by A. C. Bextor
Sadey still hasn’t worked since college because we were slacking and trying to enjoy a last year of free time before we entered the world. I really don’t see Hem allowing Sadey to work much but she will need a job outside the house just to maintain some sanity. As a general observation, men don’t get that.
So this evening I’m taking Sadey to dinner, somewhere healthy so I can use this to sooth by conscious of keeping Hem’s baby from him. She will ask me for Mexican, I’m prepared for battle though. She’s not loading up on hot sauce and grease on my watch.
“You ready, little Mama?” Sadey frowns at my nickname, she looks stressed.
“I’m just kidding ya, what’s up? You look like someone tore the heads off your Barbie’s again.”
“Not even funny Mace. Why bring those memories back? I’m so emotional right now, just remembering Hem and Shame ripping those heads off and filling them with sand, gah I could kill them right now just thinking about it. Remember how funny they thought they were being? Now that I think about it, wasn’t Shame like 17 when he did that? Little immature don’t ya think? I feel sorry for the girl who ends up with that.”
Whew, she is emotional. Cute and funny but not cute and funny, you know.
“Let’s blow this place, you have earned some Sadey time. What do you want to do? We can go get your haircut, or would you like a message? How about we go to the market and get some strawberries and make us some fondue?”
“Mace, I’m not about to battle you right now so if you just do as I say this will go a helluva lot easier on you. I know I sound like a complete bitch but I’ve had damn hot flashes all day and I’m not happy about anything so you are taking me to that Mexican place on Franklin and if you don’t then I’m asking Ace and we both know he will!”
Holy Shit, she’s fighting with her fists up and she’s about to right hook my ass.
“Fine, but now I get to tell you something! I will do this for you, my beautiful mama to be, however it knocks a full week of Hem not knowing. You now have two weeks from today to tell him. Deal?”
“Throw in some fried ice cream then, if I’m being blackmailed and bullied you have to make it worth it.”
“Done.”
“Then fine, let’s go already and Mace, just so you know I would have taken two weeks off Hem’s knowledge if it meant I got Mexican and dessert. Sister, you are losing your touch.”
Oh the devious little bitch!
After Sadey’s dinner of ‘plate load of crap’ is done she decides she’s too tired to continue our evening. She’s completely blaming the baby but I’m won’t let her play that off.
“Sadey, no one eats that much food filled with carbs, grease, and whatever else is added in there and then tops it off with that much ice cream without feeling sloth like. Honey you did see they gave us two spoons in that bowl of ice cream, right? It was meant to be shared, not to worry though because I’ve known you long enough to know that when you literally growl and show teeth that you are staking your claim.”
The only response I get is her eye roll. She’s too tummy sick to talk, good!
“I’m going to take you home now so you can relax. The boys get back tomorrow so you’re going to have to leave behind your role of ‘mother to be’ and head back up to ‘Hem’s walking sex toy’. Are you all ready for that?”
“No I’m not. I want to just let loose and relax but I can’t when he’s around because I’m afraid I will make a slip. Ya know, I almost feel bad because I’ve been walking around naked all week because my tummy has been so tight and sick. This means that Hem actually thinks it is because I’m trying to seduce him. Do you understand where this is going? This means he thinks I’m randy all the time. That means I am busy with him all the time. God, even I can’t wait to just get this over with! Your brother is hot Mace, but c’mon he can’t believe he’s really that hot, can he? Oh god and he comes back tomorrow.”
I’m holding it in, counting in my head 1.2.3.4. Then I can’t hold it in anymore! I roar in laughter and she slams her forehead on the table in exasperation.
“Oh honey, he will understand you may be unavailable to him but I think maybe we should stock up on some moo moo’s just in case, that way he isn’t always looking at you like you’re a drink and he’s suffering from dehydration.” I’ve just made another joke and now laughing again.
She looks up from the table and I roar some more, no way that I can hold it in. She now has half of a nacho chip stuck to her forehead. Oh my Sadey, she gives new meaning to the term ‘Hot Mess’.
