by Erin Osborne
“This is our son Axle,” I say, looking down at him sleeping in his car seat.
“Congratulations,” he responds, before grabbing a stack of papers and leading us to the house.
He leads us through the house, pointing out all the updates and things that have been changed in the past few years. The inside is gorgeous and I can see that Psycho is in love with it. The more we walk through it, the more I love it. Fuck! This was not a good idea.
In the downstairs, there’s a huge family room, a big kitchen with a breakfast nook facing the backyard, a den, a bathroom, and a dining room. There’s a laundry room and a small room that could be a guest room or a playroom down there as well.
On the second floor, there are five bedrooms and a bathroom. All the bedrooms are decent size with closets. It’s not until we walk into the master bedroom that I really fall in love with the house. It’s big enough for a King size bed, there’s a walk-in closet off to the left of the doorway. On the opposite side of the room, there’s a third door that leads to the en suite.
The master bath is almost as big as the room I have at Callie’s. There’s a soaker tub in the corner, his and hers sinks with a mirror hanging the length of the counter. The shower is big enough for about five people to stand in comfortably and wash. It’s my dream bathroom, in all honesty.
Jason leads us back down to the first level of the house before showing us a door off the kitchen I didn’t notice the first time. It leads directly to the backyard. We step out onto a patio that’s set up with a grilling station and everything already. There’s a swing set farther out in the yard and an inground pool. That’s the only part that scares me about this beautiful place. If Psycho gets this house, he’s going to have to put a fence up for sure.
“What do you think, babe?” Psycho asks, turning toward me as he continues to take in the yard.
“I think it’s amazing! The only concern I have is that there’s no fence around the pool,” I tell him, letting him know that I’m thinking of Axle when he gets a few years older.
“Yeah. I was thinkin’ the same thing,” he says, walking back over to stand next to me. “Jason, I want the papers drawn up by the end of the day. I’ve got the money for it right now. As soon as you let me know that paperwork is done, I’ll bring the money over to you.”
“You’re sure you want it?” Jason asks, not wanting his friend to jump head first into buying a house.
“You know I’ve wanted this house forever. It’s more than I thought it was,” Psycho answers.
“Okay. I’ll draw it up and call you as soon as I’m done. Talk to you later on,” he says, walking us back out front before we all separate and make our way to our own vehicles.
“Psycho, you have to know that I can’t move in with you right now,” I tell him as he pulls away from his soon-to-be house.
“You’ll get there eventually. Like I said, you aren’t ready now, but you will be. In the meantime, you know that Axle needs to get used to bein’ here too,” he says, taking my hand and pulling it into his lap.
The rest of the trip back to Callie and Bear’s is made in silence. I’m not sure what he’s thinking about, but I know I’m thinking about what I truly want in life. I’ve always wanted someone to be by my side, someone to share my day with, and a man that understands I’m going to be a bitch some days while others I’m going to need someone to put his arms around me and just hold me until I’m ready to go about my day. I may be an independent woman, but there’s only so much I want to do on my own. Especially when it comes to raising Axle.
I know that Psycho’s life is dangerous. There’s no guarantee he’s going to come back from the runs that they go on. Just like there’s no guarantee that something isn’t going to happen when he’s riding his bike down the road or the guys are hanging out at the clubhouse.
At the same time, there’s nothing stopping something from happening to me when I’m driving down the road or walking across the street. I can be shot when I’m walking into a store because someone wants to bring trouble here. I guess it’s time to see what I’m willing to live with and who I truly see myself with.
Chapter Nine
Hadliegh
AFTER TALKING TO Renegade about available jobs in the area, we decided that going back to Anarchy Ink would be the best option for me. It will give me enough hours, but still allow me to take care of my son. I would only be working at the front desk to make sure all the paperwork is filled out by customers and that the shop is clean and stocked. The only other job I’d have is setting up stations for the guys when they get slammed; nothing that I didn’t do when I worked there before leaving. Hell, I’m surprised Ink would take me back after the way that I left him in a lurch.
