“I’m freakin’ the fuck out here man. I never had any intention of settling down, that’s not me. I’m not sure I’ll be any good at it. I mean my old man wasn’t any type of role model. He hated his life, hates his family, hated being tied down. What if I’m like him, what if I don’t treat her like I should? Fuck, I don’t even know her, what if we can’t even be friends?”
“I wish I knew what to say here man,” I tell him, “What you’re sacrificing for the club and for my girl...I don’t even have words.” I pick up my beer bottle that I’d been babying and down it in one gulp. How can you say to your best friend, that him sacrificing his future happiness for yours is the best gift anyone’s ever given you? That him possibly being miserable is making a way for my future happiness?
“All I can sit here and think about is, how can a father use his daughter as a bargaining chip? A way for him to climb up in the ranks of his organization? What about her happiness? I mean, doesn’t he love his daughter?”
“I know how you’re feeling, when we rescued Bristol, her father was ready to swap her to Cordozo for Lil’ bit. He was trading her for a younger daughter, one he could break in. One who wasn’t grown and able to have her own thoughts and opinions. Lord only knows what his plans for Lil’ bit were. And I ask myself all the time, what were Cordozo’s plans for my sweet cheeks?”
“Jeez man, I didn’t even think. Maybe Bristol can help this girl out? Fuck, you realize I don’t know this girl’s name, her father’s name or anything about this family? This has my mind all kinds of fucked up,” he says on a sigh.
“You don’t have to do this man. It’s not too late to back out ya know. We can put our minds together and figure out another way. A way to where you’re not putting yourself on the line so much. I don’t think I could stomach seeing you miserable forever like that, it’d eat me alive to watch it.”
“I think I’m gonna play this one by ear and see what comes of it. We can always be married in name only. I could let her have her life and I have mine. Separately, then always make appearances where we need to. I don’t know, I’m thinking out loud here. I know the club doesn’t stand for cheating on Ol’ ladies, but what if I don’t make her my Ol’ lady, just marry her and keep her as a citizen wife. She’ll still do her thing and not have to worry about me interfering too much.”
“If that’s what you really want, I’ll stand by you when you bring it to the table. I got your back however I can. I give you my word.”
“When I actually do get to meet her, I’ll talk with her and see where she stands. For all I know, she wants a real marriage. Who knows? I’ll do whatever it takes for this club and you, brother.”
Carson brings us both another beer and we sit in silence, both lost in our thoughts.
Chapter 29
Bristol
I finish up my weeks’ worth of lessons this morning and decide to join the rest of the world. I can hear everyone in the main room so I hop in the shower, dress and run out to spend some time with everyone else. I’m feeling more like me since I had a full day with Brady. He always makes things better and I’m looking forward to our life’s path. I know he and the boys will protect me no matter what, so I’m letting go of Johnny, and letting them handle it however they see fit.
Walking out to the common room I see everyone looking down in the dumps. I walk up to where I see Brady and Justice looking lost, drowning themselves in their beer. The look on Justice’s face makes me uneasy. I want to know what’s going on, but I’m scared to ask. I hope whatever it is, it’s fixable. Not being able to help myself I ask them.
“What’s up guys, why do you two look so upset?”
“Just some club shit, sweet cheeks. We’ll get it figured out, don’t want you worrying about it. Alright?”
“If you’re sure, anything I can do to help I will. What you guys are doing for me, because of me...I have no words to convey my gratitude.”
“Bristol, you’re family, this is what we do for family,” Justice tells me, but I have a feeling there is a lot going on...and it involves me.
“We’ve got this, sweet cheeks, but I’ll make you a promise. If there’s anything you can do, anyway for you to help. I’ll come to you.”
“If you promise, then I’ll drop it. For now.” I can’t help but think that there has to be a way for me to do something. Everyone looks so down. I don’t want anyone sad, especially if there’s something I can do. This new family I have made has done so much for me, if I can help pay it forward somehow, I’d like to opportunity to do so.