“Take me home please. Not back to Club. Please Mace. I want to go home now.”
“No way! Hem will kick my ass, not happening. Let’s go, Mama. Let’s get you back to the sex factory.” Oh man, this is fun.
“Please! Shut up! You don’t know your brother. He never gets enough, never!”
Now I eye roll back to her. I do not care at all, about my big brothers sexual drive. It has to be this way if I’m interested in keeping my own. Yuck!
On the way back to the house in her car, I’m driving and thinking about Hem being a new dad. It dawns on me how fast she got pregnant. She was a virgin and has never been on any contraception so I’m curious to know who failed on the baby protection method.
“Hey Sadey, I’m just curious and you can tell me to mind my own, but what protection did you and Hem use while in that naked bed being all naked together? I know you were a virgin and you never really talked to me about protection, not saying you aren’t educated but you never even asked what I use. What did you and Hem use?”
She studies me for a second, I take my eyes off the road to look back at her then she quickly looks ahead and mumbles and says, “Prayer.”
Oh shit, I’m counting again. 1.2.3.4.5 But here it comes again. I’m laughing and now I’m about to pee.
“Shit Sadey, you are telling me that he won’t be surprised at this then. Oh my god girl, I’ve had so much fun tonight. Thank you.”
“Well thanks Mace, but you can’t put this on me. When Hem wants something, I give it to him. Seriously, the caveman inside him couldn’t ever be stopped or even slowed. You can’t imagine or want to imagine how crazy the man is. Hell, he has my mouth so tied up I wouldn’t be able to ever even ask anyway and things are always so hot with us I didn’t want to throw a cold bucket on it even when we weren’t busy. I just kind of assume he knew what he was doing and was okay with it.” She looks sad now so I put my hand on her knee and squeeze.
“Honey, I’m going to be honest. I don’t think Hem has giving a second thought to the chances of you being pregnant. I’m sorry but I don’t think the man has ever gone without covering himself other than with you. That was only because it was so natural, you guys being together. I think once you tell him he will realize what he has done and forgive himself quickly. He knows that out of the two of you, he should have been the one to handle that issue. What he is getting in about eight months is all he will think about. It’s okay. Your bigger problem will be trying to keep him from having you pregnant and barefoot all the time.”
She sighs. “Ace said he has heard that pregnant woman are beautiful their whole pregnancy, even when their body changes and expands to accommodate the little one inside. He told me now that he’s seen it with his own eyes he never knew why he doubted that.”
Okay, my little duck is in trouble. He’s going to get a talkin’ too. Is he asking for another beat down? C’mon Sadey, you cannot be this blind that you can’t see this man is starving for you. Double Dammit, Ace!
*****
We are pulling back to the Club. Across the street from the gated compound I see two beat up vans parked in darkness. I have never seen those before and they look eerie. I can’t see anyone in them so I am trying not to judge. The abandoned apartment complex they are parked at is so dark that if they are inside I can’t see what they are doing in there. I don’t hear anything so I just drive through slow and watch the gate shut behind me, sending up a silent thank you for no
t having Jack the Ripper coming blazing through to cut up Sade and me.
Sade is miserable so I help her from the car as if she were just a little old woman, and when we finally get inside and the place is empty. Where is everyone at? Weird. I don’t have time to think about it long because I still have to pee and if Sadey starts talking any more of her antics I’m going to bust.
I finish sitting Sadey and her now full Mexican belly in Hem’s chair, she’s the only one that can sit in his favorite leather chair and walk away with nothing broken. I’m now racing to the restroom and almost take out April and Winnie and they come around the corner to the common room.
“Hello Mace.” Winnie. Yuck. I do not like this woman. Can’t remember now if this is the one I wanted to flush with the shit or not. Her voice drips at me with sarcasm and if I didn’t have to pee so damn bad I could actually appreciate an exchange of words, I’m feeling pretty feisty.
“Hi April, Sadey is sitting in there, I need to pee like a racehorse. Give me a minute and I will be right back.” I’m off!
