8. Incubus
INCUBUS
Sitting in the clubhouse I’m beyond fuckin’ exhausted.
With the help of Ajax, our club secretary/intelligence and technology brother, we’ve spent countless days and nights checking out all of the listed properties of Gino’s and his mob asshole friends that we know of.
My knuckles are broken open, raw, and constantly bleeding because of me beating anyone and everyone I can get my hands on.
Right now the only people who calm me down enough to act human are Isabella, Girlie, and Nickel.
Not even Cobalt, who usually is my go-to for calm when I’m losing my mind.
In fact, he’s pissing me off with all his shit about keeping Big Daddy in Cali in the loop with updates.
For fuck’s sake, we are a chapter of the Kings of Anarchy club, why is he acting like a pussy?
We’ve had words, which is a rarity. If not for Isabella and Girlie, shit, I mean Julie ’cause, apparently, calling his ol’ lady Girlie pisses him off.
Not to mention he’s losing himself because of the kid, Angelo.
Not sure why, but not only did I not kill the son of a bitch, but worked it out so he’s at one of the other KOAMC clubs.
Didn’t help that I didn’t bring it to Cobalt or chapel.
Between Ghost, Nickel, and myself, we got the kid situated with the threat if he doesn’t toe the line, the happiness he’s experiencing with his family will be cut short.
Oh yeah, his family is with him in a club cottage, and right now their house might turn into a rental, they aren’t sure.
So, Cobalt and I are keeping our distance, which hurts, ’cause I need him and at the same time it makes me seriously fuckin’ angry.
I mean, my brothers weren’t fans of Stella, especially after she supposedly left me out in the cold.
Right before we fought I was speaking to Cobalt, telling him I need to explain to the brothers about Stella and me.
She shouldn’t be taking all the blame and getting all their shit.
We both agreed it was better she stay away.
She was in the middle of a big case and her boss was worried about her affiliation with our club, mainly because of our dealings with the Mob.
The same boss is the one who approved this new case, putting Stella undercover to expose the mob bosses, including Gino and Salvatore.
Well, it did not work out at all, as the man she was trying to get information on now has taken her somewhere.
The thought they could and probably are doing things to her, besides beating on her, weighs heavily on me.
My stomach literally flips at the thought of that monster’s hands on my woman.
So, when a hand lands on my shoulder, I totally lose it.
I jump out of my chair, turn, arms ready to fight.
But through my furious rage I see Mammoth with my baby girl up in his arms, a bag in her hands, which drops to the floor when she sees my face and stance.
Holy fuck, no, I promised Stella when Isabella was born that she would never see this side of me. Great, another promise broken by me.
“Hey, my beautiful princess, what are you and Uncle Mammoth up to?”
I almost fall to my knees when she squints her eyes at me and tilts her head, just like Stella does.
She leans back, whispering to Mammoth, who puts her down.
Immediately her little hands hit her hips and she starts tapping her tiny foot.
I don’t know if I want to laugh or cry. I look up to see Mammoth trying to hold it in, but his entire body is shaking.
“Papà, what is wrong? I don’t like that face you made. Why were you so scary? Mamma used to train with me, do you need me to help you so you aren’t so mad?”
Mammoth starts chuckling while the other brothers are laughing outright. Sparkle’s laugh can be heard, probably on the next block. Then Isabella further shocks me.
“Do you need to talk to someone, Papà, like they talk about on the television? They help you not be so angry. I can be there to hold your hand and help you.”
I reach down, grabbing my baby in both arms, then bring her close to my face so I can cover it with my kisses.
When I realize the room is totally silent, I glance around to see all my brothers look shocked.
Oh well, guess I’m not that much of an emotional motherfucker, so yeah, my actions could have taken them all by surprise.
As I sit back down, feeling eyes on me, I turn my head to the left to see both Cobalt and Girlie are standing in the doorway.
He looks, well, not sure what he looks like, but Girlie is really mad.
Her face is deep red, as are her eyes, which tells me she’s been crying.
What did the prick do now? I watch her pinch him then point my way.
He shakes his head so she pulls on his arm and he bends over.
Whatever she says turns his face white as a damn ghost, and I can see her saying something like “Really, you wouldn’t do that ’cause you…
” Girlie nods and tells him loudly, “Don’t believe me, Liam, then keep pushing me. ”
She stomps her way to my table but manages to hide her feelings, so she just looks like Auntie Julie to Isabella. My daughter loves this woman, so she squirms to get down and walks to her, throwing her arms around Girlie’s neck.
“Auntie Julie, my papà has to go talk to someone because he is mad a lot of the time. I remember when Mamma, Papà, and I were all together he laughed and smiled a lot. He doesn’t do that now. I’m going to hold his hand so he’s not afraid.”
I watch Julie’s face as she at first looks like she’s really listening, but when she realizes what my daughter is saying her eyes fly to mine.
I can see the worry and concern in them, so I give a quick shake of my head.
Before either of us can say anything, the chair between Girlie and me gets pulled out, and Cobalt plops in the chair, arms crossed across his chest. His blue eyes are shooting flames at Girlie and that settles it, I don’t want him taking our shit out on her. She’s been through enough.
“Hey, don’t do that, she’s got nothin’ to do with this shit between us. Damn, Girlie, sorry, Julie, can you take Isabella to get a snack?”
“No, but Sparkle will, hang on, I’ll be right back. You two stay in your corners ’til I get back, hear me?”
Turning to look at my brother, he’s squinting at her and I think he’s growled on top of it.
Not sure why, probably all the fucking pressure on me, but I burst out laughing, and I mean belly howling.
