by Simone Elise
“You’re engaged Ivory. I don’t need to hear anymore.”
“No I’m not. That just it.” Her voice goes up. “I told him yes, but two years into his sentence. I went and visited him and told him I needed to move on.”
“Because he’s a criminal?” I tilt my head staring at her, and she shakes her head.
“To tell you the reason I changed my mind, would make me explain my whole relationship with Taylor.”
“It took you two years to change your mind Ivory.” That fucking meant something.
“I don’t love him.”
I scoff. “Yeah you keep telling yourself that.”
She pinches her eyes shut. “The ninth of September, two years ago, does that date mean anything to you?”
My expression drops.
“You were on chargers for assault. You were looking at five years.” She recaps my shitty situation at the time. “I was the witness to that crime. I was the one that pulled my statement.” Tears are brimming in her eyes, and her words are coming out rushed. “You think I don’t know the dark side to you but I do. I’ve seen it.”
I’m speechless. For her to have seen that crime, and for her to even be in the same room as me, is a big deal.
“You nearly killed that man, that night.” She only tells the truth, and leaves out a lot of details. “But you saved me that night.”
I just continue to stare at her.
“The man that you,” she pauses, because was she going to say the words, basically killed? “hurt.” She says. Putting what I had done mildly. “Well Taylor had been sending him to visit me, pushing me to change my mind about the break up.” She nervously runs a hand through her ash blonde hair. “He started to get physical, and that same night he came looking for me. But he ran into you. And that fight broke out.”
My eyes narrow on her. “He had a steel baseball bat on him that night.” Did she know that, and her eyes flash to the ground.
“Like I said, he was starting to get physical with me.” Her words are low. “The anger he took out on you that night was meant for me.”
A sickness waves through my body. Remembering taking each swing of that baseball bat to my abdominals.
She looks up and the tears are running down her cheeks. “Taylor wasn’t always bad. But war changed him. He…” her hands shake, and I step towards her. “He just got a little lost.” She finally whispers, and I cup her cheek.
“How lost?” I needed to know the details, and Ivory is clearly leaving details out.
“The type that wouldn’t let me be with anyone else. He put Noah in the ICU.” She pauses and locks eyes up with mine. “But when he got out, everything stopped. I thought he moved on. Until last night. I realized he had been in contact with Dad.”
“Did your father know this side of him?”
She shakes her head. “They all think he’s been at war.”
I bring my other hand to her face. “Is that everything? You are telling me everything?”
She slowly nods her head. “Isn’t that enough?” and she begins to shake. “He could hurt you Kace. He doesn’t know boundaries.”
I pull her into my arms and I kiss the side of her head. She’s honestly worried that Taylor would hurt me? All I can think is bring it on.
“Ivory?” And she stills in my arms. “Do you still feel anything for him?”
She pulls back, looking up at me. “No.” And that one word, silenced all my concerns. Because I heard the honesty in her voice.
56
Ivory
“I don’t want him there.” I grit out at my mother. “Why won’t you listen to me!”
Mom rolls her eyes, and I’m understanding because she is grieving her husband but what she is expecting of me—is unbelievable. “Your father and I never accepted this fling with the biker.” Is her choice of words as she picks the flowers for my father’s coffin. I know it isn’t a great time to have this conversation. But there is one thing everyone should know about my mother. It is she is ruthless, cold and is a typical woman that could plan her husband’s funeral and hold an argument. And that is exactly where we are.
“Taylor is a good man Ivory. You’d do well to accept him back.” She points a lily at me. “He will be carrying the coffin like planned.”
I grit my teeth and mom involving this man in my father’s funeral makes me wonder if I even want to go! I should get the right to say goodbye to my father, without that man there!
“Taylor isn’t the man you think he is.” I say the words and mom rolls her eyes again.
She locks eyes with me, “But the biker isn’t the man I think he is?” She stands up. “Ivory I’m telling you this now. I won’t let you inherit a cent while you are with Kace Striking.”
It hurts. For a second. And my lips twitch up. My parents always thought they could control me with money. “Well you keep every cent then Mom.” And I stand tall. “Because I don’t need your money. Just like I don’t need your approval of the man I’m with.”
She pinches her eyes shut. Muttering unbelievable. And Links walks in. Just in time for her to see. “Lincoln have a word with your sister, regarding morals.”
I roll my eyes this time.
Links looks at me. “I actually am here to see you.”
“Great.” I mumbled, sighing and following him out. Having a conversation with Links was much like having one with a brick wall—when he was in a mood. And when he is in that I’m right, you are wrong mood—there is no arguing with him and everything you say just falls on deaf ears.
We walked into Dad’s study and it immediately felt wrong, when Links closes the door.
“So what did you want to talk about?” I ask, and look at him, expecting him to go into a rant about Kace.
“It’s about Taylor.”
“Okay?” I frown.
“I want you to get a restraining order.” He’s serious. “I’ve been having him followed Ivory—”
“You’ve what!”
His expression hardens. “I needed to know if you were taking him back or not.” He frowns for a moment, “I’m not the only one concerned.”
