RECYCLED MEMORY

  “Oh, Maribel, I’m sorry about your friend. Has there been any word yet?” Clover gave her a quick hug, her voice laced with concern.

  “No, nothing yet. They just wheeled him back a few minutes ago.” Maribel returned with a small smile and a half wave for Range. “What are you guys doing here? Not that I’m complaining or anything. I’m just surprised.”

  “Marcus texted and said there was an accident, so we ran right over. The rest of the family should be here soon to offer their support in any way they can.”

  As if on cue, Maxwell, Sebastian, and Ashley showed up and joined the rest of the group. Shelly was still battling her sudden illness, and Haven was stuck on nursing duty for the next few hours. I chanced a glance over to my brothers; they knew the real reason why they were there, and it had jack shit to do with support. Maribel, God bless her, smiled for the first time that day, a beaming grin that showcased her beauty and warmed my heart. She deserved to be happy and not have to worry about the threat of violence lurking around every corner. I was the reason that shit had had the chance to get close to her, made her afraid and stole the light from her eyes. The bigger picture was the only reason I harnessed my aggression and kept my shit tight. Maribel was part of our family, always had been. She’d feel our protection again.

  “Oh. I’m so sorry, guys. This is my father, Dr. Laine. Daddy, these are our friends. Ashley, Clover, Sebastian, Range, and Max.” She pointed to everyone in the group.

  There was a round of “Nice to meet you’s” from the women and chin lifts from my brothers. My stomach did that funny flutter thing when she used the word “our.” I wanted to find an empty exam room and shove my cock in her mouth while she fingered her pussy, but I held back. The final guest to our little shindig arrived, and he wasn’t alone. Fox’s appearance meant it was time to get the show on the road. Two oversized, tattooed mountain men flanked his six but stayed far enough away to act as lookout. Maribel immediately looked panic stricken, and her eyes filled with tears once she realized what was happening. Range, Sebastian, and Max were speaking with the other women in a calming tone, explaining that we had to leave and Fox was there to look after them. I pulled Maribel away from the crowd. Her shaking limbs melted into my embrace.

  “What’s happening, Marcus? Why are they here?” she spoke softly into my chest.

  “Me and the boys going to handle some business, baby. Fox will wait here until you get word on the fuckboy, then he’s going to drive you and the rest of the women back to the junkyard and wait with you until we return.”

  “Please, Marcus,”She begged with tears spilling down her reddened cheeks. “Come back for me. We have so much to make up for. I don’t want to relive that pain of missing you again.”

  “Listen to me.” I stepped back from her embrace and used her chin to lift her head upward to meet my eyes. “I’ll always come back for you, Maribel. You feel me? Always.”

  I leaned down and kissed her hard on the lips, branding my touch into her memory. She just had to hold on and be strong a little longer, and all this shit would be behind us. She gathered herself, squared her shoulders, and dried up the waterworks.

  “I won’t stop fighting this time, Marcus.” She stepped away and gave me a nod of approval. “I’ll keep fighting for hope as long as I’m alive. Stay sharp, tough guy.”

  She smiled and walked away; strong and fearless.

  Time to go to work.

  _______________

  MacCabe wasn’t hard to find, not when you knew where to look. Fox had tapped into his underground resources and secured a location. Penthouse suite at the Peninsula Luxury Hotel’s top floor. Max flirted with one of the front desk workers while the rest of us found our way to the private elevator and waited for him to secure the code. Max had the gift of gab, always had; smooth-ass fucker used it to get more pussy than Hugh Hefner in the playboy mansion back in the day. He had that bitch creaming her panties within minutes, offering to do all kinds of freaky shit once her shift was over within the hour. She’d have to settle for fucking the complimentary bars of soap to get off ‘cause we’d be long gone by then. She served her purpose, gave Max the four-digit code to access the private elevator along with a cardkey to one of the other empty rooms she wanted to use for the hookup. Our situation was dangerous, yet we found ourselves sharing a smirk with Max for his obvious skills when it came to getting women. That shit would end up going to waste, though. Haven carried his balls around in her handbag, and he loved every minute of it.