Ghost
A part of me feels guilty that I’m not telling her everything, but the more logical me knows that if she was aware of the deal made, she’d try to fix it. That’s not something I can allow to happen, her fixing it would mean giving herself over to Valdez. I know my girl, she’d do it if it meant saving Justice from the fate coming his way, she’d feel guilty and want to save us all from the deal that’s been made. I can’t let her do that, there’s no telling what that fucker has planned for her. I can’t let him get his hands on her. She may not survive it. Hell, what am I saying, I wouldn’t survive not having her.
When I think of what my life would be like without her, I can feel my chest constricting and I lose all ability to inhale oxygen into my lungs. My friend may be paying the price for her freedom and I will make sure to do everything within my power to help him make it through this ordeal. My fingers are crossed that they may have a love story that I have heard my girl talking about from the books she reads. Just because they didn’t choose each other, doesn’t mean things may not work out for them. I can only hope and pray it does. He deserves happiness after the childhood he endured at the hands of his father.
Fate is a bitch, I only hope Justice grabs her by the throat and makes his own destiny out of what that bitch has delivered to his doorstep. I pull Bristol into my lap and breathe in her scent, for some reason I need to memorize every scent she carries. I need to breath it in deep and make sure it never leaves my senses. I close my eyes and think about every sound she makes, the way her smile lights up my days, and how she makes me want to be a better man.
For her.
For me.
For our future family, one I plan on starting as soon as she’ll let me.
I can’t wait to plant my baby inside of her and watching her grow round with my child. Something I’ve longed for since the day I saw her, the day I claimed her, that day I made her mine in all ways. I’ve imagined it and dreamed about it.
“So, I’ve made a decision, Brady.”
“Yah? What’s that, sweet cheeks?”
“I’ve decided to stick with my original plan, I’m going to go to real estate school. I do, however, want to get my basics out of the way with my online courses first. I think it’s important that I have those even though they don’t pertain to real estate. What do you think?” she asks me as she bites her cheek in anticipation of my reply.
Smiling at her I tell her, “I think that’s a great idea. No one can ever have too much schoolin’.”
“Schoolin’, oh lord Brady, I think we need to get you some basic English classes.” I know she’s teasing me so I go in for the kill, I use both hands and start tickling her in front of everyone. She starts giggling and squeaking for me to stop. But by the smile on her face, I can tell she’s enjoying this as much as I am. I finally relent when I hear the words ‘I’m going to pee my pants’. Not wantin’ to be covered in piss I let go.
“I’m just teasing you baby, I love the way you speak.”
“I know, sweet cheeks, I know.” And I do know. She would go above and beyond to keep from hurting my feelings in any way, shape or form. It’s one of the qualities I love about her. Not being able to hold back any longer I let her know how I’m feeling.
“I love you, sweet cheeks.”
“I love you, too, Brady.”
And then we see beer spray across the bar, I look over at Justice and he has an ‘are you for real, I’m sitt
ing right here’ look. I can’t help but laugh at his expression and Bristol joins me. Our laughs must be contagious because Justice joins us. The next thing you know we’re all laughing so hard we can hardly catch our breath. Just like that, the tension Justice and I have been holding in is released. I can’t help the pride I feel in my girl that she was able to do that for us.
Chapter 30
Bristol
Three more weeks have passed since Brady, Justice and I had a couple of beers together as we sat in the common room. Tensions have been at an all-time high with all of the guys. Sometimes it feels as if I’m walking on eggshells to not make matters worse. The guilt I’m carrying knowing that their temperaments are due to what’s come to them because of me is eating me alive. Justice has been keeping to himself more than usual, I can’t help but miss the friendship he and I were building. They’ve been having daily meetings, which is in of itself something out of the ordinary. It’s never happened until recently, since all of my bullshit followed me here.
