“You ever been spanked?”
“My mama’s business partner used to say she needed to give us some discipline, and she told him he was welcome to do it. He spanked me a few times. Nothing gross, and I probably deserved it. I made sure I wasn’t a brat around him after that.”
Not what I’d meant, but good to know. “Has a boyfriend ever spanked you?”
Her face flamed the cutest shade of pink. She started to shake her head no, but stopped and said, “I don’t want to answer that.”
The waitress brought our salads, and I decided to let her get away with not answering. For now. It seemed a good time to change the subject. “Few things you need to know before we meet Marlin. First, he doesn’t need to know your connection to us. Don’t mention your sister in any way — he doesn’t need to know she exists, much less her name.”
I smelled fear, but the little thing put on a brave face and nodded.
“Second — we’ll hold hands so they think you’re mine in a way that will insult me if you’re called a liar. Hold my left hand while we walk up to them, so I have my right hand free. If I let go of your hand, take two steps back and stick with Brain. I’ll introduce you to everyone before we leave.”
She nodded again, and I continued. “Brain is our negotiator. None of us speak over him. Ever. It shouldn’t be a problem for you, because you will not speak unless asked a direct question, but should Brain start talking while you are, shut your mouth.”
She put her fork down and nodded again.
“That’s it. You’re mine while we’re there. Act like it. Keep your head on straight. Think your answers through. No name-calling, even if he’s a motherfucking lying bastard. Trust me to handle it.”
She nodded again, and I couldn’t help myself. “I believe you want to say, ‘Yes, Sir.’”
Just like that, her fear evaporated. “I understand, Bubbles. Thank you for taking care of me.”
I wanted to give her a stern look, but I couldn’t help my smile.
If she wasn’t careful, the little thing was going to make me fall for her.
I’d been on my way towards having an ol’lady when I went inside. We weren’t an official thing yet, so I couldn’t really blame her for getting on with her life, but it’d still stung. I’d fucked a few men inside, and gotten lots of blow jobs, but it’s what you do when you’re top dog. I don’t consider myself gay or even bi — there hadn’t been pussy and I’d needed to get off. End of story. No emotions, just fucking and blow-jobs. My last couple of years had been in minimum security, and a little twink who didn’t annoy the fuck out of me had offered himself, but until he’d arrived, I’d mostly done without once I landed there.
I’d fucked countless women since I’d been out, though. Hundreds. No feelings, no emotions, just fucking.
I liked the little Half-pint. The man knew we needed to protect her and send her on her way, but the wolf wanted to make her ours.
Honestly? The man wanted the same thing, despite the fact he knew it was probably a horrible idea.
5
Lexi
* * *
Why do the bad guys always choose the creepiest location possible for this shit?
We rode to the meet with Marlin with me on the back of Bubbles’ bike, surrounded by Duke, Bash, Brain, and Gonzo. Another guy followed, but he didn’t have all of his patches, so I assumed he was just there to watch the bikes, and since he parked and stayed on his bike, I figured I’d guessed right.
Bubbles is six foot seven inches tall, and I’m four foot ten. He’s nearly two feet taller than me, and it felt like I was holding a grown-up’s hand. I always feel small, but I felt tiny beside him. Gonzo’s big, but nowhere near as big as Bubbles.
The parking lot was empty, and we’d pulled up to loading docks and warehouses. It looked like one of those scenes in a movie right before everyone starts randomly shooting at whoever they think isn’t on their side.
Duke, Bash, and Brain jumped onto the loading dock like it was nothing. Bubbles picked me up and set me on it, and he and Gonzo jumped up with us. We went into an empty warehouse, with five men sitting two thirds of the way on the other side. It was huge — there was no good reason to be that far in the center.
It took a while to walk to them, and my heart raced faster with every step. You know you’re safe watching a horror movie, but your heart still races. I knew I was probably safe with the MC around me, but there may as well have been stupid horror-movie music playing in the background. It was silent except for our footsteps, but it was damned creepy.