I don’t want to depend on Callie and Bear to support Axle and me, and there is no way in hell I’ll let Psycho support us. If he wants to help with his son, fine but that is all he’ll be doing. I love working here and it’s not stressful but still can be a challenge at times.
When a customer comes in and needs help figuring out exactly what they want, it lets me get creative. Not that I do the tattoo but talking to them usually gives me ideas that I can pass on to the artist so he can draw something that blows them away. I’ve been doing some sketches at the front desk and at home when it’s slow, but no one will ever see them— it’s just a way to kill time.
Today, I had to go in a little late though. I had my doctor’s appointment to make sure everything was okay after giving birth. My doctor told me that everything looked good and that I was cleared to go back to work full time, and that I could resume normal activities; including sex.
Now, all I can think about is fucking Psycho again. It’s been so long since I’ve felt his touch or had him in me. That will have to wait though because he won’t be around tonight.
Psycho told me he was going to be meeting some guys from the Phantom Bastards for drinks tonight so he would stop by the shop when he was done. I tried to tell him he didn’t need to do that, but Psycho never listens when he is told not to come by.
I’m not sure if that makes me happy or sad. The bell rings over the door letting me know that a customer has come in. She is a very pretty woman, that looks like she takes no shit from anyone. Much like I was before the kidnapping and pregnancy. I still have my moments though.
“Hi, my name is Hadleigh,” I begin trying to not show how in awe of her attitude I am. “How are you tonight?”
“I’m Natasha,” she says with a smile that makes the room light up. “I have an appointment with Ink to get some ink therapy tonight.”
Laughing at her therapy comment, I ask her if she knows what she wants or if she wants to look at the book while I let Ink know she’s here. After handing her the paperwork she needs to fill out, I head to Ink’s station.
“Hey, Ink,” I say making him laugh at my attempt to sneak up on him. “Your last appointment is filling out her paperwork. Do you need me to help you set up anything?”
“Girl, you are goin’ to have to try harder than that to sneak up on me,” he says laughing his deep, sexy chuckle. “Did she give you an idea what she wanted, or did she take the book?”
“She took the book, but she looks like she has an idea but isn’t sure she should say it,” I let him know so that he will be sure to really question her so she gets exactly what she wants not just a stock tattoo. “She told me she was here for ink therapy, so she has either done this before, or she knows what she wants.”
I leave Ink setting up his area and head back to the front. Deciding to help out Ink a bit, I sit down on the couch next to her and begin to ask questions. “Did you find one or do you have an idea? Ink is an amazing artist and can draw anything you can dream.”
“Well,” she begins hesitantly, “I know what I’d like, but I don’t know if it’s possible. It may be too much for where I’d want to place it.”
“Okay, tell me more,” I say while rubbing my hands together like a devious car salesman. “We can make a plan, then get Ink to
do the deed. He loves when clients have ideas that he can bring to life for them. Where do you want it?”
“I got this,” Ink tells us, walking up to where we are sitting. “Natasha, just come into my station and we can get this goin’.”
I stay up front and start going through my closing routine since Natasha’s tattoo will be the last one for today. Once Ink is done with Natasha, no matter how long it takes him, we’ll close and call it a day. I file her paperwork before getting out the aftercare instructions and gel. After finishing everything else, I head back to where they are doing her tattoo and sit down to keep them company.
“Natasha, tell me about yourself,” I begin hoping to get some more info about this no-nonsense girl. “I have not seen you around town, and it’s a small enough that we should have bumped into each other at least a dozen times if you have lived here longer than two weeks.”
“You’re right about that,” she laughs along with Ink and me. “I moved here about six days ago. It’s just another country song that I call life. You know, another cheating with the best friend and then keying his truck while bashing the headlights and maybe craving my name in the seats.”
“Who the fuck would cheat on someone as hot as you?” Inks mutters amid our giggling like schoolgirls.