  We reached the top floor with our game faces firmly back in place. Play time was over. Sebastian moved into primary position with his bow. Two guards covered the entrance to the hotel room, and we needed to go in silent. He fired off two arrows so fast they didn’t get the chance to react before we were on top of them. One hard punch to the face, and it was lights out before they even knew what hit them. They were a bunch of pussies anyway. MacCabe really needed to step up his security game if he expected to live much longer. Two bullshit guards were fucking insulting and painted his candy-ass with bitch-like strokes as a so-called mob boss. I’d send him a sympathy card later after I delivered his spleen to his daddy on rye bread.

  I checked the handle of the door, turned it slightly, and it clicked to indicate it was unlocked. We used hand signals to position ourselves, weapons at the ready. We’d work as fire teams once we infiltrated MacCabe’s room. Range with me, Sebastian and Max in cover formation to secure the area and take down anyone else inside. On the count of three, we burst through the door, the element of surprise seemingly on our side.

  It wasn’t.

  “Took you long enough to get here, Mecken. Thought I was going to have to send another invitation, perhaps something a bit more…personal.”

  MacCabe sat composedly behind a desk with his laptop open, hipster glasses on while he sipped a glass of amber liquid. Fucker didn’t even look up when we entered the room, clearly expecting our company. We held steady. Our weapons pointed directly in the kill zone, we showed no weaknesses or indication that we were caught off guard.

  “Got your message loud and clear, punk.” I covered while Range dropped a small black bag by the edge of the desk where MacCabe sat, then stepped back into position.

  “Two hundred and fifty large. Debt paid. Now, go fuck yourself.”

  “Gentlemen, forgive me. I’ve been remiss.” He stood up and discarded his glasses on top of the laptop before stepping around the desk with his hand extended in greeting.

  “You must be Range Reardon. Very nice to meet you. How is your wife? Clover, isn’t it? Terrible business that shooting at Fosters. Glad to hear she made a speedy recovery.”

  Range lost his shit and advanced.

  “Keep it tight, brother,” I growled.

  MacCabe wasn’t finished.

  “That means you must be Sebastian Cole and Maxwell O’Neill. Pleasure, gentlemen.” He tried that hand shake shit again, but the boys didn’t bite. “I must say, Sebastian, you’ve got your hands full with that Ashley Benjamin. Looks nothing like her sister Clover, but she certainly is a stunner with all the right assets. Reformed hell raisers hold a special place in my heart.” He touched the area right below his lapel. The high-tensile bowstring strained with tension as Sebastian stretched it further, ready to impale MacCabe if he mentioned his woman’s name again.

  Fucking cunt kept on running his mouth.

  “Oh, and Maxwell? If I ever get sick, I hope Haven is available for a private-duty assignment. That girl knows her stuff, but I suspect you’re already aware of that,” MacCabe taunted.

  Obviously, the fuck-stick had done his homework, but our business had concluded. He had his money, and all debts were paid, a small price for Maribel’s freedom. He could take his mind games and shove them up his ass all the way back to Boston for all I cared. We didn’t owe him shit.

  “We’re done here.” We took one step backwards in fallback formation.

  “I don’t think we are, Mecken,” he gloated. “As
a matter of fact, things are just getting started.”

  FORTY-ONE

  Maribel

  HOURS HAD PASSED SINCE Marcus and the rest of the men had left to handle their so-called business. I knew full well they were going to make the payoff and prayed it was an easy delivery. Not that I knew much about mob money transactions. I imagined they had a large blue mailbox out in the middle of nowhere that the bookies and gamblers could use to drop off their innocuous black bags filled with cash. Each bag would have a note attached with vital information, so you could leave without actually having to see anyone. That was my grand rationalization after hour one of waiting for the men to return back to the yard. Now, I used it as the diversion to stop myself from pissing my panties every time I heard the slightest noise coming from outside. The passage of time did little to quell my nerves, and the longer it took for them to get back, the more worried I became that Marcus and the others were in serious trouble.