We stopped about fifteen yards away. We were five white guys to their seven brothers, but I’d take the bikers in a bet any day.
“Where’s your boy?” Bubbles’ voice reverberated in the empty space.
“He out back in case we need him. I didn’t trust him not to be disruptive.” He looked at me. “You Miss Tamara’s daughter?”
I nodded, and he said, “Tell me what happened.”
I looked at Bubbles, he nodded, so I looked back to the Playas.
I’d asked Bubbles how I should talk. The Playas would expect me to talk like my mama, but how would the MC view that? He’d told me the MC didn’t give a shit, and I should talk however the fuck I wanted.
I’d been all twisted up about it. I wanted to talk in my new normal, but I worried it would antagonize the Playas in the same way it did my mama, but then I remembered I don’t have to pick one or the other. So I used the rhythm and tone of my childhood, but with the sentence structure I’d learned in the ’burbs. Mostly.
“I was late for class. In a hurry. I saw a parkin’ place and raced for it — beat a brother into it. He stopped and talked shit, got out his ride and tried to intimidate me. I walked around a few cars to avoid him and hurried to class. He was sittin’ on my car with some friends when I came out, so I called for help.”
“You didn’t see a drug deal goin’ down?”
“No.”
He looked up to meet Bubbles’ gaze.
“She’s telling the truth,” Bubbles told him. “I need to have a heart-to-heart with your boy.”
“That ain’t gonna happen.”
Brain stepped forward and started to say something, but Marlin — or I assumed it was Marlin — said, “Give me a fucking break! He my sister’s husband’s brother, and my mama and my sistah are all up in my shit about him not goin’ back inside. He a loose cannon and he know not to deal on campus!” He shook his head. “I’ll handle him.”
Duke and Bash walked towards him, and Marlin took a few steps to meet them in the middle.
Bash told him, “Anything happens to the girl, we’re comin’ after Fury. He’ll want to go back inside to avoid what will happen to him.”
Marlin shook Duke’s hand with a nod. “I’ll handle it.”
“Make sure you do.” Bubbles’ voice was even deeper than usual, and Marlin nodded to him, too.
The Playas went out the other side of the warehouse, and we returned to the bikes.
“Thanks, brothers,” Bubbles told the other bikers when we made it outside. “I should get home and see to my deliveries.”
“I’ll follow you,” said Brain, “since Harmony’s there waiting for your furniture.”
“Gen joined her,” Duke said, and his gaze turned to me. “She doesn’t need to know about your sister. It’s probably best if she thinks you and Bubbles are an item, or at least friends, and that’s why you’re helping him shop. She doesn’t know about the problem with Marlin, either.”
“Harmony knows everything,” Brain told me, “but she’ll also know that Gen prefers not to be told details about the workin’ girls. Our Duchess knows they exist, but…”
Brain looked to Duke, who finished for him, “It’s best we don’t provide reminders.”
I looked up at Bubbles, who said, “It’ll be fine. Gen’s a sweetheart, but she has a problem with that particular establishment. Duke tries to shield her when he can. Just tell her we’re friends and you
don’t know if it’s headed to something else. I rescued you from an asshole in a grocery store parking lot — the new one in North Chattanooga. We’ve known each other a few days. That work?”
I nodded, he settled my helmet on my head, and I fastened the straps.
Everyone except Bash rode back to the house together, though Gonzo kept going when we pulled into Bubbles’ driveway. Two delivery trucks were there, and a woman I didn’t recognize came out onto the front porch. She wore a pantsuit and sky-high heels, and she looked like she’d just stepped off a runway somewhere. I assumed this was the prude.
She was walking into the garage as I took my helmet off, and she introduced herself.
“I’m Gen, you must be Lexi. Duke says you’ve been helping Bubbles shop for furniture. I love the bed. The deck furniture is beautiful, too.” She glared at Bubbles. “You’ve been hiding her. No fair!”
“She isn’t ready for ya’ll yet, Duchess.”
Gen rolled her eyes at him and looked at me. “C’mon. Harmony’s supervising the men who’re putting the bed together. I’ll introduce you.”
