“Including killing his only child?” Amber asked.
“Yes,” Beth answered without hesitation. There was no love lost between her and the man who helped create her.
“Being here, I know Devin won’t let anything happen to Derek. And that is my main concern. Keeping my son safe. Devin might hate me, but he will grow to love his son.”
Amber turned back to the bed. “He already does,” she stated simply.
Just then, Derek started to move around on the bed. Beth knew he was waking up. “Would you like to meet him?”
Abruptly Amber turned back to her with a huge smile. “Please,” she said happily, but then got serious. “Beth, be careful with Devin, please. After the break up, Devin went off the deep end. Don’t push him there again, I am begging you.” Then she turned back towards the bed to see Derek sitting up against the headboard.
“Hi, Derek,” she told him with a reassuring smile. “I’m your Aunt Amber. It’s so good to finally meet you.”
Derek looked over to Beth for confirmation. When he received it, he looked back to Amber and stuck out his hand. But Amber didn’t take it, instead she stepped forward and wrapped him up in a big bear hug.
“No sir. No handshakes for me. Hugs! Lots and lots of hugs!” she said, causing Derek to giggle.
Beth’s eyes began to tear up again. Her son was finally getting the love that he lacked from her family. Derek needed this. He needed the love and comfort this place would bring. Again, Beth felt the self-hatred fill her soul. Her choices denied her son of this. It was all her fault. No, she told herself, it was her father’s fault, but Beth didn’t do anything to prevent it. So really, they both were to blame. Like always, she followed his orders blindly. But she was done with that. Never again. One way or another, she would be free of that horrible man - for good.
Coming back to the present, she saw Derek and Amber looking at her. She missed something. “I’m sorry. I was off in lala land. What did you say?”
“Are you hungry? There should still be some breakfast in the kitchen,” Amber repeated.
“I am starving. How about you, buddy?” she asked Derek.
He jumped off the bed and made for the door in his pajamas. “Umm. Derek?” she giggled. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
He looked down at his clothes... his face fell. “But it’s summer, Mom.”
“You are dressed perfectly!” Amber chimed in. Beth laughed and together they all made their way to the kitchen, trailing behind Derek as he ran down the hall in his Superman PJ’s.
Entering the kitchen, Beth noticed Derek stop in his tracks. Walking up behind him, she placed her hand on his shoulder to get his attention. Everyone in the room was staring at them.
“Put your faces back towards your food,” came a deep booming voice from the corner. Beth looked towards the huge guy standing next to Devin.
“That is Zander. VP and Enforcer for the MC. He’s also my husband,” Amber whispered in Beth’s ear. Bending down to meet Derek’s eyes Amber asked, “What would you like to eat little man?”
“Do you have Fruity O’s?” he asked hopefully.
“We sure do!” Amber exclaimed. “Want to know a secret?”
“Sure! My mom says I’m good at keeping secrets.” He smiled proudly.
“Fruity O’s are your daddy’s favorite cereal, too!” she told Derek. He looked over to his dad, who was also eating a bowl of cereal. “Why don’t you go on over and sit with him. I’ll grab your bowl and bring it to you.”
Derek looked up at Beth, as if asking permission. “Go on, buddy. It’s okay.” Beth watched as he approached Devin slowly and her heart skipped a beat as Devin pulled a chair out for their son and moved him close to his side.
Chapter Seven
Sledge
Sledge could hear Derek and Beth coming before he even saw them. He knew Amber had gone to their room. He just hoped it wouldn’t add more stress to the situation. Looking up, he froze when he saw them enter the room. So did everyone else.
“Shit,” he mumbled, when everyone in the room stopped eating and stared at Beth and Derek.
Thankfully, Reaper was quick to react. “Put your faces back towards your food,” he ordered, and everyone went back to eating and talking amongst themselves.
“Thank you, Brother.”
“Don’t mention it man,” Reaper said, clapping him on the back when he took his seat again. “Seems like the girls may have become friends.”
Looking at his sister and Beth, it definitely seemed that way. He watched as Amber bent down to talk to Derek. He was too far away to know what she was saying, but Derek turned to look at Sledge. Glancing up at his mom, she spoke a few words to him and Sledge watched as Derek made his way over to his table.
“Dad, can I sit with you?” Derek asked quietly.
Hearing his son call him dad, caused a warmth to spread through his chest. It was a feeling that Sledge had never felt before.
