“Yo. What the fuck? Come back later.” Axel hisses in my direction.
I step further into his bedroom and look right at Madame. “Sweetheart, I’m not gonna keep bein’ so sweet. It’s best you get that fine ass of yours outta this room before I lose my temper.” I’d never do anythin’ to harm a woman, but I will be beatin’ my brother’s skull in and I’d rather she not bear witness to my rage.
Madame hops off my brother, grabs her clothes, and sashays her ass outta the room without even so much as a word. It’s what I like about her. She’s one of the smarter Vixens, understands the hierarchy here, how when we say shit, we mean it. Most importantly, she respects whatever we’re sayin’ or doin’.
I shut the door behind her as she leaves. “What kinda joke are you tryin’ to pull?” I question while my anger begins to boil my blood.
Axel smirks, giving it away. The bastard did know Ruby was gonna show up here. “Guess you saw Rub’s new gig, huh?” He calls her the childhood nickname our older brother gave her.
“Why the fuck wouldn’t you tell me?” I holler while a radiating pain shoots down my leg. Jesus. The accident really did a number on my body, that’s for damn sure.
He draws his brows together. “Did you even have to ask?”
Axel, always the fuckin’ jokester of our family. I close my eyes and shake my head. “I’ll have you know I got an eye-full of our sis that I never needed to have. She’s our baby sister, Axel. What in the fuck? I can’t even with you right now. Jesus. You couldn’t even give me a heads up?”
“What can I say, I wanted to torture you a bit.” He chuckles, finally grabbing his boxers he slides them on.
“She’s barely twenty-one. She shouldn’t be doing stuff like that.” I grumble, hating the thought of what she’s doing for some money. She could regret it one day and the internet is forever. Anyone would be able to find it.
“She’s not a baby anymore, Grim. You gotta let her live.” Axel berates me, but he doesn’t get it. He’s never had that protective gene that I have over her.
“She is living. For fuck’s sake, she got a scholarship to Stonewall University. She’s living her best life up in Albany. What I don’t understand is why you fuckin’ called her here, pullin’ her away from her fall semester early. Did she even take finals? Fuck, did you even bother to ask?”
Axel cocks a brow. Exactly what I thought, he didn’t even think about it. Ruby is going to be the one person in our family who really becomes somethin’. Axel and I both dropped out of high school. We started prospecting when we were eighteen, but damn if we weren’t here at the club every minute we could be. Axel’s a few months older than me, my half-brother. We share the same father but have different moms.
Luckily, we were able to go to the same school even though we grew up in different houses. Our moms even got along for a bit to make sure we were close. They couldn’t agree about much, but one thing they always could agree on is how our dad is a real piece of work.
We’re from the sticks out in North Carolina and gettin’ out of our shitty ass little town was the one thing we needed. Axel and I worked hard for three summers straight to make enough money to buy our own bikes. They weren’t much, but they worked and that’s all that mattered. One thing led to another and while we were ridin’ across the States we found a home here in Billings with the Reapers.
So, Ruby is gonna be the one person in our family who actually becomes somethin’. I’m not gonna have her in the life like Axel and I are in, the same life that took our brother, Stone.
“She sure sounded like she wanted to get away from school for a bit.” Axel mutters, his tone sounding a bit concerned.
Now he’s gotten me curious. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He shrugs, “Hell if I know, man. I’m not her keeper. I called to let her know what happened to you and she jumped at the chance to get on the first plane out here. She almost sounded excited. Not that you were hurt, but to get away. But word of advice, stop worryin’ so much about Rub’. You know she prolly got all that shit sorted before she even left school, with her finals and whatever.”
I shake my head. “I sure as fuck hope she did.”
“Okay, Dad.” Axel mocks me.
“Don’t even start with me. I’ve been more of a father to her than our actual dad ever has. Who’s the one she called to help her with homework? Who’s the one she asked to come down to North Carolina for the daddy daughter dance when our old man didn’t even bother to give her an answer? Me, bro. Yeah, I step in when I need to, but it’s ‘cause I fuckin’ love that lil’ girl.”
