Chapter 29
Tico
My body is still humming from Ember giving me a blow job.
A part of me is shocked by how soft I’ve become with her, but she’s the only one that will ever see me this soft.
Yeah, I’m a bit softer than normal with Pyper and Rochelle, well and mi familia (my family), but not like this.
To the rest of the world though, I’m the President of the Royal Bastards, a cold and feared man.
A fighter you don’t want to meet in a ring or in a back alley.
I exhale heavily. My chest warms at the blissed-out look on Ember’s face as she gets dressed again.
I tuck myself back into my boxers and zip up my pants.
Crossing my arms, I lean against the vanity as Ember recombs her hair and then touches up her makeup.
There’s nothing she can do about the slight redness around her mouth, and frankly, I love the look on her.
Especially when she blushes when she looks up at me.
“Ready for your first Royal Bastards party, Vicious?”
She exhales nervously but nods as she stands taller. “Let’s party.”
I snag her hand leading her out into the hallway, and after locking up, we head downstairs.
As soon as mis hermanos (my brothers) see us, cheers go up and they all raise their beers.
There are a few hang abouts mixed in with the crowd and a few people from town like usual.
Those that don’t know what tonight’s party is for look around in confusion.
We’d debated about opening up tonight’s party to the town, but this is part of the plan to see if we can flush out the Chrome Vipers or any Oasis people.
Pushing those thoughts aside for now, I wrap my arm around Ember’s waist and pull her close to me. I signal to Jesse to cut the music and after a few moments, everyone quiets down.
“Tonight, we’re celebrating Ember becoming my Ol’ Lady!” I say, raising my voice so everyone can hear me. “To Vicious, the Queen of the Royal Bastards!”
“To our Queen!” Taco shouts out and most everyone follows suit.
There are a few women in the crowd who look pissed that I’m officially off the market, but they can fuck off for all I care.
Ember leans into me and when she tips her head back slightly, I lean down, obliging her with a kiss. More cheers go up and we separate, laughing when the cat calls start up again.
What follows is a typical party for us. The beers are flowing.
The music is blasting. Bunnies are getting fucked, but at least mis hermanos (my brothers) aren’t being as blatant with the sexuality as they normally would.
More than once I’ve seen one of them sneak off to a room to have sex instead of a public display.
Not to say that all of mis hermanos (my brothers) are into exhibitionism, but some are.
I smile while Ember dances with a few of the bunnies and a few women from town.
Earlier, I had watched without interrupting while she and Sunny had been talking.
After a few moments, Sunny then introduced her to the others.
I didn’t hear what was said, but it appears like the earlier tension between them is gone.
I hope like fuck that this means none of the others will interfere with our relationship as well.
However, what happened with Sunny does have me worried for mis hermanos (my brothers) and if one of them brings a woman to the clubhouse in the future.
We’ll have to keep an eye on the bunnies to make sure this doesn’t happen again.
Though, soon they’ll be under Ember once she’s ready to step fully into her role, which probably won’t be long.
With being born into a club, even one as disgraceful as the Chrome Vipers, her transition will be easier than someone who had come in straight off the street.
I walk over to the bar and Jesse hands me a beer. I glance up at his temple where Chief had to give him a few stitches and am relieved to see that it isn’t as large of a wound as I had originally feared. Then again, head wounds do bleed like a bitch.
Taking a sip of my beer, I watch Ember dance from across the room. Her toned body moving to the music has more than one man watching her in appreciation, and I’m thankful as fuck that my cut is on her back. But I know they’d never make a move on her. Not if they value their life.
Ember turns, looking at me with a sexy and sassy as fuck look, gesturing for me to come dance with her. I push off the bar and am about to walk over to her when someone’s arms wrap around my waist.
I turn, ready to rip whoever the fuck it is a new one but freeze for a second when I see who it is.
Fucking Empress.
I hadn’t even seen her come in.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I seethe as I rip her arms off me, but the puta (bitch) just presses herself against me again, smooshing her tits against me and grinding her hips into my cock. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch her hand hovering over my beer bottle. What the fuck?
“Oh, don’t be like that, Babe. You know you want me.
I can give you a much better time than that used up puppet will ever be able to give you—AH!
” Empress cries out, her hands flying to her hair as she’s violently yanked back and away from me.
Then Empress cries out again as she’s knocked to the ground with a violent right hook.
Ember stands over her, cracking her knuckles as she stares down at Empress who is struggling to get to her feet.
The music cuts out and everyone’s attention turns, focusing on Ember and Empress.
Those from in town have mixed reactions to the sight—some are confused about what’s happening while others look excited to see a fight.
But that’s not gonna happen tonight.
I give the signal, and a few of mis hermanos (my brothers) start escorting all of our guests out.
It takes a few minutes, but meanwhile, Ember stays standing over Empress until they’re gone.
Thankfully, Pyper, Rochelle, and mi mamá (my mom) had all headed upstairs about an hour ago, so I don’t have to worry about them seeing this.
And I know mis hermanos (my brothers) will ensure the bunnies go back to their rooms.
As soon as the last person is out, Ember speaks. “You must be pretty thick in the skull, Empress. I told you to keep your fucking paws off of my man otherwise you’d feel my fists.”
Empress finally gets to her feet and glares at Ember. “He isn’t really with you. No one would want someone as used up as you.”
