by Crimson Syn
Scarlett was adamant and Regina stared at her. She looked like she wanted to give her a sound beating. “Leave us alone, Scarlett.”
“Mom, no.”
I looked at her and brought her hand to my lips. “It’s alright. Go.”
Her fingers trailed along my cheekbone and she leaned over and kissed me gently. She looked over at her mother and frowned, although hesitant she left us.
Regina shook her head and leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. “Does Nick know about this?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Can I ask what the hell you want with my daughter?”
I looked at her then. “I love her. She’s in my bones, Regina.” I dragged my hand through my hair. “I tried. I know the rules, but I couldn’t help it. The feelings are there, and their powerful.”
Regina sighed and looked at me for what seemed like an eternity. “I’ll do what I can, but I won’t guarantee they won’t beat the shit out of you. That…Nick, won’t beat the shit out of you.”
“I’ll take the beating. I’ll even take the demotion. But the club’s my life, Regina.”
She nodded. “I’ll do what I can.”
I grabbed her hands in mine. “Thank you.”
Her hands gripped mine tightly. “But if you hurt her, I’ll beat you myself.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
CHAPTER NINE
WOLF
I laid back on the bed, my head on her stomach as she rummaged through the recent contract.
“What do you think? Should we investigate it?” I was still on edge about the business Tuco was offering, and I needed her expertise.
She threw the papers down on my side and swept a hand through my hair. “I don’t think you should buy anything that hasn’t been patented and doesn’t require at least a sixty forty split.”
I closed my eyes and plopped my hands across my stomach. “This is going to be a problem.”
She continued to play with my hair, threading it through her fingers. “It’s really not a good deal. Grayson’s right. We don’t know what they’re exporting, where it’s coming from and Gray did his research. None of the other bar owners trust it.”
I sighed. “I’ll get Seth and Knox to take care of this.”
“Will if affect the business?”
I shook my head and closed my eyes. I tried to hide it, but my brow was furrowed with worry. “It’s nothing you need to worry about.”
She smiled, soothing my tension. “I have a friend who works at a bar. I’ll ask her what new products are out.”
I opened one eye and looked at her. Then I swiveled around on the bed, straddling her thighs. Gently, I ran my hands under her shirt, indulging in her warmth as she squirmed beneath me. “What would I do without you?”
She giggled as I nuzzled her neck. “Get into trouble with illegal shipments.”
I laughed and then quieted as I stared down at her. “Today’s judgement day.”
She ran her hand down my cheek and I pressed into it, enjoying her touch.
Regina had managed to get a Founders meeting going. Nick, Meg’s husband Bear, and the new exec committee was included. I had already gotten private votes going with Grayson, Cain, Seth and the club’s Road Captain, Riggs.
“Everything’s going to be fine. We got this.”
I took her hand in mine and kissed her palm. “Will you stay with me, if I get kicked out I mean.”
She shook her head. “No.”
I raised my eyebrows. “I’d stay with you no matter what.”
I smiled. “Then I’ll take anything they hand me.” I leisurely stroked her flesh. “Will you stay here with me tonight?”
She giggled and nodded. “As long as you don’t get kicked out. If not, you’ll have to stay with me.”
I chuckled. “As long as I get to bury myself inside you, I don’t really care where we are.”
I WAS TAKING Scarlett home to pick up some items for tonight, when I heard familiar voices carrying up from the bottom of the stairs.
Ramon, el Tuco, Moreno ran Los Perdidos, one of the gangs that lurked the streets of Los Angeles. In order to be on their turf, you either paid your due or took their business. The Hell’s Lovers did neither, nor did we care. Tuco respected us and we respected them. How? We didn’t take away their business. Everything we did, we did legally. And our customers were definitely not theirs. Everything seemed fine, until now.
Tuco Moreno had entered Club Ravenous with one sole purpose, to get us to buy the product whether we liked it or not. He had come in with three of his amigos, as he called them. They looked more like his guns, who stood by his side just in case something went wrong.
