by Sam Crescent
“I’ll look into it.”
“You will?”
“Yeah, I will, but you keep that thing in your pants covered. I’m too damn young to be a granddad.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. Luna wouldn’t let me touch her anyway.”
“Then why are you helping?” Duke asked.
“Because I want to see her happy. I don’t care what I do or don’t get so long as she’s happy.”
His son was finally growing up, and for that, he was getting prouder by the day.
****
“Are you going to keep ignoring me?” Russ asked.
Holly paused, holding a plateful of herbs in her hands. The cook-off was going great, and for a few seconds, she didn’t have to think about the decision that her own father wanted her to make.
“If you must know, I don’t have a clue what to say to you,” she said, turning to face him.
This was the man she had called father all of her life. The memories of Anton Abelli were so damn faint that it could easily be mistaken as a child’s fantasy. “I’m still the same guy here, Holly.”
“Are you? Really?” She sighed, and looked around the clubhouse yard. This had been her home, and yet it had all been a lie. “Everything is a lie in my life…” She couldn’t bring herself to call him Dad. She blew out a breath. “I don’t know what you want from me.”
“I love your mother. I adored Sheila, and seeing how miserable she was, I couldn’t allow that to happen anymore.”
“So you scarred him, and took us.”
“I did everything I could to make you guys safe. I took the Trojans and made sure they were to be feared and respected.”
“Even as you did all of that, you didn’t think about what the future would hold. Every year you grew older, and it was only a matter of time before someone else took over from you. You didn’t think, Russ.”
“Don’t call me that,” he said.
“What should I call you? Huh? Dad, you’re not him. You’re not my father, and you’re not Russ. I don’t know you, and I don’t know Mom. The only people who have been completely honest with me are the men in this fucking club, and Duke. Damn, even Matthew is more honest with me, and he hides his damn porn from me. So please tell me what it is I can do for you. Honestly, because right now, Duke has been given a decision, and I don’t know what to do.”
“You’d even consider it?”
“You, Mom, or the club. You do the math, Russ.” She stared at the man, and all she felt was betrayed by him.
“I did what I thought was right.”
“What you thought was right?”
“Yeah, I did. I did it for you and for Sheila, okay? I love her, goddamn it.”
Holly started laughing. “You love her?”
“Yeah.”
“Then tell me, Russ, why did you cheat on her, huh? Why did you make her life such a misery that I had to listen to her crying, knowing that you were with other women?” She watched him go pale. “Yeah, you see that’s what I thought. Don’t come here telling me what I should or shouldn’t do. I’m avoiding you right now because it’s easier that way, believe me. It’s so much easier.”
****
Brass sat at the club wondering what Eliza was doing. Mary had dropped her off earlier, and he had to stay for a club meeting.
“Hey, sugar, you okay?” Emma asked.
She was a club whore, and seemed to be one of the good ones. Not because of her ability to fuck, just because she seemed to care.
“I’m fine.”
“I saw your girl today. She was in the kitchen. She’s a pretty one.”
“What do you want?” he asked, turning toward her.
“Nothing. I just wanted to say that if you need any help with her, I’ll be glad to do it.”
She touched his thigh, and Brass caught her wrist, pulling it off his leg. “No, Emma. I’m taken.”
“You’ve not branded her. You branded me, remember?”
Emma was one of the women he’d screwed to become a club whore. He sighed. “You going to cause me problems here, Emma?”
“How do you mean?”
“You know your place. You know what is required of you, and what is not. I need to know if you’re about to cause me some trouble with Eliza.”
“It’s serious with her?”
“Yeah, it is. She’s mine, and I may not have claimed her yet, but I will.” It was just a matter of time before he made her his. “Do not overstep that mark again.”
He got up, and made his way toward the bar. There was another Prospect on the bar, and he didn’t have a clue what his name was. It seemed the boys trying to join them were because of some television show that showed their life. They just couldn’t hack the time. He didn’t care. He’d earned his patch fair and square.
“You okay?” Daisy asked, taking a seat beside him.
“I’m good. How are you?”
“Knuckles and Beth are heading out for their honeymoon next week. I don’t have to see them smooching, so all is good in my world. Maria is of course, beautiful as always. Tanya is just wonderful.” Tanya was his little girl.
“You’ve got it all.”
“Yeah, I do. I never thought it was possible to be this happy to be honest.” Daisy sipped at his coffee, which was also new. Ever since Daisy had married Maria, the hard partying lifestyle had stopped. A club meeting had never stopped him from an orgy or two.
“I want Eliza to be my woman,” Brass said.
“Are you sure? It has only been a couple of weeks.”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything else in my life, Daisy. It’s what I want, but I know I’ve got to wait, take my time.”
“I heard through gossip that her father is a piece of work.”
“He is. I’m stopping by to see Clinton tomorrow. Get some information on him.”
Daisy shook his head. “I’d go to Raoul, and get him to go to Diaz. Clinton has to go through relevant channels that could alert her father. If he’s a real piece of work, you don’t want that happening. Diaz can do things discreetly.”
Brass hadn’t thought of it like that. “I’ll do it.”