Finished with my business I head back to the girls, then I hear something loud and fiery and it is coming closer, repeatedly. I’m nearly ran over by a fluid moving in motion Gunner and he’s screaming at the girls to get to the back bathroom and stay there with doors locked. The man is moving so fast to get to one of the closets nearby I hardly have time to process what he’s doing in there for. Doesn’t take long for him to come out with some serious automatic weapons.
What the fuck did I miss?
Sadey is in my face screaming at me to move but I can’t. When I’m this hysterical everything always goes in slow motion, nearly just stopping all together. I feel Sadey tugging at me and trying to pull me but I don’t comprehend why. Then, out of nowhere I’m jerked, hard. Gunner is in my face screaming, shaking my shoulders and I finally come out of it. Oh fuck, we are being shot at through the windows. I quickly look around and I see Winnie face down. I don’t see blood so I’m assuming she’s just taking cover, unmoving.
Gunner pushes me back until I am able to turn and run with Sadey. I hear Gunner call a few of the other brothers and then I see that same prospect I saw at the club that night with Peyton and Derek. Gunner has called him Raider. Raider finds his way to the closet and starts handing the other weapons to the brothers. They are so fluent in their actions, it looks like they were trained as soldiers and are now going to war.
Sadey is still pulling me with full force behind her towards the back of the house, she’s screaming for all the women to hide in the back bathroom and that we are going to lock the doors so they need to hurry. She is giving orders to everyone to get down and move with precision, and to shut the fuck up and focus.
I hear a man howl in intense agony and I move to turn around but Sadey grabs me again, stopping my forward movement. That howl has to be one of our family members, it was a cry of pain. This is too real. I just want to check on him and see if I can help.
“No Mace, let them handle this. Did Hem never tell you what happens to women if they are taken by Club of another color? We don’t know what is out there so keep walking with me and let’s get back where Gunner told us to be.” Sadey is so calm and that it is what is reassuring me.
We reach the bathroom and most of the women are screaming so it is echoing within the walls, Sadey whistles and tells them to shut up, explaining that we need to let the guys handle this and they will come back for us when it is clear. Not much time passes and the room quiets and we listen.
The shots I assume that is what it was, have stopped and we can only hear muffled sounds coming towards our door. A few moans of pain, some people talking, and heavy banging noises. Shit shit shit. My heart is beating in my throat and I’m scared for Sadey and the baby. I don’t have too long to think about her in worry because just as the room grows completely quiet we hear it. Someone starts pounding on the door as they try to open it, they are going to be making their way in.
--HEM--
“Almost home, damn it is good to be back in town. I hate these short runs, they are almost worse than the long ones.” We’ve been on the road for hours and the feeling of relief has started to flood because now we are close. “Being gone makes antsy to see Sadey even more knowing I’m coming right back.” I’m unsure if Shame is listening because he’s staring off, probably into Maceville. God my sister has that man more pussy whipped then I am. Jesus, grow a pair brother.
“Want me to return these too?” He’s holding up the guns we took from the warehouse to use in case we needed them during the ride. I hate unloading all this shit every time but I’m not keeping more shit at the Club then needed in case of robbery or someone turns us into authorities on a death wish.
“Yeah, take it all back in there and secure it up tight then let’s roll out and get home so I can see my girl.”
“Yeah brother, all about you. Every damn time, always about Hem.” Shame is kidding but I’m not. Let’s get the fuck outta here and go home.
Pulling up to the Clubhouse we know immediately something is fucked. Scattered bits of ammo shells have littered the street outside and tire tracks have left skid marks in their wake. Whoever left these marks fuckin left in a damn hurry and there’s only one reason someone would do that. Whoever it was, was not welcome. I’m sick to my stomach instantly. I remember I had told Sadey to stay put because she was going to be safe here.
Fuck!
Coming out of my dreaded thought I can hear Shame barking behind me. He’s last pulling up so he’s just now arriving.