And shit was about to go wrong. As I came down the stairs I spotted Riggs and Knox at one side of the bar, while Tuco and his men stood near the doorway. One of the big guys, a makeshift blonde, eyed me and then took a nice long leer in Scarlett’s direction. I stepped in front of her to block his view. My jaw clenched and so did my fists as he smirked at me.
I turned to her. “Upstairs, now. And lock the door.”
She frowned, but did what I told her and ran up the stairs without looking back.
Good girl.
I turned to the men in the room and as I pass the blonde I grit out, “You look at her again and I’ll rip your eyes out.”
The guy stepped up to me, but Tuco appeared, placing a hand on his chest and pushing him away from me. “Wolf Stone! Just who I wanted to see.”
I looked down at Tuco and gave him a quick nod. I headed towards the back of the bar and as I poured us a drink, I swiftly placed the glock I had hidden, within my reach.
“How’s it going, Tuco?”
He sat down across from me, looking relaxed and confident. “Well, if seems like your men here are telling me you don’t want to do business with me?”
I looked down for a second and cursed Grayson for not letting me handle things my way. I looked over at Riggs and Knox who stood spread out at either side of the club, one by the door and one by me. I knew what they were preparing for.
I nodded. “That’s right.”
Tuco looked up and glared at me. I felt the tension run through my body, keeping me alert to any movement. After about a minute of having a complete staring match, Tuco finally backed down.
“I don’t think that’s the right move, Stone. There’s a lot of money involved here.”
I looked him dead in the eye. “Money I’d rather not get involved with.”
Tuco nodded, took the last swig of his beer and stood up. “I can make it worth your while if you reconsider.”
I clenched my jaw, keeping myself from kicking him out. “I said, no.”
Tuco ran a hand down his jawline and I could see the dark look in his eyes. “I don’t think this is gonna’ work for me, bato.”
My fingers gripped the glock beside me. “How’s that, Tuco?” My voice was low and filled with warning.
“See, we were doing fine, but you’re not giving me anything in return.”
I perched on the bar and leaned in on him. “I don’t need to give you shit.”
The blonde that came with him raised his gun and aimed it at me. I immediately raised mine and pointed it at Tuco’s head. Riggs and Knox had theirs trained on both men.
I sighed. “See Tuco, I didn’t want it to get to this point.” I cocked the barrel and kept my hand steady. I wasn’t planning on shooting him. I just wanted to scare him.
The blonde move forward and Riggs placed his gun to the back of the guy’s head. “Drop it blondie, or I will shoot.” To make his point, he cocked the trigger.
“The name’s, El Rubio, maricon.” He gritted out.
“I don’t give a fuck what your name is asshole. One move and I’ll blow your brains out!” Riggs shoved the gun against his temple, leering at him menacingly.
Tuco turned around and shook his head at the other man, but spoke to the man at the door. “Alright, alright. Just put the gun down Rubio, do what he say
s bro.”
He looked at me and scowled. “This is the wrong move, Stone.” His tone held an underlying threat.
I shrugged. “You don’t scare me, Tuco. Not you or your men. See the guys behind you?” I nodded over at Riggs and Knox. “They’re professional killers. One wrong move and you all go down in a matter of seconds. I see you around here again, and I’ll take you down myself.” I uncocked the glock and placed it on the bar. “Now get the fuck out.”
My voice was low, but it got the point across. Tuco raised his hands and backed away. I watched Riggs as he shoved the one called El Rubio out. The guy snarled at him and looked at me. “This ain’t ending here, bato!”
I nodded at him, acknowledging his threat, as Knox slammed the door in his face. He then turned to us and whistled. “We’re so fucked.”
I ran my hand through my hair and placed the gun at the waistband of my jeans. I hadn’t done that in years, but I was gonna have to keep it on me for the time being.
“Make sure you let the club members know. The gang, Los Perdidos, are now a threat. No one goes anywhere alone. Not me, not you, not my Scarlett. If I’m not with her, one of you is. You got that.”