“Men suck!” I state with authority, knowing that even if he hasn’t cheated on me Psycho is just as bad as a man who would cheat since he didn’t want us. “It’s like they are given a how to be an asshole handbook at birth or something.”
“I don’t know that all men suck,” Natasha giggles looking at Ink. “I mean, I would never say that anyone holding a needle at my skin sucks, or it may mess up my tattoo. In my life, men sure seem to go out of their way to fuck up a good thing. It’s like they have to make sure the good girls leave so that the skanks have room to ruin their lives. But that’s just my opinion.”
“Nope, I think it’s all men.” Saying it again ensures there is no misunderstanding that I am in the man-did-me-wrong camp. “Even if they don’t cheat, it’s not like they want to stay in a relationship and have a real family. You can’t ever give them a second chance because they will think it is okay to treat you like dirt again.”
“Honey, don’t know exactly what you are going through,” Natasha says in a calming voice that tells me she thinks I may be a serial killer in waiting. “But don’t think men can’t change. I’ve seen it many times that men jump to conclusions and speak before what they have seen or heard sinks all the way into their thick skulls. Ninety-nine percent of the time, they regret what they say and do. It falls on us women to let them make it up to us because we are the more brilliant of the sexes. We are the healers, while men are the fixers of what they have broken. I’m not saying letting someone physically hurt you more than once or to let them cheat, but when they blow up and say stupid shit. Maybe let them at least try to fix that.”
Chapter Ten
Psycho
RENEGADE AND I are heading to The Hideaway bar to meet with Killer and Slim. We need to have a chat on how to rid the earth of the scum that is calling themselves Snake’s Revenge. I don’t have a plan, but I want them to pay for stabbing me, while a tiny part thanks them because it brought Hadliegh back to me.
Vulture may not be a full patch member or even a Prospect right now, but he’s running with the club, and I know he’s given them any and all information that he has on both clubs. I’m willing to bet he even gave up what he knows about the Scavengers just to get in their good graces, and try to take out all three clubs. The only reason they aren’t here with us tonight is because they haven’t been attacked like we have.
When I know we’re close to the bar, I let my mind wander for the first time. My thoughts go to Hadliegh; it’s always her and Axle on my mind. Hadliegh may not accept it yet, but she is mine and I’m not letting go. There’s not much I’m not willing to do to make sure she knows that I’m in this for the long haul. I want a family with her and my son. I want her to be my ol’ lady, my wife, and the mother to all of my children. Because now that Axle’s here, I want more than just him. As many as she’ll give me because I’m not going to go down that road with any other woman.
The Hideaway is about halfway between both clubs so it’s an easy place to meet without everyone knowing what’s going on. After we’re all sitting at a table in the back corner with our beers and shots, we get down to business.
“How are you healin’ up, Psycho?” Slim asks me. “And how is that boy of yours?”
“He’s growin’ like a weed,” I tell them with a huge smile on my face. That boy always makes me smile just thinkin of him. Ignoring the other question, I pull out my phone to show off my son to my friends.
“This Snake’s Revenge MC is a pain in all our asses and we need to deal with them sooner rather than later!” Killer says. It seems he doesn’t want to mess around and gets right to business. “I think I know how to do it.”
“Okay. Tell us,” Renegade says ready to be done with those bastards too. “Do you have a detailed plan or just an idea we need to add to?”
“I have a decent plan that you need to help find the kinks and work out,” Killer says looking to Slim before continuing. At Slims nod, “We need to let it leak out that both clubs will be meetin’ at a warehouse a few miles from here to swap out some guns. When those assholes show up, we take them out. At this point, I’m not sure that one or both clubs don’t have moles among the ranks.”