“Shit, Grim.” Axel mutters, rubbin’ his hand across his face.
“What?” I growl.
“Rub’ isn’t a lil’ girl anymore. She’s a woman. You need to accept that sooner rather than later, or you’re gonna be the one gettin’ hurt.”
“I know.” I respond. Even though I do know this, it doesn’t make it any easier. It’s hard watchin’ your kid sister grow up, turnin’ into a beautiful woman. Hell, she fits in with the Vixens and that’s what pisses me off so much. She’s gorgeous, such a beautiful woman, though it doesn’t make it any easier knowing men from around the world will be usin’ her photos in their spank bank. I clear my throat, “You ask her what happened at school?”
“Nah. Figure she’ll tell me if she wants me to know.”
I take in a deep breath and shake my head. Axel needs to figure out Rub’ never comes out and says stuff, that you have to dig. She’s not the type of woman who’s an over-sharer. “I’ll ask her tomorrow. Can you do me a favor and make sure she gets settled into one of the extra rooms? I don’t want her in anyone’s bed either. I’ll fuckin’ kill anyone who touches her.”
“Sure. What’re you gonna go do?”
“Lay down, my back is killin’ me.” I answer honestly. I know I’ve been pushin’ it, but fuck I need to rest.
“Your appointment to see those people in town is tomorrow, yeah?”
I nod, “Yep.”
“Hopefully they can help you out.”
“Yeah, hopefully.” I murmur, turning around I open Axel’s door and exit his room, heading to the right until I’m in mine which is the last room on the right. I carefully lay on my back, and even this hurts like fuckin’ hell.
I pray these people can help me, ‘cause I don’t know how the fuck I’m gonna be able to do anything.
Chapter Five
There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind
~ C.S. Lewis
Natalie
“Aggie! What in the world are your sisters doing!?” I call out, as I finish cutting up these peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I slide them into the little plastic baggies and drop them down into their paper lunch bags.
“Davina’s hogging the bathroom again!” Aggie hollers back, sounding annoyed as can be. Lord almighty. Having three beautiful girls has been both a blessing and a curse.
I rush over to the other side of the trailer I rent in Billings, Montana. I decided the girls could have the master if they agreed to share. It’s nothing fancy, though it’s big enough for them to each have their own bit of space. Even has a nice master bathroom and massive closet for them to share as well. So, I crammed my queen-sized bed in the only other bedroom on the other side of the trailer, and my closet is about the size of a shoebox, but I don’t complain. I’m safe and with my children. That’s the only thing that matters.
Sorcha’s sitting on her bed, smiling, playing with a doll I’d just bought her last week at the consignment shop here in town. To be honest, I’m envious of her innocence. She’s so young that she doesn’t even grasp how bad things are. I’m a month behind on rent and I’m too stubborn to ask my mother and father if they’d lend me more money. They’ve helped us so much over the last year that I feel like I’m stealing from them. So, I won’t ask. I’ll get another job if I have to. I’ll skip another meal every day. I’ll buy things on clearance and sale at the grocery store. Th
e point is, I’ll do whatever I can to stay afloat.
“Hurry up, Davina!” Aggie screams, showing how pissed she is at this point.
Davina throws the door open and slams it against the wall. The unmistakable sound of plaster breaking causes me to rush into the bathroom, past my daughter, and I see she’s now put a hole in the wall. “Shite. I can’t ever catch a break,” I mutter under my breath, rubbing my hand over my face I pinch my temples in frustration. “Get your lunches and out to the car this instant. I’ve had it with your temper tantrums. Sorcha can handle herself better than you two combined.” I grumble, walking out to pick Sorcha up from the bed. She holds her doll close and I bring her into the living room to slide her jacket and boots on.
One thing I’ve learned about Montana is how it can snow at any point from October to March, so it’s best to be prepared for any chance of it. I live in a trailer park a few streets over from where I work, and while Davina and Aggie have to go to school for a full day, Sorcha doesn’t. She’s in pre-K and my lovely neighbor, Mrs. Donovan gets her on the bus.
