Chapter 9 #2
“Hello, baby girl.” He uses the nickname the club calls me. “Heard you were coming home and that no-good, adopted son of mine was claiming you.” He chuckles as he pulls on the vest I’m wearing.
“Yeah, he did. He’s a good guy, and you know it.”
“I know. Lyra can’t wait to see you; she’s in the kitchen.”
“That’s where we’re headed. Have you met Evie?”
“Yep. Your brother kept her mostly in his rooms, but a couple of times she came down.”
“Hello, Boost,” Evie greets him, and he leans in to hug her; then she kisses his cheek.
“Heard the news. Congrats. Also welcome to the family.”
“We are excited, but it’s still so early.”
“Judge will protect you. Come on, I’ll escort you ladies to the kitchen.” Boost crooks out both his arms, and we link ours with his. I suspect that Torch asked him to watch over me, and it’s confirmed when we step into the kitchen.
“You brought my honorary daughter to me,” Lyra says loudly as she approaches. She’s so tall for a woman, making me feel like a little kid, whereas when she’s next to Evie, they are almost the same height. “What do you girls want to eat? I’ll make anything.”
“We want to cook,” I reply, and she smiles.
Boost and Lyra have been together since before I was born. They are Spike’s parents, and Lyra is my mom’s best friend.
“Have you talked to Mom recently?”
“Jade texted that they were heading into the Outback and wouldn’t have cell coverage for a couple days. She told me that you and Torch had taken off into hiding for a bit. Are you okay?”
She, along with Boost, knows what happened to me. They’re the only people outside of Ben and my parents who do.
I nod, “I’m good,” and her fingers brush the tattoo at my neck; she smiles sadly.
“I love it. Your momma told me.”
“I had to do it.”
“I understand.”
Together, we all gather the ingredients to cook a large pan of lasagna. Evie complains that her sauce won’t be its best because it hasn’t cooked all day, but we let her know it will still be delicious.
Movement catches my eye, and I notice Moea stand up at attention.
I turn, and there in the doorway is Barbie.
Boost is about to get to his feet, but I stop him with a wave, and he shakes his head at me.
The air chills from the look in Barbie’s eyes when she notices me silently communicating with Boost.
“Why are you in his vest? Everyone around here already knows not to fuck with the ‘princess’.” She spits out the title I hate others using. “Are you trying to steal my man?”
I walk around the counter we’re all working at and take her in.
There’s no way she was or is pregnant. Also, I trust what Ben said to me.
And the biggest lesson I’ve learned after years of being around her and others is that the bunnies or sweet butts will walk all over you if you don’t put them in their places.
One woman tried to say she was screwing around with my dad before my mom took her to the floor by her ponytail. I hope I don’t have to fight her, but I will if I must.
“Hello, Barbie, how are you?” I try niceties first.
“I asked you a question, you little slut.”
I scoff. “Slut? You’re calling me a slut? Aren’t you the one that will sit on any available dick for free?”
“How dare you!” She storms over to me.
A pan drops, and Lyra is right there. “Don’t even think about it, Barbie,” she says from behind me.
“You always have everyone around to protect you. You have them all fooled that you’re this sweet, innocent little girl, but you aren’t, are you?”
I just can’t help myself, saying, “I was innocent until Ben took my virginity.” I smirk at her, and instantly, her face reddens.
“That’s a lie. We are planning to get married. He has a property vest for me.”
“No, he doesn’t. He has one for me.”
“It’s in his closet. He showed me.”
I’ve been through his whole closet and know she’s lying. The only place I didn’t search was the safe in there.
Shaking my head at her, I pinch my lips together. “You don’t need to lie.”
“Lie. I’m not lying. What if Torch found out that you weren’t in a car accident? That you faked it all.”
My vision blurs, and I hear movement around me, but I’m in motion before anyone can stop me. A hand in her hair, my fist slams into her face. “You can’t fake what I went through bitch. I’ll kill you.”
She’s pulled from my grip, and I stand there huffing as I glance at my hands. One is bloody from her broken nose, the other clutches a fistful of her weave. I said I’d yank her weave out. I can’t hold back laughing, and I look up as everyone stares at me.
“What?” I chuckle again as Barbie screams and cries in Boost’s arms.
He pushes her at Lach and says, “Fix her up and get her out of here.”
“I have a right to be here. She’s the one that attacked me. She’s crazy. Where is Law?” Barbie screams.