They both nodded and Riggs answered. “You got it boss.”
I went up the stairs to find Scarlett perched on the bed, biting her nails. When she saw me, her face lit up with worry and she threw her arms around me.
“Are you alright?”
I nodded, trying to remain calm and not scare her. “Yeah.”
“Those guys looked mean in there.” She looked at me, searching for information.
“Look, gorgeous. Just don’t go out alone for a while, okay? If you need something you come to me or one of the guys and we’ll go with you. We need to lay low for a while. Can you do that for me?”
“They’re dangerous aren’t they?”
“Can you do that for me?” I repeated, wanting to get the answer I needed.
She nodded. “Yes, of course.”
I sighed in relief and hugged her close. In that moment I knew that if anything ever happened to her, I’d die.
CHAPTER TEN
SCARLETT
We were waiting at the bar when the members started to come in. There were the current seven, plus the five Founders. Meg and my Mom were included. My Mom started the conversation.
“The reason I called you all here was to announce something important that has surged in my family. Something I think involves only myself and my daughter, but according to the circumstances, it also involves you.”
Nick looked at me as I sat next to Wolf and Grayson at one of the tables. I focused on my Mom and tried not to lean in closer to Wolf.
“When I was with Ryder, I believed in the rules of this Club. I believed in the protection they offered. But now, one of those rules is messing with a life that I hold very dear to me.” She looked at me and then at Nick and at Bear. “A life we all hold dear.”
They all looked at me and I felt myself go red. Wolf gripped my thigh under the table and squeezed reassuringly.
“What are you getting at, Reg?” Nick asked not taking his eyes off me.
“My daughter…Ryder’s daughter, has made a decision. The decision affects Hell’s Lovers and for the life of me I don’t know why the hell it would.”
Nick’s eyes went straight to Regina’s. “What?”
She nodded. “What my daughter decides, or what I decide in my family, all you fools have no say on it! If she wants to marry the President of this Club or any one for that matter, that’s her decision. Give me one good reason as to why she should ask you?”
The club went dead quiet and Bear and Nick looked astonished. Mike, the Club’s enforcer frowned. Ryder made half the rules, Reg. Hell’s Lovers live and die by those rules.
“And who goddamn decided that my daughter couldn’t marry one of you fools!”
Her voice rose and all the men looked down. Meg smiled and nodded at my mother in support.
Nick spoke first. “Regina, you need to make yourself clear.”
“Scarlett wants to marry Wolf. Is that clear enough for you, Nick.”
He stared at his hands and didn’t look up. When he did, his eyes focused on Wolf. “You know what this means, don’t you?”
Regina answered instead. “It means shit.”
Nick’s eyes widened and he looked over at her. “You can’t change the rules, Reg.”
“The fuck I can’t! You forget one tiny little flaw in your stupid rules, Nick. In the absence of my husband I make the decisions in my family. My husband was a founder, which makes me the founder’s old lady. My understanding, according to this club’s founding Sargent at Arms, is the founders can change the rules.”
Bear and Mike stood up. “You can’t do that!”
Regina stood up and faced them all. “The hell I can’t. No damn member is gonna kick out a perfectly respectable President and strip him of anything, let alone beat him over my daughter! I want a vote!” She took a breath and looked at Nick. “I want a vote, Nick. If majority agrees, then Wolf stays as President and marries my daughter.”
Nick looked at me when he answered. “And what if they vote against them.”
I answered. “Then Wolf and I leave, never to be seen again. But he gets to keep everything he’s worked for.”
Nick lowered his head. “Guys, what do you say?”
Bear cleared his throat and gave Meg a loving look. “We have no say Nick, you make the call.”
Nick sighed. “Ryder’s probably turning in his grave.” He mumbled and I gripped onto Wolf’s hand. “Fine! A vote! And this includes current executive members…” Meg cleared her throat and Nick rolled his eyes. “And their wives.” She smiled and winked at Bear.