I let her pull me away from Bubbles and through the house, and I was relieved to see the other woman in bike shorts with jogging shorts over them, and a thin t-shirt over a sports bra. I’d worn jeans and a t-shirt because Bubbles had said no shorts on the bike.
We’d left a sketch to show where we wanted the bed, and it looked like they’d positioned it right. His room was big, but it still filled it.
“I’m Harmony,” the other woman told me when she saw us. “This bed kicks ass.”
The two women looked at each other, and Gen finally said, “Okay, we’re dying to know – it looks like you’ve been staying in the guest bedroom? What gives?”
I wasn’t sure what to say, but Bubbles came to my rescue. “Not that it’s any of your business, but she kind of accidentally pissed off one of Marlin’s guys, so I have her staying with me until we’re sure the coast is clear.”
“Accidentally?” asked Harmony.
“They were both going for the same parking spot and she won. He wasn’t wearing his colors so she had no reason to back off. Marlin’s aware and says he’ll handle it, but I’d like to give it a few days before she goes home.”
The two women looked at each other like they had other ideas about why Bubbles wanted to keep me here, but I kept my mouth shut. It didn’t matter what they thought. If Bubbles wanted them to think otherwise, he’d speak up.
“I need to charge my phone,” I told them, and went into my bedroom. I’d needed a few moments to myself. I plugged my phone in, made sure the volume was all the way up on the ringer, and found Bubbles in the kitchen, looking out at the men assembling the deck furniture.
He put his arm around me as I neared, and I leaned into him. “It looks good, Half-pint. The inside guys are finished and packing up to go. Why don’t you get changed into shorts while I see everyone out?”
I changed into shorts, opened my door, and sat on my mattress with my phone to check my grades. I’d made a ninety-two on a test, and gotten a ninety-five on a project. I was pleased with both.
“Somethin’ made you happy.”
I jumped at Bubbles’ voice, but smiled up at him. “I had a big test yesterday, and we had to complete a project, so I was checking to see if grades were posted. Is everyone gone?”
“The guys on the deck are just about finished; everyone else is gone. I’m gonna hang my television and assemble the shelving unit I bought to put my gaming consoles on. Wanna keep me company?”
He worked about two hours, and I think we spent as much time laughing as not. I ended up reading the directions while he assembled the shelving unit, and we worked well together as a team.
When we finished, he looked at his watch and said, “Why don’t we order pizza and watch something? I’m catching up on shows I missed while I was inside — next up is either The Fall or Daredevil. Do you have a preference?
“I haven’t seen The Fall.”
“Well then,” he handed me a remote, “why don’t you get it ready while I grab us some beers and order pizza.”
I looked at his bed, wondering if I dared get in it, and he responded by picking me up and gently tossing me onto it.
He left without saying anything, and I shook my head and turned the television on.
When he returned, he looked at the screen, saw I had it ready to just hit play, and smiled. “I knew you’d be able to do it. So much I had to learn when I came out. Smart TVs weren’t a thing when I went in. Or, if they were, I hadn’t caught up to them yet.”
“You’re smart though. I’m sure you figured it out without a problem.”
He shrugged. “Our geek in Atlanta walked me through it. Pizza should be here in about thirty minutes, but they’re usually faster than the estimate.”
We binge-watched episode after episode, pigged out on pizza, drank beer, and discussed where the bad guy went wrong in the show as if we were experts in avoiding arrest after doing bad things.
Which, I guessed Bubbles probably was (with one big exception), and I probably knew more than most. Still, it was fun.
It reminded me of a potential problem though, and I told him, “You had strangers in your house, so we might not be secure to talk anymore.”
He kissed my forehead and caressed my cheek. “You’re too smart for your age, Half-pint, but I like it. No one was inside without either Gen or Harmony watching, and Brain walked through to test for bugs before he left. He’ll do it again in a few days, just to be sure, but there’s a sensor in the house that’ll alert me to most mechanical and electronic listening devices.”
“I’ve never heard of one that will alert for a whole house. Mama’s people walk through and sweep.”