“Right here. I didn’t see anything, and from what I understand, baby girl had every right to put you in your place, Barbie. She is Torch’s ol’ lady, and you disrespected her.” Law shakes his head while taking a swig of beer.
“You’ll regret this.” Her voice hits an octave that only dogs can hear, then Lach leads her to the clinic.
“You okay?” Boost asks, and I still can’t stop laughing.
“That bitch has been pushing my buttons for two years.”
“I know. Let’s get some ice on your hand before Torch comes back.”
“You okay?” Loco asks Evie, and she lets him know that she is. He turns to me. “Damn, girl, where did you learn to hit like that?”
“Been working out.”
“Good. You’ll need it because Barbie is vindictive, and she’s been wanting to jump on Torch’s dick for a while now.”
“I know that.”
“What smells good in here?” Torch steps into the kitchen and looks around. As soon as he sees Boost holding my hand, he storms over.
Torch
I just watched a man die, and his last words were a threat to my woman and her family. I didn’t expect to come back and see her sporting bruised knuckles, so I take her hand carefully in mine.
“Who did you hit?” I look around the kitchen, and everyone shakes their heads. Lyra steps up with a bag of ice, then pulls a bunch of blond hairs from Ruby’s other hand. “Fuck,” I groan. Turning to Boost, I ask, “Where is she?”
“Lach took her to the clinic.”
Looking back at my woman, I notice there’s not a mark on her. I lean down and kiss her lips, my tongue sweeping into her mouth for a moment. I need her taste on my tongue before dealing with this shit. I’m still on edge from the threat and the kill.
“What did she do?” I don’t have to identify the who; Ruby and I know who it is. Fucking Barbie has been pestering me for a long time.
“She said I faked the car accident.” Ruby speaks the words softly enough that no one else hears, but they smack me in the chest.
“I’ll handle it.” I kiss her again. “Be right back. Stay here.”
I turn and walk out of the kitchen, stomping across the clubhouse to Lach’s clinic. The bitch’s voice gets louder the closer I get to the room. She’s making all kinds of claims, then turns around and flirts with Lach. This woman is a menace.
“Torch,” she screeches in a nasally tone as soon as I step across the threshold. “That bitch, the ‘princess’, punched me in the face for no reason at all.” She begins fake crying.
Now I understand why Ruby hated that nickname.
I storm across the room toward her, sitting on the exam table.
“You will not call her princess ever again. Only I call her that. You are done here. I’ve told you more times than I can count; I wasn’t interested.
Now you’ve pissed off my woman, and I won’t have it.
You try to press charges, and I’ll destroy you. ”
“But Torch.” She reaches for me, but I step back.
“Touch him, and I’ll do more than punch you in the face,” Ruby’s voice says from behind me.
I should have known she wouldn’t let me go without her.
I’m not mad, and it honestly turns me on that she’s jealous of this bitch.
But she also needs to listen to me. I was trying to keep her safe; I don’t trust Barbie.
“You bitch,” Barbie pushes off Lach’s table and dodges me as she barrels straight for Ruby.
“The broken nose was a warning; don’t push me,” Ruby says as she steps back, preparing herself. I know she’s trained, so I’m not too concerned. Barbie doesn’t listen or slow down; she just goes in for the attack.
“Barbie,” Judge barks from the entrance, but it’s too late.
I watch it happen in slow motion, unable to stop it. Barbie will regret coming after my woman.
Ruby moves forward now, her upper body angled back and her left foot sliding out toward Barbie as her right leg comes up.
She raises her hands, one fisted, the other prepared to clap the bitch on the ear.
Jumping at her, her one leg slips between Barbie’s legs while the other wraps around the back of her left hip.
Ruby’s arm encircles Barbie’s neck, toppling her over, while using her left hand to brace herself on top of Barbie’s right leg to stop her momentum, causing a thud. But Ruby doesn’t let go.
Barbie screams, jacking her upper body toward Ruby, but she rolls them a few times, slamming Barbie on her back and landing on her knees over her torso.
Ruby’s left leg is on one side of Barbie, while her other knee slams into the other side.
Her hands are up in defense, and with a quick punch, she knocks Barbie unconscious.
Ruby springs up off the floor, out of firing range if Barbie isn’t completely out, and glances around the room expecting someone to say something. It all happened in a matter of seconds but felt like forever.
Moving toward her, stepping over Barbie’s prone body, I tug Ruby into my arms. “Damn, princess, that was hot as fuck. When did you learn that?” I growl, holding her tighter. She melts into me like she has over the last few weeks, and I love it.