I held my breath as the question was asked.
“To letting Wolf stay as President, raise your hands if you are for it.”
I watched as all hands were raised including Nick’s and my mother’s. I nearly jumped in my seat with joy and Wolf squeezed my hand as he still looked at the ground. His eyes were closed and he seemed to be praying for a miracle.
“To allowing Wolf Stone to marry Scarlett Chase. Even though they’d be breaking the rules. Raise your hands if you are for it.”
My eyes drifted to Cain and Grayson who raised their hands first. Then came Seth, Riggs and my Mom. That was five, and we needed eight out of the fourteen for majority ruling. As more hands went up, I pulled on Wolf’s hand. He looked up and assessed the room. Knox, the club’s enforcer had his hand raised and so did Bear and Meg. Nine hands were raised, including Bear’s and I held my breath in excitement.
Nick and the other two founders looked at each other and lowered their heads. “We won’t vote for this decision, Regina. We can’t. It’s not that we don’t think that Wolf is a good man, or that Scarlett shouldn’t be a part of us…”
Regina held up her hand. “But that’s exactly what you’re saying Nick. She looked at the other two founders. Jack? Sean? You guys think it’s right to go against something so important. I’ll tell you one thing. None of you knew Ryder Chase the way I knew him. He made this rule to protect his family, not to cause them pain or heartache.” She looked at me lovingly. “He would have done anything for our little girl, no matter the cost. So, if you go against her, you go against him.”
Her words hung in the air and slowly, but surely, Jack and Sean raised they’re hands. Nick stared at them in shock and they shrugged in defeat. Jack spoke for them both. “No one goes against Regina Chase, you know that Nick. She makes a good argument.”
Nick sighed and waved his hand as a signal to lower their hands. “The vote has been made. Wolf and Scarlett…” he looked up at us, “congratulations!”
A cheer came from Grayson and he hugged and patted Wolf on the back. The rest of the members laughed and congratulated us.
I walked up to Nick who was seated at the bar with Bear and Mike. Meg was leaning on the bar and winked at me as I approached.
�
��Nick.”
He looked up at me and his eyes softened. “Hey, pretty girl.”
I smiled at the childhood nick name. “Can I talk to you for a minute.”
Bear and Mike slowly crept, away and Meg pretended she had things to do in the back. I watched her take Bear’s hand and guide him to the storage room. I smiled knowingly and she winked at me as she closed the door.
“Scarlett, I know what you’re going to say…”
“Uncle Nick, I want to say thank you.” I interrupted him. His eyes met mine and I reached out for his hands. “You’re the only father figure I have right now, and I know this was hard for you.” He opened his mouth to say something, but I shook my head. “I want to let you know I love you and I want you to walk me down the aisle.”
His eyes widened in shock. “But…but…”
“No, buts. I grew up eating your burgers and going to baseball games with you. You always looked out for me, even now. I’m sorry I disappeared from your life.”
I looked down at his hands. “I’m sorry I didn’t take care of you.
He reached up to cup my cheeks. “You have become a bright, young lady. If this is what you want, then I, your Uncle Nick, give you my blessing.”
I smiled and leaned over to hug him. He patted my back and laughed. “When I see your father, he’s going to punch my lights out.”
I shook my head as tears flowed down my cheeks. “No, he won’t. He’ll probably say thank you.”
I felt a hand on my lower back and straightened up to see Wolf behind me. Nick looked at him and frowned. “I’m giving you this young lady and you better treat her like gold, you hear me Stone?”
He nodded quickly. “Yes, Sir.”
“You know what I’ll do to you if you make her suffer, even a little bit.”
“Break my bones and strip me of everything. I got it.”
Nick reached his hand out and Wolf took it. They shook and Nick pulled him in for a hug. “Take care of each other.”
Nick eyed us for a second and frowned. “I know what’s going on with Tuco’s gang. There’s word out that he’s not too happy.