“Absolutely, son.” Pulling the chair out next to him, Derek sat down looking at Sledge like he hung the moon.
“I like that,” he said quietly.
“Like what buddy?” Sledge asked.
“That you call me son. It means you like me, right?” the hopeful plea in Derek’s voice about shattered what was left of Devin’s heart.
“I more than like you, kiddo. I love you very much. From the first moment I saw you.” How could he explain to a child that even though they missed out on the last eight years, even though he had just learned about him less than twenty-four hours ago, he still loved him with everything he had.
Sledge pulled Derek’s chair closer to him. “What do you say you and I hang out today? Get to know each other a bit?” Sledge realized he had the same hopeful tone in his own voice.
“Yes!” Derek shouted, causing everyone in the room to look in their direction. Sledge burst out laughing. “Aunt Amber said that we already have stuff in common. My favorite cereal is Fruity O’s. She said that was yours, too.”
“Aunt Amber is right. I love Fruity O’s,” Sledge admitted, showing Derek his half-full bowl of cereal.
As the girls walked over to the table, he noticed Beth was nervous. She wouldn’t even look at him and for some reason, that bothered him. He wanted her to be comfortable here, comfortable around him. He tried to tell himself it was because if she was, then she would stay; she wouldn’t take Derek and leave when this mess was cleaned up. But he wasn’t entirely sure that was true.
“Here you go Derek. Eat up!” Amber said, as she handed him his bowl. He looked up at Sledge with a huge smile. The same smile Sledge saw when he looked at his own reflection.
“Umm... I am just going to go eat in my room,” Beth said quietly. Sledge’s heart lurched, he didn’t want her to leave. But he kept his mouth shut. Spending more time around Beth would not be a good idea.
“Nonsense!” Amber told her, pulling out a chair next to Reaper. “Sit right here,” she indicated the seat next to her own.
“Yeah mom. You can’t leave me in here.” Derek’s eyes were wide with concern.
Placing a reassuring hand on his small shoulder, Sledge leaned over to him so he could speak to him at his level. “Nobody here will bother you, Son. And if anyone does, you come tell me or Uncle Zander, and we will handle it, okay?”
“Who is Uncle Zander?” Derek asked. Reaper leaned around Sledge and waved his hand at Derek. “That would be me little guy,” he smiled. That seemed to put Derek at ease. He said okay and continued to eat.
Out of the corner of his eye, Sledge kept glancing at Beth. She kept her face covered by a curtain of hair, which he noticed she wore a lot longer than she used to, and it was hanging with its natural curliness. The blonde locks were almost to her waist. Sledge wanted to reach over Reaper and Amber and move the mass of curls out of her face. Instead he gripped his spoon harder and focused on eating.
When everyone was finished, they stood as a group and started for the door. “Beth, I would like t
o keep Derek with me for the day,” he announced. He watched as her frame became rigid. “I just want a chance to get to know him. We won’t be leaving the compound,” he told her softly, trying to ease her fears. It’s not like he was going to run off with him. Shit! This was his home.
“Okay,” was her only answer.
Squatting down in front of his son, Sledge asked, “What do you say Son? Want to spend the day with me?” again the hopefulness was in his voice, but honestly, he didn’t care. He needed, no wanted, to spend time with Derek.
Derek squealed excitedly, jumping up and down. “I take that as a yes,” Sledge laughed. “Run back to your room and get dressed. I’ll be by in a few minutes to grab you.”
Sledge watched as his son and Beth head back upstairs. He couldn’t help the smile on his face. “Be careful Devin,” he heard his sister say.
“I’m spending time with my son, Amber. What part of that requires me to be careful?”
“I’m not talking about your son, idiot. I am talk about his mother.” Devin knew she was looking out for him. He could see the worry in her eyes.
“Honestly, I am not sure that is possible either. No matter what, Beth will always be in my life now. She is the mother of my child. But as far as anything else, I am not looking to rekindle anything. The last time burned enough.” He hugged his sister tightly and turned to make his way down the hall to get his son. Just that word was enough to bring the smile back to his face.
The afternoon flew by quickly. Sledge and Derek spent time at the pool, in the office, at the gym, and even in the garage. Sledge started to teach Derek about motorcycles - the parts and how they worked. For lunch, he ordered Derek’s favorite pizza; which happened to be his favorite too - pineapple and Canadian bacon, on thin crust. The entire day Sledge was overwhelmed by Derek. He was so smart for an eight-year-old and picked up on things very quickly. By the time they were finished in the garage, Derek could name every part of a bike, and the majority of tools used to work on one. Sledge learned all about Derek too. Favorite color, favorite animal, favorite bedtime story, and the list went on.
