15. Incubus
INCUBUS
I have no idea where our daughter is and for once in her life that’s fine with me, as wherever she is I know she’s safe with my brothers or the women at the club.
She doesn’t need to see her papà the way I am at the moment.
In fact, I’m in my wet room taking out my frustration on a low-level mob bodyguard.
Even his screams ain’t helping so I go outside my normal way of doing business and pull my automatic out and blow his head off.
Faintly I hear Nickel swearing loudly, but it’s the disappointment on my brother Cobalt’s face that hits hard and hurts the most. We are at another standstill, hearing nothing but crickets, which means my Stella is swinging out there all on her own.
I’m so fuckin’ pissed that I don’t know what to do with all of my anger and frustration.
Nickel walks toward me with a bottle of water in his hand, which he extends my way.
I can see in the prospect’s face he’s disappointed in me and that does hit me in the chest. This brother has gotten through my walls and I consider him a friend, new at that, and I hate to disappoint my friends.
Before I can try to explain, he moves closer, lowering his voice to me.
“I get it, Incubus. Really, brother, I do. We will find your ol’ lady, but a piece of advice from a nobody prospect who got his ass beat on, try to not lose your cool because it’s gonna make everything more difficult.
Whatever you need I’m here for ya, always.
We need to start thinking outside the box, Incubus, ’cause whoever has her seems to always be a step or two ahead of us.
You do get this is personal, right? You somehow pissed off the wrong person and they have been brewing and planning.
Stella just happened to be available for their revenge, and that ain’t your fault at all.
Don’t take on their fucked-up cause. You know she’d never blame you, right? ”
Not sure why but this kid seems to know how to fuckin’ calm me down.
I grab his shoulder and squeeze before I let him go and turn to my best friend and brother.
Walking toward Cobalt, I feel like shit because I don’t usually just kill for the joy of it, no matter what all the motherfuckers out there talk about.
My lack of sleep, food, and mental clarity has me frayed and that’s stretching my last nerve.
But no matter what, I need to apologize to my prez because as a club we vote on everything, including on when to put someone to ground.
The only time it’s a spur-of-the-moment thing is when we are out in the real world and in a conflict then it’s each brother’s call who’s in the fight.
“Brother, got no excuses except my head is fucked up. Shouldn’t have done that but I can’t take it back, just tell me what ya want from me. I’ll pay a fine or take the next shitty-ass job because I’m not above any other brother, and I broke a rule. Fuckin’ so sorry, Cobalt.”
I drop my head ’cause he knows I never apologize and it seems like recently that’s all I do.
Fuck, I need my Stella back. I don’t care what they did to her, she will always be mine.
My woman, my love, and my heart, no matter what.
It don’t matter ’cause she didn’t ask them to be with her and I know there is no way in hell she enjoyed it.
I mean, we fuck hard but it’s always consensual and I’d never hurt her; would rather put a bullet between my own eyes.
We know how much each other can take, and even if we push it a bit, I’d never physically or mentally hurt her.
Just the thought of her in pain is driving me insane.
“Incubus, you don’t have to apologize, we all get it. Like Nickel said, we need to start going back and trying to figure out who the fuck could hold a grudge that long and want to use your ol’ lady as payback. Got any ideas, brother?”
As we talk nothing comes to mind. After getting the prospects to get rid of the body, we all make our way back to the clubhouse, where to my surprise both Sparkle and Girlie are in the main room shooting the shit.
When I glance around I notice, in the far corner, there are a ton of blankets and pillows forming, I guess, some sort of tent.
When my eyes meet Girlie’s she nods and mouths, “Isabella.” Fuckin’ son of a bitch, these two women have been picking up my slack and are taking care of Stella’s and my daughter for us.
Quietly I walk toward the blanket tent and bend down, looking under the drapes to see my Isabella cuddled up on a bunch of huge pillows and a fluffy comforter, hugging her favorite stuffed bunny.
She’s out so I just watch her, thank God she’s safe at least. Stella and I promised each other when our daughter was born that no matter what we’d keep her safe, even if it means our own life.