She’s a retired older woman whose husband passed away right after we moved. She wasn’t eating. I knew because every time she cooks, she makes a ruckus and sings her heart out. So, I made her some homemade meals and at least made sure she was getting something in her stomach. We didn’t really have much to spare, but I couldn’t let her starve. She was grieving and needed some help. Now she watches the girls if I have to work late and on school holidays. She gets Sorcha on the bus too. My parents live an hour to the east, and they come by every couple of weeks, though I try not to burden them too much with my troubles.
Once her boots are on, I take her hand and walk over to the next trailer where Mrs. Donovan lives. “Aw, there’s my favorite little one! Wanna watch an episode of Maury and not tell your mum?”
“Delores,” I warn, not finding her joke funny.
“Oh, you’re always so serious. Lighten up, love. I’m only kidding.” Sorcha giggles as Mrs. Donovan speaks to me, going into her house and immediately walking over to her couch.
“Thank you for watching her. I really appreciate it.” I say, like I do every morning.
“Goodness, stop with the thanks. I should be thanking you and your lovely girls for giving me a reason to go on.” Delores doesn’t have any other family. Sadly, when her husband passed, he was the last person she had.
“Mum!” Davina yells, and I turn back to face her. She’s standing on the ground, below Mrs. Donovan’s elevated porch handing me Sorcha’s lunch.
“Oh, thank you sweetheart.” I say while she skips off to the car.
“You’d best get going or you’ll be late again. Don’t want to piss Herold off, do you?”
Herold, my boss. “Herold has never had a bad day in his life. He’s only slightly annoyed if I’m late and don’t bring him a coffee. Though, a good cup of coffee makes up for anything.”
“Yes, well, you’d best get him a coffee because you will be late.” Mrs. Donovan hands me a five-dollar bill and I go cold. Goosebumps rise over my arms.
“Delores, I can’t take this.” I say, handing it back to her.
“Nonsense. You’re the daughter I never had, but always wanted. Take the money, Natalie. Go get you a good cup of something too. You deserve it.” Delores runs her thumb across my chin, and then touches my scar on the right side of my face. “You deserve so much, sweetheart. Go get you something too, alright? And if you’re still going to yammer on about this, I’ll have you know I have an appointment at two o’clock today and I want Herold to snap this ol’ neck of mine. He’ll be no good if he isn’t jolly as a giant, now get going. You’re already running late.”
“Mum!” Aggie yells from the passenger side of the car.
I thank Mrs. Donovan again before rushing over to the car, getting behind the steering wheel and starting the car up. After I’ve slid my seat belt on and have ensured the girls have theirs on, I drive the few miles to their school and drop them off.
It takes me about five minutes to get back into town, and I park behind the chiropractor office that I work at. Herold is obviously the owner. I see his car is already here, so I walk up the back alley and head into the coffee shop next door.
The moment I walk in it’s like I’m slapped in the face with cinnamon, chocolate chips, espresso, and hazelnut scents. “Natalie, how are you today?” Chastity, their morning help asks. She’s a beautiful woman in her early twenties. She has this dark chocolate hair that comes down in loose waves. I swear it’s almost black.
“I don’t know yet,” I laugh, knowing she understands. While I have three girls, Chastity has three boys. God bless her.
“I know the feeling all too well. What’re you feeling today?”
“I need the usual for old Herold, and for me . . . hmm . . . what have you concocted?”
Chastity’s smile grows far wider than I’ve ever seen before. “Okay, so we’re kind of in the Christmas spirit here already, right? I created a white chocolate, gingerbread mocha. I know it sounds like a lot at once, but Natalie, it’s so good.”
“Alright, fix me up one then.”
“Perfect. Just a minute.”
The bell rings on the door, indicating someone else has entered the shop. I glance around to look at the artwork in the shop. The owner here has locals put their art up for sale. It’s so adorable and I love it so much. It makes this town feel a lot smaller, even though Billings is practically a major city when you consider everything that’s here.