“Pleased I could help.”
Brass sipped at his own coffee, and watched the kid behind the bar. He was looking around the clubhouse in complete awe of everything.
“Kid, come here,” Brass said.
“You’re talking to a Prospect?”
“May as well. They’re dropping like fucking flies around here.”
The kid walked toward him, smiling. “Can I help you?”
“Yeah, why are you here?”
The smile didn’t disappear. “I’ve been wanting to be a Trojan for a long time. I went to the high school with Matthew. I was a nerd, and I didn’t think it was possible for someone like me to come here. I know computers, not much else. The past year I’ve been building hard, practicing. This is what I want. What I need.”
Brass tilted his head to the side and stared at the kid. He had passion that was damn sure, and he hadn’t been determined to make him remember his name.
“So this isn’t just some game to you.”
“Nah, it’s not. From when I was a little boy I wanted to be a Trojan, man. You guys, you do real shit, and you band together. I want that. I really do.”
Brass noticed that he moved to cover his arms. They were kind of thin, but Brass saw the silvery marks. Cigarette burns.
“Your dad did that?” he asked.
“Dad, Mom, his friends. I was just a toy to amuse themselves with. I got out of the foster system when I was eighteen. I stayed out near the school.”
Brass knew of the foster care home near the school. They donated money to it every single year to help kids without parents.
“I don’t complain. I’ll do anything. I’ve heard the rumors that everyone thinks Prospects are here for the pussy, and drink and stuff. That’s not me. I don’t care for the sex, or anything. I just … I want a family. Guys who I k
now will have my back no matter what.”
Brass nodded, and when he glanced over at Daisy, he saw he was just as impressed. “Keep everything up, do as you’re told, and there might be hope for you yet.”
Duke clapped his hands, gaining their attention. “Church now.”
Brass followed his brothers as they all entered the main clubroom where their table stood. This had been the table that Russ once sat at. Glancing around the room, Brass noticed Russ wasn’t there, which was a first. He was usually all over this shit. Taking his seat, he glanced over at Duke.
“First, no matter what you’re going on your honeymoon, brother,” Duke said, looking at Knuckles.
“Not if you need me.”
“I don’t need you. What I need is for men to do as I’ve asked. I want you to take your woman, and give her what she deserves. She’s been patient, and I’m a man of my word. Go, and have some fun. That’s the last I hear on it, understand.”
“Yes.”
“Good.” Duke ran a hand down his face. “As I’m sure many of you noticed, Russ isn’t here.”
“Just a little bit,” Raoul said.
“You’re all aware of the threat that Abelli has made, and what Russ did to him. You’re also aware of Holly’s true parentage, and I want to thank you all for not treating her any differently.”
“Holly’s part of this club, Duke. It doesn’t matter who her father is. She’s as much a Trojan as the rest of us,” Pie said.
They all agreed. Most of them had watched Holly grow up, and she was such a sweet woman.
Strong, independent, and she had taken Duke’s son Matthew, and helped raise him as her own. Considering there was only a handful of years between the two, that was a pretty gutsy thing to do.
“Thank you. That means everything to me. Holly and I, we went to see Abelli, and he has an ultimatum.”
“Wait, when did you go to see Abelli?” Pike asked.
“A couple of nights ago.”
“And you didn’t think to take one of us with you. That man is a fucking pyscho.”
“I wasn’t about to start a possible war. I wanted to know what Abelli’s cards were, and we laid our shit out on the table.” Duke ran fingers through his hair.
“You know the shit he did to Winter, and now you’re telling me you sat down and talked with him, and he’s not fucking dead?” Landon asked.
“He knows she’s here, Landon. We may as well call her Maya.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“You want me to put this entire club, and the life of my woman at risk, then I will gladly go back and take that piece of shit out,” Duke said, standing up and slamming his hand on the table. “This is not just about one man. If I don’t handle this shit properly, then everyone dies. Zoe, Mary, Leanna, Maria, and Beth, even Eliza,” he said, looking at Brass. “My son, our kids, everyone. I don’t know the reach and the pull of the Abelli fortune.”
“Why haven’t they done that already?” Chip asked. The brother rested his head on his hands, looking a little bored. His arms were covered in ink, and not that tribal shit either. Each picture was a tale of death and destruction on his skin.
“Our reputation. I truly believe that. We have the best that there is. Our enemies have all turned up dead. Besides, Abelli wants something more than our heads.” Duke looked around the table. “He wants either Russ or Sheila, along with Maya’s silence. If he gets that, he goes away.”
They all fell silent. Giving up a brother went against everything that they were.
“You can’t do that, Duke,” Pike said.
“I know I can’t do that. I’ve been in contact with Francis Abelli. He’s reasonable and Holly’s grandfather.” Duke started laughing. “He will control his son providing he gets the chance to meet his granddaughter and great-grandkids. Where his son has gone fucking loopy, he’s a family man.”
“Is that all?” Crazy asked. “I’m sorry, but a big time guy like Abelli won’t just want to meet his grandkids. What else does he want?”
