Lash's Wife

Prologue

4 months earlier

Sophie

Walking into our home after an emotional day is surreal.

I can’t believe I am coming home without two of my children and knowing that my mama is no longer on this earth.

Terrified of what could be happening to my babies or what is going to happen to them.

I look over at Declan, Daisy, Dare and Delaney and bend down so I am eye level with them.

“Can you guys go upstairs for me and get in your pajamas? Do showers, brush teeth and everything to get ready for bed. I’ll be up in a little bit. I need to talk to your daddy for a minute, okay?”

They all nod their heads and their eyes are red and puffy from all the crying.

They are sad and scared and I hate that for them.

As they head upstairs I turn and walk to our bedroom knowing that Toby will follow me.

Our room is soundproof so that no one can hear what is going on in here.

When he built this house that was something he wanted to make sure of.

Didn’t want to wake any of the kids and he didn’t want to have to have us be quiet.

As soon as the door closes I turn and look at Toby, the man I have loved my entire life. My whole heart and soul. But I’m so angry and I can’t believe that this is what is happening in the world we are living in right now. I can’t believe that so much has been hidden that brought us to today.

“Soph, are you okay? Talk to me, baby.”

“Am I okay? Am I o-fucking-Kay?!? Are you seriously asking me that right now Toby!”

“Listen, you need to calm down. It’s not good for you and the baby to get worked up like this. We need to talk calmly, I know today has been awful and I’m worried too, but we need to stick together in all this so that we can get through it together.”

“Do NOT tell me to calm down, I know what is fine for me and my body. You know what would have been better for me and the baby, Toby? You actually showing up like you were supposed to! You were supposed to pick those kids up! Where the hell were you?

Everyone and I mean everyone knows not to fuck with your schedule because it works for us, so tell me why in the hell you had a late tattoo! Why were you not picking up our children from school?

Why were you leaving our children vulnerable when you knew there was some psycho out there who was a threat to our family? Why in the hell did you send mama and why the fuck was there only one man with her?”

“You know I didn’t know something like this was going to happen! I never would’ve in a million years thought something like this could happen! I did what I always do whenever my schedule gets fucked with! I called your mama for help like we’ve always talked about.

I did nothing I wouldn’t have done if there was a mixup in my schedule. It happens you know this! So I’m sorry that this happened, it was not something I could have seen happening! I would never want this to happen to our kids or your mama! None of us knew the full extent of the threat,

only that there was a club trying to take over our territory!”

“Fuck the club and its territory! This is my family! This whole lack of communication and lack of consideration has lost me my mother and TWO OF MY FUCKING CHILDREN ARE MISSING! That’s on you and this fucking club! I told you months ago that bitch of a receptionist had to go.

Not only because she messes with your schedule all the time, but because she’s insinuated to me that the two of you are FUCKING! I told you a million times she is one of the women that have been harassing me and you’ve done nothing!

You and the club just let these women think it’s okay to talk to ol’ ladies like that. She would go into graphic detail about what you two would do together, do you know how fucked up that is? Do you know what that does to me?

She’s not even the only one there are a few club girls that act like that too! I’ve told you every time and you’ve done nothing to get rid of those bitches or put them in their place!”

“Sophie, do not diminish what we have by telling me you believe those whores about me and them. You know that there has been no one else, I don’t even see other women! You’ve been all I’ve wanted since I knew what it was like to want someone! I never even looked at anyone else!

Never thought about anyone else! You’ve been it for me since that day our parents placed us in a crib together! I love you with everything that I am! I love you so much I am constantly keeping you pregnant and we probably will have our own army by the time I’m done with you and even that won’t be

enough to show you how much I love you! How much I would do anything for you! I brought all these things up to the club, I’m not in charge. Everything gets run through the table and your dad talks to people and gives them warnings. I’m just the VP in training Sophie.

The old timers are running this shit.”

“That’s another problem! I am not only your ol’ lady, but I am a club princess! I grew up calling all those men my uncles and they don’t have my back! My own father is letting women disrespect me because why? We don’t want to do something about crazy women? Or do we think that I’m just overreacting?

When has anyone known me to overreact? I don’t need all this stupid shit. I don’t thrive on dealing with disgusting women who spread their legs for everyone and their father. Why in the hell couldn’t we have done something to make sure that I was protected? That our children were protected.

You all did NOTHING! These women are probably in on all of this! Why is it that men are so stupid?”

“Listen, Wizard and Ghost have done deep dives into anyone that works for us, Sophie. It’s not like we can just fire people for starting shit with you. You, as you put it, grew up in this life, you know the rules! What more could I do? I took it to your father! I took it to my father!

I took it to the table, they all agreed with what to do and it was done! Don’t accuse me of not having your back or protecting you! That’s all I think about and don’t you dare think that I actually did anything with any of those bitches!