He chuckled. “We’re a little more advanced than the Playas. I like that you knew to be careful.”
A few hours later, Bubbles nuked some popcorn and we kept watching. I don’t remember getting sleepy, but I guess the food, beer, and good times relaxed me enough, I fell asleep in Bubbles’ bed.
6
Bubbles
* * *
I’d like to say I didn’t plan it, but even if I wasn’t going to fuck her six ways to Sunday, I wanted to wake up with her in my bed.
For such a tiny human, she could go through some beer, but I’d known she was close to falling asleep, and I’d stroked and petted her to make sure she snuggled against me. I wouldn’t break my word to her sister — unless my little Half-pint offered herself again, she was off limits for sex.
But I’d never promised not to hold her and pet her.
I’d turned the light off when I brought the popcorn, so I only needed to turn the television off before sinking down beside her to hold her while she slept.
Lexi’s phone was in the other room when it went off hours later, but it was loud. Too loud. She jumped up and ran to it, and I missed her warmth.
However, all thoughts of how cozy my little Half-pint had been in my arms fled when I heard the crying woman begging someone not to hurt her.
A man’s voice came onto the line, and I recognized it right away — Fury, the fuckwad from the parking lot.
“Get yo ass here in twenty minutes, b’fo I start cuttin’ pieces off yo junkie-hoe mama. Alone, little cunt. I’ll kill yuh mama dead if you bring that mothafuckin’ redneck biker.”
The phone went dead, and Lexi looked at me in horror. “I have to go home. You should stay in bed.”
“What’s happened?” She had no idea I’d heard both sides of the conversation.
She shook her head. “My mama needs me.”
At least she hadn’t lied to me, but I’d hoped she’d trust me enough to tell me.
This wasn’t the time for games, though, so I sat up and told her, “I heard, Half-pint. You can’t go by yourself. Your car isn’t here anyway. Someone will have to take you.”
The scent of her fear permeated the house, and my wolf wanted to eat whoever had scared her. I agree
d, but needed to hold my temper.
I was in boxer briefs and shirtless, she was in skimpy shorts and a t-shirt.
“Change into jeans and tennis shoes. Do you know how to shoot a gun?”
She nodded, and I picked up my phone. Duke and Gonzo were both home, and I started with Duke.
Ten minutes later, Lexi had an inside-the-pants holster with a three-eighty, and we were in Dozer’s extended cab truck so we could fit four bikers and a Half-pint. Three of us would get out a half-mile from her apartment and let her drive the rest of the way in, but she wouldn’t be alone.
Still, watching her drive away was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. We had a straight shot down an embankment, and she had to circle around, so we’d easily be there when she arrived. Dozer, Gonzo, and I went up the stairs, and I smelled multiple Playas without even opening the stairwell door. We were outnumbered, but it wouldn’t be the first time. My plan was to take them out before Lexi arrived, though she thought we were just going to be close in case she needed rescuing.
No way in hell was she walking into that apartment by herself.
Dozer hadn’t been at our little meet-and-greet, so there was a chance they wouldn’t know he was with us. He walked down the hallway, and listened and smelled for clues to what was happening. I was ready to sprint to his aid, but I hoped Dozer could get in and make sure Lexi’s mom was safe before we stormed in.
Gonzo put his hand on my arm, and I nodded. It wasn’t time yet.
“Why are ya’ll outside Miss Tamara’s apartment?” Dozer asked. “I need to pick up a package.”
“She don’t have nuttin’ for you. Run along. We conductin’ bizness that don’t concern you, white boy.”
I heard a fist impacting a face, but I stood still. If Dozer could get in without us, we had the best chance of keeping Lexi’s mom from gettin’ hurt.
The door kicked in and I stepped into the hallway. Two men were on the floor, out cold, and Dozer was in the apartment. I raced to the doorway and peeked around the door. Two men were in the living room looking lost, and I heard an unseen Dozer asking, “Miss Tamara! Are you okay? Why do you have Miss Tamara tied up?”
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