“That’ll be four dollars and forty-five cents.” Chastity tells me, pulling me from my daze. I look down to my hand and realize I let go of the five-dollar bill Mrs. Donovan gave me at some point. Shite. This is just my luck. Chastity furrows her brows, “Everything okay?”
“I lost my cash, like an idiot.” I place my hand over my eyes, embarrassed beyond belief. “I’ll be back in a couple. It’s probably in the car. I’ll be right back, okay?” I say, my embarrassment taking over. Gosh, I’m repeating myself over and over.
I turn around and come face-to-face with a man who towers over me. He’s wearing a leather vest with a black t-shirt underneath. He must be a solid foot taller than me, making him seem rather intimidating. He smirks at me, “Mornin’.”
“Good morning. I’m so sorry, I’ll be right back.”
“Don’t worry about it, Nat. I’ll take care of him while you go out to your car.”
“Thank you!” I say, running out the door, I turn the corner and head back to the car. Sure enough, my five-dollar bill is in my center console cup holder. I open the door, grab the cash and shut it. Instead of running back around I take my time, needing a few moments to calm down my anxiousness. When I open the door to the coffee shop, Chastity has a bag sitting next to my two drinks.
“So sorry about that, here you go.” I hand it over to her but she pushes it back.
“You’re all good, girl.”
I furrow my brows. “What?”
“That handsome guy paid for your drinks and wanted to make sure you had breakfast. Super sweet, right?”
“What?” I repeat, a bit mind boggled.
“Enjoy your cream cheese Danish and sausage burrito too,” Chastity smiles devilishly. I never buy food from here often because it’s a little bit pricey, but this handsome stranger managed to buy my favorite meals.
My heart sinks into my stomach and I go from thinking this was a nice gesture to wondering if my husband sent this man after me. Fear crosses through my chest and I suddenly feel hot. Mrs. Donovan and Chastity are really my only friends in this town. I’ve kept my circle small on purpose, because I knew it was possible something like this could happen.
Chastity grabs my hand and squeezes it. “Relax, Nat. He’s just a nice guy who saw you had a rough morning, okay?”
“He’s just a nice guy,” I repeat, nodding my head, hoping I’ll believe it too. I pull my hand from her grasp and take the two drinks, plus the bag of food and start to head out the do
or.
“Have a great day, babe!” Chastity tells me on my way out.
I turn and face her, “You too.”
Chapter Six
“You will always be a monster, there is no turning back from it. But what type of monster you become is entirely up to you.”
~ Kanin
Natalie
“Natalie, is that you?” Herold questions from his office. I turn the corner and walk straight in.
“No, I’ve been replaced by the coffee fairy.” I joke, setting his coffee down on his desk.
“Good girl, always bringing gifts when you’re late. At least it was only five minutes today.” Herold points out, taking the coffee he brings it to his mouth and has a sip. “Mmm, so good. Chastity is a master of those machines.”
“That she is,” I agree with him.
“Speaking of masters, I’m hoping you’d be able to help me figure out this new system we have.”
“You mean the update?” Our systems had an update last night. We chose to move things around a bit because the other system wasn’t as functional and was charging the clinic double what this one will. I told Herold it didn’t make sense to keep it when it was less than what we needed and cost more than the new one.
“Yes, that. Ugh, I hate change. Why did I let you talk me into it?”
“Gee. I don’t know. ‘Cause it saves you almost two-hundred dollars a month?” I might be a bit of a penny-pincher as they call them here in the States. I can’t stand the thought of someone wasting their money for no reason, so I might’ve mentioned it to Herold when I was going over the books.
“Okay Miss Smarty Pants. You can tell me how to access the patient files then. Can’t you!?” He raises his voice. Herold is in his late-sixties and probably should’ve retired like his wife has . . . but he can’t stand to be home with her for that long. He’s flat out admitted it to me a few times, how he loves her yet can’t sit around and watch tv shows with her all day long. I can’t say I blame him. I could never be the type to sit around and do nothing either.
Mayhem: A Reapers MC Boxset Page 44