4. Incubus
INCUBUS
Hearing voices, my eyes slowly crack open.
What in the fuck is that nails on chalkboard noise, and who the hell is in my house without my permission?
And how the hell did they get past my security system?
Then I hear a young girl’s giggle that reaches up to me and the fog starts to clear.
Shit, here I am sleeping in, forgetting all about getting up and taking care of my Isabella.
Stella would be kicking my ass for being a slouch.
Son of a bitch, is my thought as I swing my legs off the California king bed and stomp to the bathroom to take care of my morning business.
After I piss, throw some water on my face, and brush my teeth, I look in the mirror.
What I see looking back at me tells me I need to jump in the shower so I don’t scare the ever-lovin’ fuck outta my daughter.
My life is taking a toll on me and has been for a while.
That thought is not for now, so I turn the shower handle on and proceed to wash off the night so I can start the day fresh.
By the time I’m dressed and walking down the stairs, I can smell something so heavenly it throws me off-balance.
I can cook and Stella definitely can. I mean, for Christ’s sake she’s Italian and grew up next to her mom and grandma learning to cook.
Walking into the kitchen I come to a complete stop, mouth dropping open.
Isabella is standing on a chair fully dressed and her hair is in two braids down her back.
She has an oven mitt on and it’s so big it keeps slipping.
She’s stirring the beaten eggs in the frying pan for, I’m guessin’, scrambled eggs.
Sparkle is next to her and she’s in the process of pulling out bacon and putting it on a plate with napkins while keeping an eye on my girl.
I’m beyond shocked to see Cobalt making and buttering toast. Finally, Girlie is by the ovens on the other side of the room, pulling out what looks to be homemade cinnamon rolls.
Oh God, that smell. My stomach takes that moment to growl like a starving grizzly bear.
Isabella is so shocked she drops the spatula she was using to stir the eggs on the floor with her oven mitt.
When she turns around and sees me, the look on her face is something I’ll take to the grave with me.
It’s still hard for me to comprehend I am part of what made that precious child.
My brain can’t even begin to process that.
“Morning, Papà. How did you sleep? My new bed is so soft, I don’t think me or my baby animals moved at all all night.”
Looking around, something happens deep inside of my chest. I raise my hand to it and rub, hoping it stops the feeling, but nope, it doesn’t.
Cobalt stares at me with concern on his face while Sparkle just smiles my way.
Leave it to the thorn on my ass to come over and give me a hug.
I mean, she’s so tiny I’m sure in a few years Isabella will pass her up.
When Girlie squeezes my sides, I look down into those eyes of hers to see the wisdom in them. Then she finishes it off.
“Incubus, don’t be mad. Cobalt had the code and wouldn’t give it to me God forbid, so we started over and found Sparkle sitting on the steps of your front porch.
We all decided a family breakfast was in order, so we let ourselves in and got busy.
Isabella must have heard us because she came down the stairs with a bat at her side. Yours, I’m guessing?”
My head jerks at what Girlie just said so I turn and look at my daughter, who has the grace to blush. What the fuck? My baby bringing a bat to a fight?
“Hey, no one was hurt. Cobalt explained we wanted to surprise you and after that she lectured us, telling us it wasn’t right to come into someone’s home without their permission.
Well, actually, she got stuck on that word, but we got what she was trying to say.
I helped her make her bed and get dressed.
She liked my braids so I also did her hair the same way.
Oh, she wants a blue streak too. Now, go say good morning to your baby so I can frost my cinnamon rolls. ”
As she goes to leave I grab her arm, pulling her to me so I can lean down and give her a hug.
I can feel the mood shift in the room but this is between Julie, or as I love to irritate her by calling her Girlie, and me.
I can feel her tension, waiting for what comes next so I lean farther down and kiss the top of her head.
She relaxes but my brother instantly growls low and deep.
I look up at him, reminding the man I trust above all others that I would never hurt his ol’ lady.
Then I shift and start talking, leaning closer to her ear.
“Girlie, shit, not sure how to say this as I’ve been uncivilized for a while now, but you never cease to amaze me.
Thank you for making my Isabella feel comfortable in her room and helping Sparkle and Cobalt make her first day here special.
I appreciate it beyond words and you have a marker from me to use whenever you want.
That means you can have one favor from me, no questions asked.
I don’t hand them out often, so think before you use it. Again, you have my humble thanks.”
She leans into me ever so softly, I’m sure even Cobalt might have missed it.
When Girlie squeezes my sides I take it that we’re good.
Leaning back and looking down, I see my daughter watching us very closely.
I move away from Girlie and crouch down to her level.
Her face looks confused with a little bit of pissed-off attitude.
Yeah, she got all that from her mother because when Stella was in a mood it was best that ya just left her alone.
I learned that the hard way back when we first started.
“Papà, why are you holding Auntie Julie like that? Did you forget about my mamma?”