Duke paused. “He wants to work with the Trojans. He likes the thought of having us as backup. Our reputation precedes us.”
“He wants us to work for him now?” Landon asked.
“Look, I know you’re pissed, Landon. I fucking get it, okay? I do. I’m not talking about working with Anton. I’m talking about working with Francis, and I believe him when he says that he had nothing to do with arranging Maya’s attack. He’ll deal with Anton. We get called up to do some of his work. We get paid, and paid well. It’s a win-win as far as I’m concerned.”
Brass looked toward Landon, and saw the brother shaking his head. “Abelli needs to pay for what they did to her.”
“I know,” Duke said. “Our options are limited with this. I won’t act on this now, but I will have to. You can guarantee it. Francis has no interest in harming Maya. I’m doing this for her, for Russ and Shelia, for my woman. I’m doing this for the club. I need you guys to understand this. Anton acts without his father’s permission. There’s only so much hold a person has. Please, think about this.”
****
Eliza clapped her hands and giggled as the flour created a puff of smoke and stuff. For the first time in her life she was free, and she felt it more now than ever before. After making the dish at the clubhouse, she had come home, and decided to make her and Brass a chicken pot pie. The crust was tricky to do, but she loved it. She had watched the cook at her family home make it many times, and it was a relief to make it herself.
Even though Mary’s words had hurt her, Eliza decided not to take it too personally. Brass hadn’t declared her as his old lady, and she wasn’t about to cry over something she didn’t have a clue on.
Spooning the chicken mixture into the pots, she topped them with her pie crust, and after brushing them with an egg wash, she placed them in the preheated oven. Now it was the cleanup.
Once the kitchen was clean, she made her way back toward her computer, and stared at the screen, which showed her latest story. She had already written a quick romance story. It had been a couple of years since she last wrote anything, so she was building back up, trying to gain her confidence in the written world once again. Clicking her fingers out like she had seen many times in the movies, she put her fingers on the keys, and allowed the magic to take over.
She was writing about a lonely mechanic and a woman who had broken down in his town. Yeah, it was totally her and Brass’s story. The beginning of it at least, and it was nice to kind of document it.
For many years she had given up on love, and the prospect of any kind of romance. Nothing was allowed in her life unless her father had taken care of it first.
When the door opened and Brass called out to her, she saved the story, and made her way toward him, and found him hanging up his jacket. He looked a little stressed, and she didn’t know why. She went straight into his arms, hugging him.
“Shit is about to hit the fan, baby.”
“I’m here.” She wanted to be here. Brass had come into her life, and blown her world, and now she didn’t want to go.
His hands moved behind her back, holding her close. “I’m not going to lie to you, this could get ugly.”
She leaned back so that she could see him. “Do you want me to leave?” The moment she said those words, he held her a little tighter, his hand fisting in her shirt.
“No, I don’t want you to leave.”
“Then I’m not going anywhere. I’m not the kind of person to cut and run.” She sank her fingers into his hair. “You’ve got me until you get rid of me.”
His hand moved toward her ass and gripped it tightly. She released a little moan, loving his hands all over her. “I’m not getting rid of you, ever, baby. You’re all mine, and it’s going to stay that way.”
Before she could respond, his lips slammed against hers, and then there was absolutely no way of her fighting. She wanted him as much as he wanted her.
Chapter Five
; Three days later
Brass had seen Knuckles and Beth off last night for their honeymoon, and Duke had declared no more parties until further notice. Duke was going out of town for a few days with Holly and the kids. He wasn’t an idiot. All of the club knew what he was going to do, and they were behind him.
There was no way that they would ever accept Anton Abelli in their lives, or to take one of their own. It wasn’t going to happen. Maya Abelli was also going to be under their protection. When Duke got back they would have to talk to Clinton and Maya about what she was willing to testify to. Landon wasn’t happy, and he refused to let her go. She was his responsibility, and no one was going to hurt her while he was watching her.
A feminine sigh made him turn to his own little problem. Well, not problem, Eliza was a complete pleasure. Something was holding her back, and he knew without a doubt that it had to do with her father, so he was going to try to get to the bottom of it. He’d gotten Raoul onto Diaz to find out as much as possible about them. The more he knew about them the happier he would be.
Tucking a strand of her hair out of the way, Brass ran his finger across her full lips. Last night they had been wrapped around his cock driving him toward an earth shattering orgasm. Sex had been off the cards last night as she was on her monthly cycle. He was more than happy to wait and snuggle. She had wanted to give him something, and he wasn’t about to complain.
“You’re watching me sleep again,” she said, opening her eyes, and smiling at him.
“I can’t resist.”
She chuckled and stretched. The blanket pulled down revealing her large tits. This time he groaned, and cupped one mound. “I love your tits,” he said.
He loved it when she pressed her tits together, and he fucked between them. His cock awakened at the memory of fucking her tits.
Leaning down he captured her nipple and sucked in the hard bud.
Her chuckle turned into a gasp. Her fingers sinking into his hair and holding him close.
He pushed the blanket out of the way, and the sight of her panties had him pausing.
“I can take care of that for you,” she said.