If there was something I could do to help, besides turning myself over to Johnny, I would do it. The thought of never seeing Brady again, holding him and loving him isn’t something I’m willing to give up just yet—if ever. I know myself though, and if it’s the only way to keep a shit storm from hurting my friends, I’ll do it. I’ll sacrifice myself for the safety and good of my new-found family. First, I’m going to let this play out and see where it goes before I even consider giving myself over. Biding time isn’t easy, but I think if given enough time, things may come to a resolution. These guys know what they’re doing.
I’m back to waking up alone again, Brady says it’s only temporary that they’ve found a solution and I should just give it a little more time. Time, that four letter word, she’s mean to me. I’ve done nothing but tread through time as life marches on. I’m now living in time instead of it passing me by. Instead of allowing myself to be aggravated by his words, I use them instead to know that he’s fighting for our future and I need to stand beside him as he does. This is a new position for me, used to being told what to do, this time it’s different. He’s asking me to stand by him and help him out with the bitch, time.
I’m in the kitchen preparing lunch for the guys when I hear the meeting room door open. It’s nothing fancy, just a lot of frozen pizzas I threw in the oven and some bags of potato chips for everyone to throw on their plates. We’ve gotten ourselves a new club babe, her name is Tasha, and man she’s a bitch. She’s always giving me snide looks and talks at me instead of to me. As if I owe her a damn thing. She’s got a lot to learn, because if the guys catch her she’s in deep shit. They don’t put up with their Ol’ ladies being treated like shit.
“Better hurry it along, miss snobby pants. Sounds like the natives are getting restless, they’ll want some grub and a good fuck. Something I’m sure you don’t know how to do,” the bitch has the nerve to say to me. She goes to walk past me and my foot may or may not have stuck itself out and tripped her. She lands flat on her chest and I mock surprise on her behalf.
“Damn, I hope you didn’t pop that tit bag of yours. You know, the ones you carry around on your chest. Since we all know those things aren’t real. What were they, a black Friday deal? I think they messed up, one is bigger than the other.”
“You bitch!” she screams at me as she comes at me to attack. I drop the pan I had in my hands on the stove and get ready for my first-ever cat fight. I think I can take this bitch. Lord knows, I’ve wanted to scratch her damn eyes out since the day she joined us. She comes at me with her claws extended and I have my fist bunched up and ready to go. She, however, doesn’t make it to me before she’s lifted from her feet and tossed to the side. She looks like a rag doll as she flies through the air.
I look over and see Brady’s chest heaving in anger. “I know you were not about to put your filthy paws on my Ol’ lady.” I hear the door to the kitchen open and there stands Justice, Tic and Wasp, all with angered expressions on their faces.
“What’s going on in here, brother?” Justice asks Brady as if I’m not standing here. It was happening to me! I should be the one answering questions. Before I can let them know that, Brady beats me to the punch.
“All I know is I came in here to check on my Ol’ lady and this bitch,” he says, while pointing his finger at Tasha. “Was going to attack Bristol. She needs to be taught a lesson in manners. Nobody, and I mean no motherfuckin’ one touches my girl!” he screams in outrage.
“That cow tripped me!” Tasha screams out to the men.
“I did,” I tell them, “She insulted me. Hell, she’s been doing it since the day she arrived, but I’ve bitten my tongue and tried to be a good Ol’ lady by ignoring it. Today was the last straw! I can’t take her mouthy innuendoes and the way she talks to me anymore. I’m sorry, I just can’t.” I puff out, my chest is heaving in anger. “Someone might want to check that her silicone isn’t leaking from those fake boobs of hers. She landed pretty hard on her chest,” I say and each ot the guys has a surprised look on their faces at my outburst. “What?” I ask to no one in general.
“Woooeee, your girl’s got some fire!” Justice tells Brady, who has a huge smile on his face now. Pride shining in his eyes, which is making me feel like all is right in my world.
“That she does my man, that she does.” He comes over to me and plants a kiss on my lips. As he devours my mouth, I hear Tasha speak.