Shaking my head vigorously, I lean in, pulling her to me, and lift Bella up. I kiss her cheek a few times before I tickle her. She smiles but doesn’t laugh like she usually does, so guess I gotta address this situation before it gets outta hand.
“Isabella, I could never forget about your mamma because besides you, she’s always on my mind and in my heart.
Now, what you just saw was me thanking Aunt Julie for all of her help getting your room together, going out and buying you clothes, and all the shi—I mean, crap a little girl might need. That’s all, I promise you that.”
“Pinky swear, Papà?”
Knowing we have an audience, I seriously don’t want to give any of the three, no, four of them watching something to hold over me, but I will never intentionally hurt my daughter.
So, I follow through, putting my big, calloused pinky out so she can wrap her tiny one with mine.
Before we are even done, Sparkle informs us all that breakfast is ready.
She then turns to my daughter, telling her she had her back and had finished her eggs.
Isabella ran to her, hugging her legs, telling her thank you.
Yeah, I’ve been around Isabella, but goddamn, Stella did a fantastic job raising our little girl.
She is so polite and kind it’s hard to not want to smile when she’s around.
I take my seat at the table and almost pass out when Bella tells me not to eat because we need to say grace first. Then she reaches out, taking my hand and telling me to hold Auntie Julie’s hand too.
When everyone has a hand of their neighbor’s, my little girl says the blessing like she does it every single day.
Maybe she does and that’s okay too. Stella followed her faith whenever permitted and depending on where her job took her.
As everyone starts passing the plates around, I take it all in.
This is what it’s all about. What sucks is now I’m gonna have to fight like hell to make sure I’m here to enjoy it for a very long time.
I just need to figure out what and how I’m gonna be able to accomplish that when dealing with the mentally disturbed Mob.
Part of me thinks it’s possible, but the real side of me thinks I’m fucked.
Feeling eyes on me, I look up to see most of them watching me, showing me through their eyes they have my back.
As much as I appreciate the support, I know most of this I am gonna have to do on my own, or else ruin the Indiana Chapter of the Kings of Anarchy, ’cause I know Gino wasn’t ever going to play by the rules set.
We’ve heard nothing all day from either Gino or the Mob regarding an update on Stella.
No demands for money or for me to switch sides from the Kings of Anarchy to the Mob, so we have no idea what their plan is.
Watching Isabella work her way into each and every brothers’ heart brings me both joy and sorrow.
If I follow the plan in my head, I’m gonna need to rely on these men to help raise my baby girl while I try to, not only save Stella but bring her back to our Bella.
As always, I feel him before he’s even near me.
Turning, I watch Cobalt walking with purpose toward me, two beers in his hands.
His eyes never leave my face, and I know without any doubts he already knows what I have running through my mind, the fucker always does.
“Don’t even think about it, Incubus. There is no way in fuckin’ hell I’m letting you sacrifice yourself for Stella, Isabella, or even me, you asshole.
Ain’t happening on my watch, you motherfucker, so get those damn thoughts outta your stubborn head, brother.
We will figure something out. Talked to Big Daddy earlier and he’s having conversations with the head of the mob organization back in Italy.
Don’t ask, ’cause I sure the fuck didn’t ask him how he has that kind of reach or contact.
He told me to keep you calm and steady until we hear back from him, so that’s what we are gonna do.
From now on, you will have a shadow with you so you can’t just disappear one night and never come back.
No, don’t want to hear your bullshit. Remember who runs this chapter, and I’ve spoken.
Now to a lighter subject. How in the ever-lovin’ fuck did you stay away from that little bundle of joy?
Isabella just about has every brother, sweet butt, and hang around wrapped around her little finger, and it’s been just one damn day.
Now it kind of makes sense why you are under Stella’s thumb, ’cause if she is half of what her daughter is you didn’t have a flyin’ fuck of chance in hell to stay away from her. ”
I smile at my brother because, damn, is he right to a point, so I clarify it for him.
“Cobalt, you got it half right. Though it’s that Isabella has half of what Stella has as far as getting under your skin, so yeah, never stood a chance.
I’m worried beyond fuck about how she’s holding up, brother.
She looked to be beat to shit and no matter how strong she is, that kind of constant abuse takes a toll not only on the body but the soul too. ”
As we talk about the situation, it dawns on me Cobalt did exactly what he wanted to when he made his approach.
He took the idea of just up and vanishing to find my ol’ lady outta my head.
The son of a bitch sure does know me well.
Guess it works both ways ’cause I can always get in his head too.
That’s what makes the two of us work so well in this chapter of the Kings of Anarchy, I’m guessin’.
That is also one of the reasons, sometimes, Psycho gets crazy ’cause he doesn’t understand our connection.
As Cobalt starts going through different scenarios on how to get my ol’ lady back, in the back of my mind I already know how to get her back.
The only question is, do I have the balls to follow it through? Only time will tell.