  Once my father was able to get an update on Drew and assured us he was in stable condition, we left the emergency room and made our way back to the junkyard. Remarkably, Drew was left with only a few broken ribs to go along with his busted nose, broken finger, and several cuts and contusions. The damage he’d sustained to his leg was much more severe. Sadly, he’d walk with a limp for the rest of his life. Perhaps that small reminder would end his hunger for the adrenalin rush of gambling and lead him down a more productive path. Regardless, I wouldn’t be there to bail him out the next time if he happened to slip up. Drew was one hundred percent on his own, and the bank of Maribel Laine was closed for business. My father promised to keep me posted if I agreed to end my self-imposed exile from home and visit him and my mother as soon as I could. I’d missed them both so much, he didn’t need to bribe me to get me to agree. I’d already decided to do just that as soon as I felt safe enough from MacCabe to venture out without needing a damn bodyguard to protect me.

  If anyone else was as worried as I was, they certainly never showed it. Mace’s two henchmen stood watch outside the main house while Haven, Ashley, Clover, and I were guarded inside by Mace himself. It all seemed so perfectly normal to them, like this type of shit happened every day and you merely fell into place until it was all over. The other girls chatted and laughed, shared insights into their men, while poor Mace had to put up with constant ribbing about everything from his favorite type of underwear to his choice in sex toys.

  “So, tell us, Fox, are you a tit man or an ass man?” Ashley asked from her spot on the couch. “We’re tied in that category, so we need another opinion to declare the winner.” Mace grunted in disapproval but failed to cast his vote.

  “I think he’s a tit man for sure,” Haven added. “What do you say, Maribel? Ass or tit?”

  My face flamed thirty different shades of red as I recalled the morning I’d spent with him and Marcus inside his bedroom. My nipples tightened painfully with arousal behind my shirt and bra. I remembered the feeling of his warm mouth and wet tongue as he feasted on my breasts with reckless abandon. I considered not answering, but that would only raise more questions, especially with these outspoken women. I did the only thing plausible given the awkward position I was in and lied my ass off.

  “I think,” I stuttered hopelessly, “ass man. Yes, definitely. Asses are definitely his thing.” I peeked over to Mace, who sat in one of the armchairs, and the bastard smirked. Every inch of my body burned hot, so much so, I had to excuse myself and grab a glass of water to keep from completely going up in smoke.

  “Speaking of asses,” Clover asked. “Where’d you find those two walking, talking tattoo models out front, Fox? You’ve been holding out on us, my good friend.” She mocked offence.

  “Don’t let Range catch you saying that shit, Mrs. Reardon,” Ashley chastised. “Besides, Fox might’ve wanted to keep those sexy specimens all to himself,” she chirped with a sing-song voice.

  “Are you trying to imply that Fox is gay, Ashley?” Haven interrupted. “Not that there’s anything wrong with being gay, but what a fucking waste of hunky eye candy.”

  “All I’m saying is that I’ve never seen him with a woman, and now I know why.” Ashley casually waved her hand around to emphasize her point.

  “Keep running your mouth, trouble maker. Y’all joke about the wrong shit,” Mace growled, not amused with the attack on his manly sexuality. I could confirm with absolute certainty that the man was anything but homosexual; in fact, his prowess in the bedroom made him every woman’s fantasy; mine included.

  “Take it easy, my sexy little gum drop.” Ashley gave him a cheeky smile. “I was just trying to make sure you were still with us, since you haven’t said a word in, like, an hour.”

  “Find something else to focus on other than my dick and who I’m laying hard pipe to, and we’ll get along just fine. Spoiled-ass little brat.”