“Killer, that’s not bad,” I tell him with a grin, letting him know that his plan to wipe them out definitely meets with my approval. “The only thing I want us to be sure of, is that we can completely surround them without them noticin’ us. And we should only have a small group meetin’ so they think they’re in control until the rest of the guys swoop in and block all the exits. Both clubs should have plenty of assholes to take out in this situation. I also agree that there could be a mole. Especially in our club. Too many things we hold close has gotten out and made it easy to find us.”
We all talk about the specifics so we can take them back to each table for a vote. I know Satan’s Anarchy will approve this, and there is little doubt that the Phantom Bastards will approve it as well. After deciding to meet back here next week to set it up after we each have church, we finish our drinks and just shoot the shit.
I stand up and give Slim and Killer man-hugs, eager to be on my way back to Hadliegh and Axle. Looking over my shoulder to my brother, I see his knowing smirk and decide that when he finds his forever, I’ll be making sure he has to go through some kind of hell as well.
We jump on our bikes and head for Anarchy Ink. In no time, we are walking through the backdoor that only club members and employees can use. I pull us up short when I hear the conversation Hadliegh is having with someone who I’m guessing is a customer.
Hearing the pain in her voice as she says that men are assholes cuts me again. I wish that my mouth would learn to stay shut. My surprise must show on my face when I hear the other girl saying men are fixers and women are healers. Maybe this will be what Hadliegh needs to hear in order to give me a second chance. Renegade pushes past me to see who the voice belongs to. He stops at the opening to Ink’s station and stares at the woman. I decide that someone needs to make our presence known before we get in trouble.
“Hey, baby,” I say to a surprised Hadliegh. She’s trying to figure out just how much of the conversation we heard. “Who’s your new friend? You gonna introduce us or do we gotta do that ourselves?”
“Um, this is Natasha,” she stutters in the most adorable deer in headlights way. “She’s new to the area and decided she needed some ink therapy. Natasha, this is Psycho and his brother Renegade. They are the VP and President of Satan’s Anarchy MC. They look all badass but they’re really just big teddy bears.”
“Hey! Don’t kill my reputation before I even get to say a word,” Renegade growls playfully at her causing both women to laugh hysterically. “I am a badass who eats nails for breakfast
.” This causes Ink to start laughing with the women. Hell, I think maybe a laugh or two come from me as well.
“You ready to head home to our son?” I ask her with a look of innocence on my face. Maybe if I pretend we’re supposed to both go to our son together, she’ll finally just give in and go with the flow, can’t hurt to try.
“Yeah. I was just waiting on Ink to finish up so we can close the shop,” she answers, not making a move to get out of her seat.
“Got it, Hadliegh. Go home and see your baby boy,” Ink tells her as he looks to be finishing up the tattoo.
“I’ll stay behind and help him finish whatever has to be done,” Renegade says, shocking everyone in the room.
I walk out to the front where I know Hadliegh keeps her bag and phone. She grabs it before walking out the back door with me and making her way to the SUV. She’s been using one from the club because her car is a piece of shit, and I’m surprised she made it all the way back here when I got stabbed.
Surprisingly, she didn’t put up a fight as soon as I mentioned the safety of Axle and wanting to know that when he’s with her, he’s safe and they won’t end up stranded somewhere because her car died. Not that I don’t care about her safety, I just know how to pick my battles now. Something I’m learning every day with her.
Following behind her, we make our way to the house. Callie tells us that Axle is already asleep and that she added a little bit of cereal to his bottle tonight. Knox and Jazz started a little cereal when they were his age because all they wanted to do was nurse.
After explaining that he ate and then in an hour and a half he was hungry again, she made the decision to try it. Hadliegh isn’t mad or upset that her friend made a decision about our son. She’s grateful that Callie did that. We’ll see how it works tonight and make the decision to continue with doing that or stopping it.
We walk upstairs and Hadliegh checks on Axle before making her way into the bathroom to get ready for bed. I get why she changes in her bathroom, but one day soon I’m going to see her naked again. She’ll be writhing under me as she’s taking my cock. I’ll take that shit now, even if she’s not ready to move in with me.