Ember’s dark grin deepens as she cracks her knuckles again. “That’s rich coming from you. The word on the circuit is that you used to fuck every contender at each of your fights until your leash got tightened and you were no longer allowed to travel for fights.”
Empress screams and darts towards Ember who easily sidesteps out of the way. Mis hermanos (My brothers) step forward, making a circle and holding the line so Empress can’t escape. Tables and chairs are moved to create more room.
“There’s no way Tico would choose a whore like you,” Empress seethes again as the women circle each other. “He needs a woman who knows how to please him.”
Empress goes in for another hit, but this time, Ember steps into her space and lands a hard hit to her stomach followed by another punch to her jaw. Unfortunately, Empress also gets in a few hits, and my muscles tense when one of them lands on her injured ribs.
“I’m not a whore,” Ember says, her voice even though it’s laced with icy coldness. “It’s kind of hard to be a whore when I’ve never had sex.”
For the first time, doubt flickers across Empress’ face but then it’s gone as she advances again.
My fingers itch to step in and end the fight, especially since Ember just had a fight last night and then another one two days prior to that.
Empress must have seen the fight last night though, because more than once, she tries to land a hit to areas where I know Ember was hurt.
Thankfully, Ember manages to block most of the attacks.
As Empress winds up for another hit, Ember strikes out with a kick, causing Empress to cry out in pain when it connects with her knee.
A knee I know she’s been favoring since her last fight.
Empress dodges another attack and with a cheap shot, she gets Ember on the ground. I step forward instinctively before I can stop myself. While I abso-fucking-lutely hate that I can’t interfere unless it’s necessary, I know that Ember needs to do this herself.
My gaze locks with Ember’s and when she gives me a little smirk and a wink, I wonder if she purposefully allowed the cheap shot. Then her face goes blank like it normally does in a fight.
She twists in Empress’ grasp and then Empress’ head flies back after Ember punches her. Empress cries out again as her arm gets twisted painfully in their grappling. I don’t think it’s broken but it’s definitely sprained.
Movement has me looking up, and I’m surprised to see that Bandit is still here. Then again, mis hermanos (my brothers) probably let him stay since he’s her brother. However, the resigned look on his face does not bode well for Empress. Especially after the news I got not too long ago.
Another cry of pain has me looking back down to find Ember has Empress pressed against the floor with a knee to her back.
She has Empress’ hands locked behind her back in one hand, and with the other, she’s pressing Empress’ bloody face into the floor.
Blood flows from a split lip and her nose.
One of her eyes is already swelling while a couple of bruises have already formed along her jaw.
“I told you before that I would kick your ass if you ever laid hands on my man again,” Ember seethes, leaning close to Empress’ face. “You’re fucking done, bitch, and if you don’t want to end up in the hospital, you will stay the fuck away from Tico and me.”
“Get off me you fucking bitch! Why are all of you just standing there? Get this bitch off of me!”
Ember shifts, pressing her legs tighter around Empress’ waist. At the same time, her hand tightens around Empress’ wrists while also pressing hard with her thumb on the inner part of Empress’ injured wrist.
Seeing that the fight is pretty much finished, I step forward and squat down in front of Empress.
“This little stunt just cost you everything, Empress, or should I say, Ashley.”
Her eyes widen at the use of her real name instead of her moniker.
“You are banned from the clubhouse and all of our businesses. You’re also blacklisted in our circuits.” I look up at Taco. “Have a couple of Prospects go to her apartment and get everything out. Change the locks just in case she has a key hidden somewhere.”
Ashley screeches as she thrashes, trying to escape. Ember tightens her grip on her injured wrist which causes Ashley to cry out in pain.
“You can’t do that! That’s my home!”
“No, you rented Royal Bastards property. You should have read the fine print of your contract a little better because we made sure there was an exit clause in there for scenarios just like this.” I pause, leaning down a bit more.
“You should have listened when I gave you the warning the other day. Now you have nothing.”
Ashley stares at me in shock at the coldness in my voice.
Claw’s mother, who is our lawyer, made sure there was no way those we evict could come back at us if that clause was activated.
But Ashley isn’t getting evicted for attacking Ember.
No, Wire had been keeping an eye on her since her little scene yesterday and she fucked up big time.
But before I can say anything, Ashley twists in Ember’s arms again, trying to get her hands free.
“Why is everyone so obsessed with this piece of trash? She’s a used-up nobody!
You should be with me! I’m the one that was at the top of your circuit!
Me! Not her!” Ashley cries out and my lip curls in disgust at her entitled behavior.
A quick look around shows that I’m not the only one feeling that way.
Ember twists her arm harder, making Ashley cry out in pain again. Tears pool in her eyes but I don’t know if they’re from pain or not.
“You’re delusional, Ashley. You may have been a good fighter, but that does not give you control over someone else. Tico is not a possession—he is a person. He is a man who is free to choose what he wants to do and who he wants to do it with. Tico is my Ol’ Man whether you like it or not.”
“You’re nothing! You’re just a patch-chasing bitch!”
Ember presses down harder on Ashley and leans down closer to her.
“I see Tico for himself. I was raised in a club where people were disrespected all the time and women chased patches for status. I could care less if Tico were a Prospect instead of the President. I see him for him. Not his patch. Not the status. Him.”