  “But… but… talking about your dick is so much fun. Why would I ever want to stop?” Ashley replied with as much innocence as her sarcastic tone could muster.

  “Big pain in my ass” was barely audible above the uproarious laughter from Clover and Haven, who were obviously used to Ashley’s lewd behavior.

  Mace stood from his chair and did a quick sweep of the windows before checking in with the men outside. I wondered about his relationship with Clover’s sister and why the two seemed so familiar. As far as I knew, she was happily in love with Sebastian and their romance was red hot. I wondered for the first time if she would be angry with me if she ever uncovered the one-time intimate moment Mace and I had shared. They were obviously friends, close friends, judging by their silly banter and special use of nicknames. The last thing I wanted to do was create friction amongst the women in this close-knit family.

  “Why don’t you two just go ahead and fuck each other’s brains out? Get it over with, for Christ sakes,” Clover joked.

  “Eww… Yuck, Clove! It’d be like sleeping with my brother, if we actually had a brother. Besides, Fox needs a different kind of woman, one he can take care of day in and day out like a damn superhero. I hope I’m still around when love finally sticks a foot up his ass and ends his bachelor days once and for all.”

  “Amen, sister,” Haven agreed. “It’s no wonder any of them decided to finally settle down and become a one-woman man. I could only imagine what Max was like in his early days. I bet he was a like a dog in heat running around off leash.”

  “No, he wasn’t,” I spoke up from the kitchen, having heard Haven’s comment.

  “Ohhhh, high school story time.” Ashley clapped and bounced in her seat.“Spill. Spill. Tell us what the boys were really like back in the day, Maribel.”

  I exited the kitchen with my glass of water and re-took my seat amongst the other women. They were eager to hear what I had to say, but the retelling of what happened in the past wasn’t that simple. I’d known these men since I was twelve years old, through ups and downs. They were a huge part of my life. Losing them along with Buck, at a time when I’d needed them the most, had been more painful than I cared to remember. Odie was the only other person I’d ever told about Marcus and the other guys. Hell, I’d never even bothered telling Drew. He knew I never loved him; that wasn’t part of the deal. He just never knew why. Sharing intimacies from the demise of Maribel and Marcus with three virtual strangers was akin to having a tooth pulled without Novocain. Eventually, it would loosen up and come out, but the pain of having it removed far outweighed the relief I’d feel once it was gone.

  “Max was quiet and reserved when he was younger, much different from the rest of the guys. He always carried around an aura of sadness around him, something dark and haunting. I often felt the urge to reach out and touch him, so he’d know I was there if he ever needed me.”

  I shrugged, hoping my explanation didn’t sound juvenile. Haven smiled through misty eyes while Clover gave her a one-armed side hug for support.

  “What about my hotheaded, sexy beast of a man?” Ashley asked. “Was he as fearsome and hellish
as he is now? I bet all the girls had it bad for my well-hung stud,” she preened.

  “Sebastian had impeccable manners, especially towards women, which was a testament to his good upbringing,” I praised with an affectionate smile.

  “Booyah! My man was the S.H.I.T. Told you, bitches! I can’t wait for archery night,” Ashley hollered proudly with a fist pump added in for good measure.I’d never considered Sebastian to be hot headed nor beastly, but hey, whatever happened behind closed doors and all that.

  “I know all about Range and his high school days; that part doesn’t interest me.” Clover walked over and sat next to me on the couch. “I wanna know all about Buck Calhoun, his likes, his dislikes. Was he really as rough and hard as the boys claim he was?”

  It was my turn to get misty eyed and overcome with feelings of sadness. My relationship with Buck Calhoun had been everything to me, right up to the point where he took it all away. I understood why Clover was curious about the man; he was the heart and soul of this place, the reason the men called the junkyard their home. They embodied all the best parts of that cantankerous old biker; his cunning, his loyalty, and his strength. Those women deserved to know the intricacies of the man who’d helped shape the lives of the boys he’d loved so much.