Those cobalt eyes turn in my direction, shocked at the fact I’m actually truly laughing.
Not sure when, but I can feel a bit of wet on my cheeks, and that is something no one sees from me ever.
As I go to stand, small hands land on my shoulders, pushing me back in the chair.
“Oh hell to the no, Incubus. Keep your ass down, don’t make me sit on you. And no, don’t be a dick, Cobalt. I didn’t say ‘let me sit on your face’ so chill the hell out already. We don’t need cranky over here to lose the little mind he has left.”
I almost choke on my tongue when she’s finished, and Cobalt is just as taken aback.
When he goes to grab her, she moves back and continues to stand between the two of us.
I can tell she has something on her mind, so I lean back and nonchalantly wipe my face.
As usual, nothing gets by Girlie so she gives my shoulder a squeeze.
“All right, boys, and I mean that. The time to come out of your corners and fix whatever is broken between the two of you is now. Everyone is walking around on eggshells and afraid to even have a conversation with either of you, because they are worried the other will think they are taking sides on something. No one knows why you’re acting like young boys fighting over their first fire truck.
Let’s remember we have some serious shit going on, the main thing is finding Stella.
But first some apologies are needed, so get to it so we can move forward and get a grip on this situation with the Mob.
Don’t look surprised, Incubus. Are you trying to tell me when you and Stella are in bed cooling off after a, well, whatever it is you two do, that you don’t start talking to her about club shit?
Now, don’t lie, ’cause I’ll ask her when she gets here. Fess up.”
Without thinking about it, I pull her closer and wrap my arms around her tightly. Sitting, I’m still taller than her. She returns the hug, then pulling back, she glares at my prez before she grabs my cheeks, squeezing them tightly.
“Don’t call me Julie either, Incubus. I am Girlie to you, so don’t listen to this puffed-up buffoon who, for some reason, is trying to piss on me to put his scent or mark on me, I guess. If we have a problem, have no doubt I’ll address it with you.”
Girlie then moves even closer, grabs my cheeks softly this time, and places a soft kiss on first my forehead then my cheek.
When Cobalt growls she lifts her hand and cracks him in the back of his head.
I bust out laughing, which makes a small grin appear on his face.
Girlie looks between both of us and then very loudly says to us, “Good, my job here is done. Try and act like adults.”
She leans toward Cobalt and plants a very hot and, from the looks of it, wet kiss on his mouth.
When his hands land on her ass, right before he shoves the chair back and plants her in his lap, she shrieks.
I turn and give big eyes to Nickel, who returns them though he’s grinning.
Thank God Sparkle took my daughter into the kitchen, away from all of our man drama here.
“So, is it all settled and the two of you are bruhs now?”
Cobalt and our club are so fucking lucky that Girlie ended up here. There’s life again in the clubhouse but, more importantly, she’s given Cobalt back his zest for life. I’m so deep in thought when I feel someone slap me, I also fall back in the chair.
“Are you paying attention, Incubus, or doing your usual daydreaming? No, don’t you give me that look. And, Cobalt, you pinch me one more time, I will have to share what happened the other night in bed when you, uhmmmmm…”
When I look at the couple in the chair, it’s hilarious.
Cobalt has his hand on top of Girlie’s mouth, but his face is turning red.
I assume she’s biting him. Children. To be a bug on the wall to see what has him so worried about her sharing.
I am thrilled she pushed me and my prez back together because I missed him, but also know neither one of us would have stepped over that line to fix whatever happened.
Hearing my phone buzz with an incoming text, I see Cobalt reaching for his back pocket, meaning he’s getting a text also.
My alarms are going off that this is not gonna make me happy.
Pulling my phone out, I get into my text program.
When I open the attachment my heart completely stops.
It’s a photo of my Stella and it looks like she’s sleeping, but her robe is open and one arm has been pulled out.
There’s a rubber tourniquet wrapped directly above her elbow.
What has me growling out loud alerts all my brothers in the room I’m about to lose my absolute shit; someone has a needle injected into her, I’m guessing, vein.
I don’t know what is going in, but guessing either crack, heroin, or fentanyl.
Or worse, a combination of two or all of them.
Really looking at Stella, she’s lost weight and there are dark circles under her eyes.
Bruises are almost gone from her beatdown.
Her coloring is off too, which happens when drugs are present in your system.
Hearing Cobalt demanding my phone, I look at the text to see there’s another photo, so I swipe and what appears has my head exploding instantly.
Some motherfucker has his hand on Stella’s breast. It looks like they are squeezing or pinching her nipple, which is not hard, telling me she’s unconscious and not enjoying it because my ol’ lady’s tits are very sensitive to the touch.
My eyes catch on Sparkle carrying Isabella out of the kitchen.
Before I can yell at her to stay in the goddamn kitchen, Nickel is there grabbing my daughter, telling her he needs some ice cream and he’ll share.
Once again I owe my brother for his kindness.
I feel the arms first then the softness.
Girlie is close to me, holding on tight.
As gently as possible, I remove her arms and push her back.
Then I look at Cobalt, who’s watching me carefully, and tell him where I’m going.
“Prez, need to get outta here, though not leaving my kid. Going to our gym downstairs and gonna punch that bag until I don’t have this feeling to kill everyone in front of me.”
He just nods, pulling his Julie close. Yeah, he’s one very lucky bastard.
Just seeing them emphasizes the conflict brewing inside of me.
The good side is desperate to find Stella, while my dark side is fantasizing on what I’m gonna do to that fucker Gino when I can get my hands on him.
He’ll regret being born when I take his last breath and send him directly to goddamn fucking hell.