Chapter 6 #2
“It’s fine. I love cooking for these guys,” she claims with a genuine smile, showing that she really does like taking care of these Neanderthals.
“Why are you here G? You should be running a restaurant somewhere with how well you cook, girl.”
“I love it here. This is my family, and I feel safe here.” I get the feeling she’s being evasive so I don’t press for more.
“You don’t have to tell me your story, G.
But, if you ever need a friend, I would really like to be that.
Us girls gotta stick together. If you hadn’t noticed, we’re outnumbered around here,” I tease.
G’s quiet the whole time I’m rinsing the potatoes, and I’m starting to wonder if I crossed an imaginary line I was unaware of. Just as I’m about to apologize she opens her mouth and breaks my heart.
“I was married for about three years to a really horrible man. I didn’t know that about him when we first married.
I thought he was my knight in shining armor, come to save me and solve all my problems, ya know?
Once the wedding was over, the devil inside him showed his true colors.
He beat me almost daily for infractions he concocted in his twisted mind.
I became pregnant a few months after the first time he…
anyhow, I lost the baby when I was 8 months pregnant after he threw me down the stairs for waking him up.
It’s likely I’ll never be able to have children now because of the trauma to my body from that night.
I had been saving and squirreling away money for a year before that so I could get me and my baby away from him.
When I left the hospital, I hopped on any bus that was headed east, and this is where I landed.
I met a girl at the women’s shelter right after I arrived in Miami, and she brought me here with her.
It was fate that had me bumping into Sin while I was in the bathroom, and she told me about what she does here and well, the rest is history.
Everyone here is really good to me, and they’ve become my family.
They have done more for me than my real family ever did, that’s for sure. ”
“G,” I breathe. Unable to fully comprehend the misery and torture this poor girl survived. I swipe at the tears streaming down my cheeks.
“Oh, no. No, don’t cry, Kierra. I survived, honey,” G says, pulling me into her arms and comforting me when I should be the one comforting her. I make up my mind at that moment that I will be her champion and be here for her, no matter what.
“Yo, bitches. What can I do to help?” is chirped as the swinging door bursts open and in comes a couple of the club girls.
“What’s wrong?” Sapphire asks, hurrying to my side and hugging both me and G.
“Nothing. Kierra was just having a moment,” G explains, partially. I’m guessing from her answer that maybe, I’m the only one here that knows her story. I feel honored that she trusted me enough to share it with me.
“I’m good.” I laugh when I see the confused look on Sapphire’s face.
“If you say so. What can I do to help?” she asks G.
“Start those beans, will ya?”
“On it.”
We spend the next hour cooking and getting to know each other, and I have to say, I had the wrong impression about most of the girls here. The ones who actually speak to me are really sweet and have their reasons for being here.
Sinclair, or Sin as she likes to be called, had been in an abusive relationship too.
Her ex worked for the club’s construction company and when her man had left his phone at home one morning, she found messages from another woman.
She took his phone to him at work and when she questioned the messages, he hit her.
Pipe happened to see everything go down and put a beating on the man.
When he told her she was out on her ass, Pipe brought her to the clubhouse and the rest, as they say, is history.
Sapphire came to be here when Wrath found her on the streets.
She said he was just trying to help her get on her feet and offered to let her bartend in exchange for room and board.
After watching the men around here live their lives by their own rules, she decided she was going to do the same and became a club girl.
She compares it to having a variety of boyfriends to choose from.
There are a couple of the other girls here and they made it clear they did not like me when they came through the kitchen.
They were sure to drop hints that they had been with my man as they did their best to intimidate me.
However, they quickly turned tail and left when Knox came in for the meat in the fridge.
Apparently, Knox is the grill man around here, and I can’t wait to try some of the brisket he’s been smoking all morning.
It wasn’t lost on me how his eyes never left G either.
But I’m taking a page out of Viper’s book and staying in my lane.
“Hey girls.” This comes from behind me as I’m washing dishes. Turning my head, I see Viper’s daughter, Sadie, and another girl following along right behind her.
“Hey, Kierra. I was hoping to see you here,” She says sweetly, coming around the table and hugging my shoulders. I truly don’t know how my man raised such a sweet girl. It just doesn’t make sense but here she is. Proof that he did.
“Good to see you again, Sadie. How’s school going?” I know a little more about her now after grilling Draven. Getting information out of the man about anything is like pulling teeth.
“It’s going great. I’m ready for the semester to be over though.”
“I bet. Never went to college, but I hated school,” I tell her honestly. Everyone else seems to agree as well.
“This is my bestie, Harley. We go to school together and have been friends since we were in middle school.” She hugs her best friend making it clear the two girls are close, which is undeniable when they giggle exactly alike, at the same exact moment. The move was practiced and not rehearsed.
“Do you know where my dad is?”
“He was out back with Thorn. They’re watching the kids play in the pool,” I reply, going back to washing the dishes.
“Is your nephew still here?” she asks hopefully.
“Yep. Running around crazy, and keeping everyone on their toes.” I laugh thinking about him and Mila trying to get everyone to play tag with them.
“Oh, I can’t wait to meet him! I love kids,” she excitedly says, already dashing out the back door in search of her dad and Nash.
“Ok, ladies. I do believe we are done in here.” G turns, looking over all the dishes we’ve prepared.
Nodding in agreement, I pick up a big pan of potato salad in each arm and head for the door.
Thankfully, Legend is standing near the serving table and quickly comes over to relieve me of one of them before I drop it.
Twenty pounds of potato salad is heavier than you would think.
“Thanks.” I set the other one down and make room for G and Sin to set the stuff in their hands down too.
“Let’s take a dip. We’ve earned it,” Sin suggests.
Following her lead, we make our way over to the beach chairs and strip down to our bikinis. Draven is watching my every move as I walk around to the steps where he’s sitting.
“Where’s Nash?” I ask when I don’t see him anywhere.
“They wore themselves out and fell asleep on a float. Thorn and Kidd carried them up to Thorn’s room to take a nap in the shade. They were going to end up burnt sleeping out here in the sun.” He reaches for my hand as I descend the steps into the water.
“Sadie was looking for you,” I mention as I move to sit in between his legs.
“She and Harley ran up to the house to look for something for Sadie to wear when they go out tomorrow night.” I can tell from his tone that wherever they’re going he isn’t too thrilled about it.
“I see,” I say around a yawn.
“Sleepy?” he asks with a smirk. He knows damn well I am.
He woke me up in the middle of the night and kept me up until the early hours this morning.
Nash was up and raring to go shortly after, and I haven’t been able to nap since.
Luckily, I don’t have to work tonight, or I’d be a little pissed about it.
“Nah,” I lie, making him chuckle.
“Food should be done in about fifteen minutes,” he points out when my stomach lets out a loud rumble.
“Good, because I’ve been smelling that brisket all day, and I’m dying to try some.”
“Dying to try another man’s meat, huh?” he teases, burying his face in my neck and biting down. Leaving a mark, no doubt.
“Just yours, baby,” I purr the promise, leaning fully into him and lilting my head back for a kiss.
“Damn straight,” he agrees, licking across my lips as I grant him entry for a long, wet kiss. I close my eyes, savoring the feeling of being encircled in my man’s arms. He’s strong and protective, and it’s everything I’ve ever wanted.
“Food’s ready!” Knox shouts.