“Are you referring to Kace and his sudden need to have guns under everything?”
He nods his head, knowing more about my personal life then I expected. Kace had guns strapped to objects in the house, under tables even one under the couch. I didn’t know what had gotten into him. But he made sure I knew where each gun was. It was like he had put them there for me, and my safety. I told him he had lost his mind.
I sighed. “Taylor’s staying clear of me.” I repeat what I had told Kace this morning.
Links looks me dead in the eyes. “Because Kace is making him.”
I frown. “What are you implying?”
“Kace has the bikers monitoring him. But that’s not what I wanted to talk about.” He was saying that like we were getting off track of the point of this conversation. “Did you lie to me?”
I blink. I opened my mouth.
“Don’t do it Ivory.” He shakes his head using my full name, “I get a report on Taylor. To find out he’s just finished a stint in prison. I get his visiting records. To see you’ve visited him.”
I swallow sharply.
“You two didn’t end things did you?”
I slowly shake my head. And he scoffs. “I was young and stupid Links. I thought he was the love of my life.” I went to my own defence. But Links is looking more furious as the seconds pass. “He asked me to wait for him. He asked me to marry. I said yes to both.” And now I was going to have to tell him something I didn’t tell Kace. “I was pregnant again.” I hold up a hand as his mouth drops. “But I had the abortion on my own this time. I tried to move on. It got to the two year mark and I was done with him. He was still controlling me from prison. So I ended things.”
Links would understand what I meant by Taylor controlling me. He would get it.
I exhale quickly. “I broke things off with him. Only for him to not accept it.” I
didn’t know how to explain this to Links, but he looked at me with an expectation for me to keep explaining. So I had to. “He had this man, threatening me. He was starting to get physical. Especially after they found out about the baby. Taylor wouldn’t accept that I had done it twice.”
“So what happened?”
“Kace,” And I shake my head. “as weird as this sounds, he saved me. The night that man was coming to deal with me. He shouldered Kace, and Kace beat the shit out of him because of it. I was reported at the scene. Gave a statement, which I later pulled. And Kace wasn’t charged.”
“And this was before you two were together?”
I nod my head. “He had no idea who I was, or who the man was.”
I watched as the facts run over Links face. “I want you to stay away from Taylor.” He gives me advice that I’m happy to do.
“He’s helping you carry Dad’s coffin tomorrow.”
“Like fuck he is!”
I point to the door. “What do you think Mom and I were just fighting over!”
“Thought it was another argument about Kace.” Links runs both his hands over his head. “I’ll handle it. But if I can’t. I want you to promise me, you’ll stay away from Taylor.”
“I’m not going near him.” And I meant that. “But I will need a favor.”
He arches his eyebrows.
“It’s about Kace. I don’t want to go tomorrow, if he isn’t coming with me.”
“Is he prepared to go a day without wearing that cut?” Links looks at me like expecting Kace to not wear club colors is a big deal and it was because I hadn’t even asked Kace yet.
“I’m not sure. But if he does, I need to know that you won’t make tomorrow harder for me.”
He looks me dead in the eyes. “As far as I’m concerned Kace Striking is an upgrade on Taylor. I’ll handle our mother. You just get through the day.”
“Links?”
“Mm?” his mind is elsewhere and I can see it.
“You aren’t expected to lead the family now. You have your own life.” And I give him half a hug before leaving. He has always been the leader of the family but accepting him to carry our crazy family is above what is expected of him.
57
Kace
I was watching the game when I heard the front door. “Babe that you?” I shout over my shoulder and pick up my beer. I need a refill.
“I’m most definitely not your babe.”
I glance over my shoulder seeing Gabe, who is heading for the fridge. “Oi get me a refill will ya.” I say watching him help himself to my beers. I turn my head back to the game. It’s tight match.
“Fucking down by a point.” Gabe grumbled. “Was listening to it on the radio on the way home. Needed to see the final play.” So he took it upon himself to stop here I was guessing. And he cracked open a beer, and I took mine off him. “Where’s Ivory?”
“Your mothers.”
Gabe scoffed. “Guessing that won’t be going well. You coming tomorrow?”
We both didn’t look away from the television.
“Don’t know Ivory hasn’t asked.” Part of me was worried because she hadn’t
“You know you can’t wear club colours right. That’s probably stopping her.” Gabe says before we both start shouting at the television.
We watch, both with horror on our face as our team loses. “Fucking pieces of shit.” I muttered and picked up the remote with disgust, turning it off. “That player is paid over a million dollars and he can’t even kick straight.”
Gabe and I then enter a debate about the players rates, before he finally shakes his head. Knowing this argument isn’t going anywhere.
“So about tomorrow.” Gabe says, “You are coming right? Without that club vest of yours.”
“If Ivory wants me there, she’ll ask.”
Gabe’s eyes lock with mine. “He’s going to be there.” I look at him expecting more of an explanation. “He’s helping to carry the coffin. Links is going to be pissed when he finds out.”
I grit my teeth and exhale sharply. “If he wasn’t on parole I’d just get him taken care of.” I muttered more to myself but Gabe catches it, smirking at me.