You know that you are the only one I’ve ever wanted since I knew what having a woman meant! You’ve been my best friend since before that, you know me better than anyone.”

“You are in charge at the tattoo parlor, Toby! You could have fired that bitch for messing with your schedule, all your clients know that you have certain hours you work. But because you didn’t and you let this client stick with the scheduled time instead of being there picking up our kids,

two of them were taken and who knows what could’ve happened to the other four! They could’ve had all of our kids, Toby! They killed my mother! Who knows what they are doing to Dallas and Dash! My fucking babies! You and this club have done a terrible job taking care of our family.

In fact you have all destroyed our family. I decided something today while we were telling all the grandchildren that their MiMi won’t be coming back and that Dallas and Dash are missing. I decided that I need space from all of you,

our children will finish the remainder of the school year here with me. I will figure out what I need to do with Daisy’s Ink. You will pack your shit up and go stay at the clubhouse. I’m sure your whores that you stick up for will be more than thrilled.

Since they spend all their time telling me how you fuck them and how they’ve been in our room there. You can go tell the kids goodnight after you pack.”

I look at Toby and I see the devastation on his face, but I can’t bring myself to care.

I am so angry with everyone for the lack of protection, for the lack of communication with the women of the club, the ones that are innocent, the ones that need to be protected and know what is going on.

I grew up here, with my father as the president, my grandfather the former president and a crap load of brothers.

I know how to shoot, use knives, and I do know how to fight.

The men in my life made sure I could somewhat protect myself, but not all women have that.

Plus if there were a bunch of people threatening me with weapons, I don’t know how lucky I would be.

I haven’t really practiced any of these skills in years.

So the fact that they did not tell anyone what was going on is crazy.

I don’t know how they thought keeping everyone in the dark was going to turn out okay.

I have no idea how my father thought not to say ‘hey, there is a sibling of mine out there that has a vendetta against the club, maybe you should remove my name from the pickup list in case he looks kind of like me.’

I know mama saw him when he attempted to kidnap her the first time so it makes it worse that she was also hiding this.

“No, you don’t get to do this Sophie. You can’t kick me out and tell me you need space. We have to go through all this together. How are we going to get through this if we are separated? We need to grieve together, we need to help each other through this time.

Our children are missing and we need to be here for the other kids. I need you baby and I know you need me too. This is not going to be easy for us and it is going to be worse if we are apart. Don’t you dare do this and make me leave tonight.”

“As I said pack your shit and get the fuck out. I need space from you and from the club. You want to see the kids you can come here, they will not be at the clubhouse. They are going to stay here.”

“Sophie, no. I am not doing this! You do not get to push me out! We need to get through this together! Damnit Sophie! That is also your family! Every single one of them are your family! You need them, we need you! I know you’re angry, but this isn’t the way to go about things!

You don’t get to make this decision by yourself! We talk about things together, always!”

“I don’t have to discuss anything with you!”

I scream. “None of you discuss anything with me and look where we are! Look what has happened! GET THE FUCK OUT!! I can’t do this right now. I’m so angry and everything hurts! I am trying to do what is best for me right now and for our baby! I can’t look at you, I can’t be in the same room as you!

All this could’ve been prevented and this damn club did NOTHING! You all did NOTHING!”

You can tell that I am overwhelmed. My breathing is getting erratic and I need to get out of this situation, I am sure my blood pressure is high.

I feel like I’m drowning. I’m clenching my fists and my nails are digging into my hand.

I notice the moment that he realizes he needs to walk away right now before something else happens.

His eyes look over my body and his shoulders sag when he notices what is happening to me.

He walks up to me and bends down and kisses me.

“Okay baby. I will go stay in our room at the clubhouse. I will be coming and visiting the kids every day. If you want them to stay with you and continue school, I will call the school because that will be four and a half months of homeschool.

I’ll see if maybe mama will help you since she is a former teacher. I’m going right now because I don’t want anything to happen to you or our baby.”

He places his hand on my belly then places his forehead on my own.

Tears in his eyes bring tears into mine.

“We are going to find Dash and Dallas, baby, I promise you that. I will get these people and I will make this right with you. The club will make this right, baby. I know we can’t bring back your mama, but we can avenge her and we will. I love you with my whole heart. You these kids are my world.

Don’t ever forget that, don’t ever let anyone make you second guess that.”

With that he releases me and heads over to the closest to grab a bag and I head upstairs to check on the kids to make sure they are ready for bed and tell them we are having a slumber party in my room, while daddy goes to work at the club.

Then I sent a text to my Aunt Seraphina and got the contact information I needed to help turn into the ol’ lady I want to be.

To give me strength that my mama didn’t have to give me answers the club isn’t willing to give me.

I know Devil’s Chaos will never be like the Untamed Rebels with the ol’ ladies, but at least I will find a way to fit into this world the way I want to be.

I’m smart, I’m tough and I do not want to be in the dark anymore.