I will keep that promise ’til I take my last breath.
I have already told Cobalt, Girlie, and Nickel, if something happens to me I need the three of them to continue and uphold my promise, which they all agreed to.
Hearing boots coming in fast, I reach behind my back for my automatic as the door bursts open and Ajax rushes in, phone to his ear.
His eyes do a quick search until they land on me.
He runs directly to me as I push him back so we don’t disturb my baby girl.
He nods and moves closer to the center of the room, where some brothers and the two women are waiting.
He pushes the speaker on his cell and it’s the clubhouse main line voicemail.
It’s a woman’s voice that for some reason has the hair on my neck stand up, but I ignore it when she starts talking about Stella being held by a motorcycle club, as she is.
She described their patch and the three guys both women have had contact with.
The longer she talks I see Cobalt’s eyebrows shoot up as I shrug my shoulders.
I see Mammoth on his phone, as is Psycho.
More and more brothers are walking in or coming from their personal rooms in the back of the clubhouse.
When the call ends, Ajax looks up at me, guilt in this eyes.
“Damn it, Incubus, I was supposed to be manning the phone line, but my ol’ man is in the hospital so I took about an hour and a half off to go visit him and give my ma a break.
Fuck me, brother, when I got back had to go through my normal evening shut down, along with my checks and balances, so this is the first time I’ve had to check the voicemail.
Goddamn, I feel like if I was here maybe I could have gotten more information out of that woman. ”
Seeing how his shoulders fold down and his body is tense I understand, but shit, it’s his father and the relationship Ajax has with his parents and siblings is fucking awesome.
Instead of shoving it up his ass, I ask how his dad is doing and if his mom needs anything.
His eyes get wet but he holds it together, telling all of us his dad has cancer again, but it looks like the treatment is working.
His dad was just having a bad couple of days and he’s got an infection, which is not good when going through chemotherapy.
Ajax then tells me he’s put the call through his systems and the phone is a burner, but he could hear background noises and is continuing to go through each and every sound, word, or noise.
Well, that’s something, so I thank him for that.
She’s still alive and for that I could fall to my knees, but my job isn’t done until she’s back home with our daughter and me.
Until then, nothing will stop me from hunting down each and every motherfucker who put their hands on and hurt her.
They don’t realize they are dead men walking.
Though before they do die, I will make them wish they never laid eyes on Stella.
My phone is vibrating and buzzing so I grab it, look at the number, and let out a deep breath. Been expecting this call so I answer it, though didn’t expect the voice that answers my hello.
“Cullen, I’m calling with some very bad news. Your dad passed away about thirty minutes or so ago, surrounded by those who loved him. Once I composed myself, you were the first person I wanted to call and let you know.”
Taking in a deep breath, I try to figure out what her game is because nothing is ever done by her without expecting something in return.
This bitch is a pathological liar and manipulator.
How she managed to get her claws into the old man I’ll never know, but that was his hell to live through, not mine.
“Why are you calling me with this news? I do have siblings who I’m sure will be informing me of the passing of our father. Like I told you before, I don’t want to hear from you ever again. Do you understand me, bitch?”
“Come on, Cullen, at this very sad time, don’t you think we should support each other?
We both loved him, though in different ways, and it hurts to lose someone you love, right?
I mean losing a spouse is something you never get over.
I’m feeling that right now and it sure doesn’t feel fun, let me tell you, Cullen.
Guess you’re lucky not to have to worry about this type of pain since you’ve never remarried, correct? ”
Immediately the synapses in my brain are firing off left and right.
I shake my arm then point at Cobalt as I walk toward his office.
On the way, I also grab Ajax to get his attention and indicate that he follow me.
By the time we are settled in Cobalt’s office, I put a finger to my mouth then hit speaker.
“What did you just say to me, bitch? Why are you asking me if I ever married, as if that’s any of your business? You lost that right when I found you fucking my old man in our goddamn marriage bed.”