“One good thing about you being a biker. You have an upper hand on him.” He swallowed what is remaining of his beer, pointing his empty at me. “Taylor is used to how Links fights, you he can’t predict.”
We both hear the front door. “Guessing that’s my little sister.” Gabe muttered, and knew our conversation was over.
Then I did a double take. “You fucking lost?” I say looking at Links.
“We have a problem.” Links looks from me to Gabe. “Why are you here?” Then raises a hand. “The game.” He answers his own question.
“Still not answering why you are in my house.” I grit out. I love one Henderson, but the others I tolerated—for Ivory.
“Taylor.” Links says it like it answers all my questions. “Is a mother fucking problem.”
“I’ve got it handled. He won’t be near Ivory.”
Links tilts his head. “Dad was in contact with him before he died. I just saw the paperwork.” Links is freaking out, running a hand over his head. And he looks at me. “Dad has linked and locked Taylor to Ivory in every legal way possible.”
“What the fuck do you mean?”
“Dad was in control of Ivory’s businesses. Ivory trusted him!” he shouts the last line at us.
Gabe looks at me, and I don’t know what Links is getting at.
“Ivory trusted him! I trusted him!” He shakes his head.
“Brother do you need a beer?” Gabe asks and I can’t help but think, they aren’t his beers to hand out to perfect pretty Henderson’s! I shoot Gabe a look, silently telling him not to hand my beers out but seeing how worked up Links is, I get one out. Handing it to him.
He locks his hand around it. “Ivory is legally locked to him.” He grits the words out. “The garage, even access to her own goddamn money is in Taylor’s hands. Dad wanted them back together.”
My expression drops. “You saying your dad made Taylor trustee?” I shake my head. “How the fuck is that possible, she’s of age!”
“Like I said Ivory trusted him. She had signed the papers, don’t know what he said they were. But she signed them.” He looks down at the ground. “Legally he has her money, her businesses, her shares in our companies.” And he looks at Gabe. “Taylor got what he wanted.”
I shake my head. “Nah he hasn’t.” and they look at me. “He wants Ivory, and he might legally have her stuff, but he doesn’t have her.” I sip my beer. “Does she know about her businesses?”
“Couldn’t break it to her. She slaved over that garage. Now Taylor has the controlling interest.”
“Well someone has to tell her.” And I look at her brothers. “And it isn’t my place.”
The boys shared a look and being the mature adults they are, they rock paper scissors it. Links loses, cursing.
While they dealt with how to tell Ivory. I dealt with the outcome of this. Which was Taylor having a reason to see my woman, and his excuses—were going to wear thin quickly.
58
Kace
I ran out of bourbon and that was a fucking problem. So I called the prospect to pick me up and go get some. Gabe and Links had fucked off by the time my supply ran low. Links ended up driving Gabe home, who left his car here.
I climbed out of the truck, holding my bourbon. Saw Ivory’s car in the driveway. Links decided he was calling her to tell her. And when I opened the front door and heard sobbing I know Links had broken the news.
I hated that someone had control over Ivory’s life that wasn’t me.
“Babe you alright?” I say as I round the corner and then spot her in the kitchen. Sobbing. Like really sobbing. God I knew she would take it hard, but I wasn’t expecting it to be this hard.
I put the bourbon down and wrap my arms around her, and she turns in my arms, her head going to my chest.
“Come on darling, it’s just money. Lord knows I’ve got enough of it.” I say kissing the top of her head, and she pulls back, looking up at me with a small frown, tears still streaming down her face.
“What… what are you talking about?” She stutters out.
And it’s my turn to frown. Before I throw myself into the deep end, just in case Links hadn’t called. “What has you so upset darling?” I run my thumb across her cheek, wiping some tears away.
She heaves in quickly. “I cut the potato and I got my finger and…” and I grab her hand, seeing how bad it is, only to grab her other hand.
“Which finger?” I’m panicking thinking she is bleeding out on me. For her to be this worked up.
She shows me her index finger and there is barely a paper cut. “It really hurt.” She says tears brimming in her eyes and inhales sharply, and I’m just staring at her, please god no, I’m thinking. “and there’s no chocolate.” She blubbers out and her head goes to my chest, and I now know I’m in a fucking serious situation. Ivory has her period. Last time I barely survived. If her eyes could kill, I’d be six feet under. I was about to enter the week of hell.
“They’re quiet.” Chopper mutters, gripping a bourbon a she looks at me.
“They have a lifetime supply of chocolate and chips.” I take a sip of my bourbon. Standing in the kitchen, while the girls are on the couch. “Fuck knows I need a share in a chocolate factory now.”
Chopper laughs, causing the girls to look at us from the couch and he quickly stops laughing not wanting their attention. God knows if we breathe the wrong way, we might get shot. And that was a possibility because I had shown Ivory where every gun is.
Turned out Chopper was in over his head, and brought Elle here to see Ivory. She had been hormonal with him, and his natural reaction was to run. So he disappeared for Sunday, which he doesn’t work, only to come back today, to her an emotional wreck. I was just assuming he had seen Elle in a similar state that I had seen Ivory in earlier tonight.