by Sam Crescent
Lexie was damn good for the club, and she reminded Devil that they were older than a couple of high school kids.
Roxy had deteriorated and was refusing to see a doctor. Jessica went to visit her, and warned them all to be prepared, that it wasn’t good news at all.
Everyone was waiting for that call of doom, and around it, Sinner was in fucking heaven. He wanted to feel guilty about his newfound happiness, but he couldn’t. Lola, she had found whatever it was she needed, and now he didn’t feel like he was the only one that wanted to be a couple. Every step of the way, she was there, she was making decisions, and she was even initiating sex, which was fantastic. It was like the past Lola had been nothing more than a shell. Living her life without really being passionate about anything. Looking back, Sinner finally realized that he’d not had Lola then. No, she wasn’t with him. Now, she was with him, and their relationship had gotten stronger for their period away from each other.
Late one night after making love to Lola, he turned her to face him.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
“I don’t want us to ever regret a moment of being together,” he said.
“I don’t.”
He pressed a kiss to her lips, and stared into her eyes.
“This is about Roxy?” she asked.
He nodded.
“She told me to never have any regrets. She doesn’t want me to live thinking about tomorrow, but to live in the now. I’m going to take her advice about that.”
He held onto her hand, and ran his thumb across the finger that would hold his ring if they ever got married.
“Marry me, Lola?” he asked.
“Sinner?”
“No, I’m being real right now. I want to marry you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I don’t give a shit about everything else. Yes, I sometimes leave the toilet seat up, and you leave your towel on the floor. We share a toothbrush at times. None of that matters. We’ve wasted so much time already. I don’t want to waste anymore. I love you, only you.”
She cupped his face, and he waited. “Yes. I’ll marry you. There is no one else that I would want.” She pressed her lips against his, and they moaned. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, and knowing in his heart he never wanted to let go.
****
Lucius finished reading the trashy romance book and could just about vomit. This was what women were reading nowadays. Men were not fucking like that, and if they were, he was surrounded by a bunch of pussies.
There was a knock at the door, and he frowned seeing as it was quite late.
Heading toward the door, he opened it up to see the frumpy woman in boys’ clothing. Her hair was in two ponytails, each one trailing down her breasts. She was curvy, and pretty in the girl next door way.
She was also smiling at him. “Hey, I’m Natalie.”
“Hello, Natalie. Sorry to bother you and all, but Roxy asked for me to bring you this.” She handed him over a thermos.
“Why the fuck would she want you to do that?”
“It’s from her recipe. I was here earlier today when you were out for a smoke. She asked for a favor, and I’m not one to turn down an opportunity to give.”
He took the thermos, and she stepped away.
Nodding his head, he thanked her, and watched as she left. Not once did she try to get on her knees to suck his cock.
Closing the door, he made his way into the bedroom. Roxy was lying on the bed, resting her head on a pillow, her eyes open.
“Why?” he asked.
“You never eat properly when you’re upset, and I know how you like your food.”
“Are you trying to matchmake?” he asked, not interested in the frumpy girl.
Roxy shook her head. “No. She’s got her hands full with two men here.”
“She fucking two men? She didn’t seem the sort to be that kinky.”
“Not two men at once, you big oaf. Two men who want her.”
“Who?”
“I think those romance books have gone to your head.”
“Have you read them?” Lucius said. “Yuck.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I bet you got a couple tips. I know you, Lucius, you’d do anything to make you the best lover in the whole world.”
“So, you still didn’t tell me who?” he asked.
“Fine. It’s Slash and Butler. They both like her, and they have both hurt her because she’s not like other women. She doesn’t understand them one bit.”
He opened up the thermos and took a deep inhale of the liquid. “This is so good. Thank you.”
“I’m always looking after you.” Roxy sighed. “Tell me you’ll be okay.”
“Let’s not do this, okay? You do not have to worry about me at all. I’ll be fine. You know this, and you know me.”
She gave him that sad smile, and he forced the pain aside. This wasn’t about him. This was about her.
****
Natalie wrapped her jacket around her as she stepped out into the cold. Roxy had asked her to make the soup that had a little hint of spice. It was something that always brought Lucius comfort, and right now, he needed it.
She closed her eyes, feeling the loss of this woman that she had known for a handful of hours. Life was cruel. It was unfair.
“You okay, pet?” Slash asked. She would recognize his voice.
Opening her eyes, she saw Slash near one bike, and turning her head, she saw Butler next to the other. This was not happening. She wouldn’t get drawn into this game.
“I’m fine,” she said. Butler was near the front of her car, while Slash was near the back. She hated this. “I came to drop off some soup. Are you guys following me now?”
“We wanted to make sure you’re all right, and I wanted to apologize,” Butler said. “I shouldn’t have told you about Slash.”
“And I shouldn’t have told you about Butler.”
“It doesn’t change anything,” she said, looking between the two of them. “I appreciate that you came with me, honestly, I do, but I can’t do this. I don’t know what you expect of me. I’m not used to this. I don’t want to be caught in the middle with either of you, and I don’t want to have to choose either. I care for you both.” Why did it have to be complicated like this?
