventory’s called in, and the managers' and employees' schedules are also done,” Swift says. I look over at him in stunned surprise.
Who this fuck is this, and what has he done with my best friend? Prez despises paperwork with a passion and only does the ones I can’t take care of. That just means only the ones intended for the Prez’s eyes alone; otherwise, he would turn that over to me, too, and even that makes him bitch and complain. I don’t mind the paperwork, so I take care of all that for him and our businesses.
“You didn’t have to do that, brother. I would have taken care of it,” I tell him, even if I’m more grateful for the help than ever.
“You needed to spend some time with your woman, making sure she was settled. Piper helped, and we got it knocked out in no time. Go check on your house and get back to your woman. We stopped by on the way over here. The guys really worked hard to get it built up. I think they’re close to being done. It’ll be nice having you and Izzy as neighbors,” Swift says, and I give him a chin lift.
“Can’t wait to get her settled in my house,” I tell them both before turning and heading out the back of the compound.
We keep ATVs, golf carts, and four-wheelers in the back since we have so much land. It helps get around, although there is another private entrance at the back now that houses are being built. It’s a long driveway with only one way in and out through that gate.
I take the trails until I’m pulling up into my yard. I’m looking at the tall log cabin, hoping and praying Izzy will love it. I want her to love it because it will be our home. I hop off the ATV and walk up the front steps. Swift wasn’t wrong. They’ve gotten a lot done in a short time, and it should be done in another couple of weeks. Satisfied with the outside progress, I head inside, looking forward to inspecting everything.
I walk through the front door, stopping in my tracks, and automatically I’m pissed. Feeling the fury coursing through me, I’m ready to rip someone’s fucking head off. I walk quickly past every worker in the house until I find the contractor.
“What the fuck is this? I called you last week and told you I wanted to change the layout. You fucking agreed.” I’m seething mad. The layout is the old one I designed before Izzy came into my life. It’s boxy and dangerous for her. I changed it to an open concept so that she would have room to walk without bumping into walls or other shit.
“I-I’m so sorry, sir. I forgot to write it down when you called. I’ll get it fixed. I promise,” he stutters, looking ready to piss himself.
“This better not delay my move-in by one fucking day. You got me?” I demand. When he nods a yes, I turn back and head out of the house. If I stay there a moment longer, I’ll kill the fucker, and I want my house done already. I don’t have time to go looking for another contractor or bury a body. I wanted to walk around the entire house, but I’m worried they didn’t take any of the new suggestions. If I find one more issue, I’ll pull my gun out and shoot the fucking contractor. Instead, I change my course and leave, wanting to get back to my woman.
I’m really looking forward to the house being all furnished. Initially, I hired a decorator, and when I started all this, she picked out a lot of black and rustic shit. I didn’t give two fucks as long as I had a place to sit, eat, and sleep.
Of course, shit changed overnight, and Izzy came into my life. I immediately called the designer and told her my woman was visually impaired, so there shouldn’t be anything in the house she could hurt herself on. She needs to have an easy flow for the open concept living. Hopefully, for her sake, she at least took my advice.