“She wouldn’t know how to strike a match, let alone let one burn. She’s nothing.” Expecting one of the men to be the ones to say something, imagine my surprise when it’s Ashton and Kori that speak up on my behalf.
“Hey Ashton, I think this girl needs to learn how an Ol’ lady is treated around here.” Ashton gives out a laugh that I would’ve never expected to come from her.
“Yes, Kori my dear, I do believe she does. Wasp baby, could you take her into the interrogation room please? Kori and I have some lessons that this new babe needs to learn.”
“It would be my pleasure,” Wasp tells her as he takes a screaming Tasha out of the room. She’s screaming all kinds of curse words right now, and I can’t be more delighted in the fact that I know she’s not going to have a pleasant experience at these two ladies’ hands.
“Coming Bristol?” Ashton asks me. I’m dumbfounded and it must show on my face. “You’re an Ol’ lady, Bristol, this is part of our job, keeping these bitches in line. Come on now,” she tells me and I follow like a little lost puppy, not knowing what to expect once we get into the room. The room is a wide-open space only consisting of two chairs that face one another. One has cuffs installed on the front feet and the back of the chair. I’ve never ventured into this room before, and even though it’s not a lot to take in, it’s all fresh and new to me.
Chapter 31
Bristol
“I don’t want her cuffed, Wasp,” Ashton says to her husband. “I’d like to see what this bitch is made of.” I look from Ashton to Kori and see her rubbing her hands together, like she can’t wait to get started. I’m a little nervous, I’ve never seen a fight, let alone be part of one. From that standpoint I was always sheltered at home. At least they kept some things away from me.
“You sure love? I don’t think I could handle seeing marks on you,” Wasp tells Ashton. “I’d have to punish the bitch myself if I see even one mark on you,” he tells her in all seriousness.
“Hear that bitch?” Kori says to Tasha. “Guess you best keep your hands to yourself, unless you want the wrath of our men upon you,” she says while laughing. Meanwhile, I’m having a hard time understanding what is funny about any of this. Yes, I was ready to take this bitch on earlier, but this is a little much. It’s three against one! I may not be experienced, but I’m not sure this is how it’s supposed to go. Since I have no clue, however, I’ll go with the flow and take my cues from Ashton and Kori.
The guys all leave the room and stand outside of the now closed door. It feels like the walls are closing in on me, but I bre
athe through it so I show no weakness to this club babe. Showing weakness to these whores will chop you off at the knees and give them the free will to go after you. And I personally have had enough of it with this skank to last me a lifetime. It’s time to pony up and join the race. I am brought out of my thoughts at the sound of Ashton’s voice.
“Now that it’s just us girls, why don’t you tell us what you were thinking, going after an Ol’ lady the way you did?”
“She’s a stuck-up bitch who needs to be put in her place!” Tasha screams out. Tasha and I are staring each other in the eyes when I see a hand swing out and slap her hard across her face.
“Wrong answer bitch!” Kori screams out as soon as her swing made contact. “Ol’ ladies are coveted, protected and respected. You have done none of those things where Bristol is concerned. You need to learn your place or pack your things and move along,” Kori says to her as her chest constricts with anger.
“Three babes have been shown to the door in recent months. Are you ready to join them? Or would you like to be here under the protection of this club?” Ashton asks the skank, I mean Tasha.
“You don’t have the authority to make that decision!” Tasha huffs out at us like she has us. Not knowing that we, the Ol’ ladies, are in charge of the babes. Ashton grabs her hair and pulls her closer to her.
“Wrong again bitch,” she says as she spits in her face. I make a mental note to never get on their bad side.
“Don’t be disgusting!” Tasha screams out at Ashton. Wrong move, do some people never learn? Ashton’s going to rip her a new asshole.
“Me, disgusting?” Ashton asks her, like this is a new concept for her. She tilts her head as she looks into Tasha’s eyes. “No skank, it’s your job to be disgusting, spreading your legs for any willing man who has a cock attached to him. It’s my job to keep you in your place and show you the error of your ways. Now, answer the previous question.”
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