“What the fuck is happening?” He’s is looking from side to side for present danger and Honor has already given his all clear, his gun drawn.
Once in the gate we see the damage. Jesus, so much damage. Windows blown out, the damn walkway is pebbled with more shell casings and bikes are laid on their sides. Thank fucking God my brothers are here, just hope when I walk in that they are all okay.
“MACE. SADEY!” Shame is screaming at them before we even open the door. His strides are so long that Honor and I are left behind in a hurry to catch up, not knowing what he’s walking into. He isn’t thinking, just knows he’s going to find the girls and worry about the rest later. Brother is as frantic as I am.
Gunner sees us walk in first, blood dripping from his arm and off his cut. Laying on the ground he tries to talk slow enough that we can understand him but the pain is too much and coming too fast. He’s been shot and he’s one pale mother fucker. Brother is trying to maintain eye contact with me but his eyes are dilated so much I’m unsure he even knows who is here with him now. Raider is standing over him with his finger on his pulse. This brings reality screaming into the room.
“I don’t know boss, we had no warning.” I haven’t even asked him what happened so I know he’s in a hurry to get the story out in case something happens to him. He’s really starts to go in and out now. Shame pulls him up a bit and lays him near the couch so we are in the interior of a room in the case of another unprovoked attack. He finally passes out, thank fuck for that. Raider looks sick now, he’s one prospect that I was concerned for in the event of something like this. Unsure he’s ever witnessed something so disturbing.
Snapping out of his thoughts, I try to help him focus. “RAIDER! Call the doc now, no cops or hospitals unless he’s in dire need, do you understand?” Raider nods, still in shock. Welcome to the Club bro.
I’m about to lose my own shit. “Where the fuck are the girls?” Not one man speaks so I can see this is bad. “WHERE ARE THE GIRLS?” I start towards the other side of the room and I can see the blood stained hair on the floor. My nerves go on end and Ace comes rolling around the corner straight at me and pushes back. I’m not fucking happy with this brother anyway and having him put his hands on me is about to really set me off. Shoving him to the ground with an easy push I walk towards the lifeless body.
Fuck! It’s Winnie. Jesus Christ I should feel guilty about my relief but for that brief second of thinking it was… wit
h the blood soaked hair… it looks like… oh god, where is she? Where’s my Sadey girl?
“ACE WHERE ARE MY GIRLS?” I grab his cut and pull him off the floor and close to me, tight so I’m in his face.
“I’m here, baby.” The faintest sound has calmed my storm in a fucking instant. I drop Ace and toss him to the side, then turn to see my girl. I don’t hesitate as I her now picking her up and holding her close to me for a few long minutes. She’s crying in my neck, I press her head to me, I smell her hair, and I feel her face checking to be sure she’s okay. Physically she appears that she is all right. She can get past what the scene has done to her mentally, with time.
“Sadey? Where is... Mace... where is Mace? Sadey, she’s not here, I don’t see her... where... would she have... gone?” Brother Shame has paled in worry and he is about to go down if someone doesn’t answer him. Fuck he looks petrified.
“She’s still in the bathroom Shame, she’s cleaning up one of the girls that took some glass to her back on the way down the hall, she’s okay.” Sadey, my sweet mothering Sadey. Thank fuck she’s alright.
He starts to move towards where the girls are. They are all scared and from what Sadey says, they are hurt. If Shame walks in there and starts screaming and making all his sudden movements, we could have pandemonium in here and we still have yet to clear the place of scum. He’s not thinking right now, I’m going to think for him.
“Shame, help get Winnie out back before the rest of the girls see her. Hurry up, get yourself together because Mace will need you to be in control. She’s never been exposed to this shit man, go on.” He glares at me. All our lives together I have never seen that look on his face. Fucker wants to challenge me right now, I see it. No way brother, get your shit straight.
“Fucking hell Shame, do it!” I’m using my President tone now that I generally save for the new prospects but fuckin’ hell this brother needs to listen to my words so I don’t have to put a boot in his ass.