“What if you gave us both a chance to win you?” Slash asked.
“It’s not a competition, not even close. I just want to go home now.” She went to her car, and without looking at either of them, she drove away.
Chapter Fourteen
Roxy died a week later. No one knew what happened, only that Lucius was with her. Sinner didn’t think he would shed a tear for a woman he barely knew, but he did. Roxy, in her charming way, had touched the lives of them all in a short time.
For funeral arrangements, they found a plot in Piston County, and they all paid in to make sure she could have a proper burial. Roxy had been sure to make her own arrangements, and had given them to Lucius.
She didn’t want anyone but the Chaos Bleeds crew there.
Standing by her graveside in the freezing cold, Sinner held onto Lola as his woman cried. Lexie was out as well. She refused to be left in bed when a woman she hadn’t known but heard wonderful things about had been laid to rest.
Lucius, he didn’t cry. He stood by Roxy’s graveside with a single white rose. He looked as cold as stone.
Everyone was here, the Chaos Bleeds crew, and several of the Nomad Chapter, including Rock and Crow. Seeing Crow was a shock. He looked vicious, deadly, scary.
“Would you like to say a few words?” the priest asked.
Lucius stared at the gravestone, and nodded.
Sinner tensed up, waiting. The anger inside Lucius eyes couldn’t be mistaken. He was livid, and right now, he was a dangerous man.
“Roxy was … she was a firecracker.” He laughed. “Wherever she went, she would light up a room no matter what. She had been sick for a long time, and she has spent most of her life going in and out of hospitals
. All she ever wanted to do was bring happiness to this world, to let everyone know that it is better to love than it is to hate.” Lucius stopped and paused.
Lola grabbed Sinner’s hand, holding him.
“When I look around right now, I know she touched each and every one of you. Thank you so much for your support these past couple of weeks. Thank you for being there. Roxy would have loved to have seen this outcome. She always said she would see more people in death than in life.”
They smiled.
“Love you, Roxy girl, love you, and I’m going to miss you.” Lucius placed the rose on her coffin, and stepped back. Lola released Sinner, and added hers. Everyone from Chaos Bleeds put a rose on top of Lucius’s.
They all stayed to pay their respects, and when it was over, Sinner watched as Lucius was the first to leave. He climbed on his bike, and headed in the direction of the clubhouse.
“We’re having a small get-together,” Devil said, coming toward them. “You’re free to come to the clubhouse.”
Sinner nodded.
“Are we going?” Lola asked.
“I think it’s best. I want to keep an eye on Lucius.”
“You think he’s going to cause trouble?”
“I think right now he’s hurting, and Lucius could do anything.”
Lola drove in her shitty car, which he was determined to have changed once life got back to some semblance of normality. They were both living with Devil and Lexie, which felt like being under Mom and Dad’s roof. He didn’t mind so much, but waking up to find Devil’s ugly ass in the bathroom was not a pretty sight. The bedroom they were sharing didn’t have an en suite, and when he asked Devil about it, he was told that Devil wasn’t about to waste money on bathrooms that would rarely be used.
Pulling up at the clubhouse, he saw that several couples had arrived.
“I don’t think Lexie should be here,” Lola said.
“Devil’s made sure that Jessica stays with her.” They entered the clubhouse, and he found Lucius at the bar. None of them were wearing their leather jackets. They had decided to see Roxy off in the formal style, and even Lucius was wearing a suit.
Sinner watched as Lucius downed three scotches within a matter of minutes. Nothing was happening, so he took a seat with Paris, Spider, Death, and Brianna.
“It’s okay, honey,” Death said, stroking Brianna’s hair.
“If it’s okay, why do you keep staring at him?” she asked.
“I’m just making sure everything is okay.”
Death and Spider nodded at him. They all knew of Lucius’s reputation. He could be fine one moment, and lash out the next. He didn’t mind. Most of the times when Lucius lost his temper, it was with people who deserved it. At Chaos Bleeds clubhouse, they had their women, and right now, all of the brothers sensed Lucius’s pain, his anger, his rage.
“If anything happens, I want you to go, okay?” Spider said.
“This is kind of scaring me,” Paris said. “You guys are not going to fight each other. We’re remembering Roxy here.”
“I know, but you don’t get it. This can get ugly really fucking fast.”
****
Lucius knew they were worried. All of the brothers were watching him, waiting for him to snap. He was fine with it. They didn’t know him, not really. The only woman who ever knew him was dead, six feet fucking under now, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it.
Roxy was gone, and none of them even knew a thing about her, not really.
The tears were not going to fall. He didn’t want to sit and wallow. He wanted to hurt someone or something.
Taking the glass of scotch, he swallowed it down in one gulp. He didn’t even get any of the burn. Right now, he just wanted oblivion, and he wanted pain. They were the two emotions he could deal with. Everything else could fade the fuck away so long as he had that.
“Hey,” Natalie said. She was the girl that gave him the thermos a week ago. She smiled at him, but it didn’t reach her eyes. She was hurting as well. Everywhere he looked people were hurting. That was how good Roxy was.
She gave and gave.
“Roxy wanted me to give this to you. She told me to wait until after her funeral.” She handed him a book. It was a small leather-bound book. He had seen Roxy working on it for years, and had been scribbling away at it the past couple of months.
“Thank you.”
“I am really sorry for your loss. I know we’ve only known her a short time, but you knew her for longer.” She crossed her arms.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Butler and Slash move a little closer. They were concerned for Natalie, and they both wanted her. He stared at her, and he knew exactly how to get what he wanted.
Reaching out, he stroked a finger down her cheek, and then grabbing her arms, he pulled her close. “I wonder how they will handle this.”
Before anyone could stop him, he slammed his lips down on Natalie’s. She didn’t fight him to start, and he was pleased about that. He was many things, but a rapist wasn’t one of them. The moment Natalie started to fight, he released her. She was shocked and embarrassed. Within seconds, Butler was there, grabbing him.
Spinning around, Lucius landed his first blow to Butler, and that was when the fighting really started. This was what he needed, what he craved. The violence was what had to happen. He couldn’t live without it, and wouldn’t want to.
Landing blow after blow, Slash and Butler came at him. Next, Death was there, and Rock grabbed him with Crow, and they tried to hold him down.
“You need to stop.”
He shook his head. Roxy was gone. He knew what he needed, and it wasn’t to be forced aside.
Jerking the two men, he made them collide together. Lucius was known for never backing down, and for always finishing what he started.
There was only one man he had never taken down, and right now, Devil was in front of him. The women had left the clubhouse, and there were several tables shattered on the floor.
“You think this is the way?” Devil asked.
“You got a problem with me, Devil?”
“No, I don’t have a problem with you, Lucius.” Devil removed his jacket, and rolled up his sleeves. “We both know what you want. Why didn’t you just ask for it? Roxy is gone. She is never coming back. You think she will want this?”
This was what he needed. Charging at Devil, he landed a blow to his side, but Devil had already swung, landing three blows in succession to Lucius’s head. When that didn’t help, Lucius grabbed Devil around the waist, going to lift him up. Devil kicked his knee up, getting Lucius’s balls.
Each strike of pain felt good to him. It was what he wanted, what he needed, and what he reveled in.
The pain.
It would stop him from hurting, from fucking feeling this pain that wouldn’t go away, nor would it die.
Devil grabbed his head, and slammed it against the side of wall.
Lucius went down, dazed.
“I get it,” Devil said. “You’re hurting, and you wanted someone to help deal with that pain. Nothing is going to help, and I refuse to beat the shit out of you every single day until you can handle it. I’m sorry about Roxy, I really am, but you cannot take this shit out on my club. I won’t let you do that.” Devil knelt down. “The club is here for you, brother. Every single one of us is here for you. I know you’re in pain right now. And I’m sorry about that.”
Lucius stared up at the ceiling, and he hated this feeling. “I’ve got to go.”
“You don’t have to leave. There is a room for you here whenever you need it.”
He shook his head, and stood up. “No. I’ve got to go.” Lucius grabbed the leather-bound book, and made his way out of the clubhouse. There were several men and women, whom he ignored. Climbing onto his bike, he pulled out of the clubhouse without looking back. His time in Piston County was over, and there was no way in hell he was coming back.
****
“I’m fine,” Devil said.
“He hit you,” Lexie said. “I should kick his ass.”
“He was too big for you, Mom,” Simon said. “You wouldn’t have been able to kick anything.” Simon continued to much on his cereal as Lexie poked his head. It didn’t hurt at all, but it was good to have his woman in his arms. “Can I buy Tabby a present?”
“What for?” Devil asked. He tried not to wince as she used an anti-bacterial wipe on his cut. Lucius was a mean ass motherfucker. Whenever they had been on the roads, and Lucius got into one of these moods, Devil had been the one to calm him down, simply because he made him stay down.
“For Christmas. She likes to write like everything down. She keeps these journals and stuff. Can I get her something like that?”
Lexie smiled at him. He rolled his eyes.
“Why don’t you get her a doll or something?”
“Dad, this is Tabby. Not everyone wants a doll.”
“It’s Tabby, Daddy,” Lexie said. “She’s special, and she writes and everything.”
“Mommy, that’s not fair,” Simon said.
Lexie giggled. “I’m only kidding, son.” She kissed Simon’s head, and padded over to the stove. Devil was on his feet, and picking her up. “Stop that, I weigh a ton.”
“You’re light as a feather, babe. Come on, time to put you to bed. You’ve had enough excitement for one day.” He carried her upstairs, passing Lola and Sinner’s room as they did. Devil paused as he heard the sound of feminine moaning, and Lexie giggled. “This is why I didn’t want them sharing a room.”
“Come on, they’re back together again, and that’s a good thing.”
“I don’t care. You heard Simon.”
“He’s not about to start sleeping with Tabitha. He’s a boy that wants to get her a journal, not expensive lingerie. I’d start worrying when he asks to get her underwear,” she said, kissing his neck. “You need to learn to relax a little.”
“I can’t help it. All I fear is I’m going to have a bunch of little Simons and Tabithas running around the house.”
“So?”
“I’m too young to be a granddad.”