Walking back into the house for dinner, Sledge realized that today was the best day he’d had in a long time; and he hated for it to end. He also hated that he had missed so many years with Derek. First words, first steps, first day of school... he missed them all. And he had nobody to blame but Elizabeth and her father. Once again, the anger was back. He tried to swallow it down. He didn’t want anything to tarnish the amazing day he’d had with Derek. Later, when he was alone, he would reflect on everything else; but for now, he would concentrate on Derek.
Entering the kitchen, his eyes landed on the curvy blonde standing next to Viper. What the fuck was Beth doing talking to him?
If that fucker touches her, Devin would break his Goddamn neck! The sight before him made his stomach turn, or maybe it was his reaction to it that caused the nausea. Trying to clear his head, he made his way over to his chair, with Derek walking beside him. Sledge couldn’t help the sense of pride that filled his soul.
Taking his seat, he waited for his plate to be delivered. He could get it himself, but the club girls liked to cater to him, so he let them. Most of them did it thinking it would lead to a free ride in his bed, but Sledge wouldn’t touch the pussy of any clubhouse girl. His standards were far too high. The only club girl that wasn’t a whore was Rachel. Sledge couldn’t think of a single guy she’d fucked since being here, now that he thought about it. Once things were settled down and the latest problem was solved, Sledge would have to look into that. There was more going on with that girl than what she presented.
He came back to the present when his plate was placed in front of him. Looking up, he noticed it was Candy today. She also handed Derek a place. “For our mini President,” she smiled.
“President?” Derek asked.
“Your daddy is the President of this club.” At his confused look, Candy said, “He’s like the boss. Everyone here has to listen to him.” At that explanation, Derek smiled his understanding.
Sledge looked up to find Amber and Beth staring at him. Neither woman looked happy. Did Beth know what was happening, he wondered as Amber whispered something into Beth’s ear. He watched as her gaze narrowed. If she didn’t know before, Sledge would bet she knew now. He would have to remember to thank Amber for that bit of knowledge, he thought sarcastically. He didn’t know why, but seeing Beth get upset over a woman trying to ‘feed’ her way into his bed, made Sledge almost happy. Almost.
Chapter Eight
Beth
Beth spent the day with Amber. It was the first time since Derek was born that she had spent time without her son, other than when he was at school. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that, but knew he and Devin needed time together, to create a bond.
“Stop worrying!” Amber said for the hundredth time. Beth couldn’t help it. What if her father found out she was here? What if Derek got hurt? So many ‘what if’s’ ran through her head.
“I’m trying. I really am,” she sighed in frustration.
“Okay! Let’s go to the pool. You need some sun. Girl, how can you live in Texas and be so white? Aliens can tell your location just from your glow!” Laughing, Amber jumped off the bed when Beth tried to swat her.
Maybe swimming and sun-tanning was just what she needed. Beth grabbed her swimsuit from the dresser and went to the bathroom to change. Walking out, she turned to Amber when she heard her new friend give a loud whistle.
“What?” Beth giggled.
“Damn! You’ll have every guy here drooling puddles!” Amber exclaimed.
Shaking her head, Beth slipped on a shirt and jean shorts. “Whatever!” she laughed.
The girls spent the rest of the morning swimming and lazing around the pool. Beth loved the water. It wasn’t until later in the afternoon, that their ‘Girls Date’ was interrupted when Zander walked out of the house and leaned over to place a brief kiss on Amber’s lips. Beth looked away, not wanting to encroach on their moment. “You ladies enjoying yourself?” he asked.
“Yes,” they both said at once, giggling.
“Trying to get the sun to burn some tan into Beth, before airplanes start landing in the parking lot because pilots think her glowing white ass is a damn light beacon,” Amber told him, earning another swat from Beth.
“I can’t help it that I give Frosty the Snowman a run for his money!” she defended, with a laugh. She liked Amber and Zander. They both made her feel welcomed and a part of the family.
“Okay, well you both behave. I am heading to the garage. Sledge and I are teaching mechanics 101 to Derek this afternoon,” he stated, leaning down to kiss his beautiful wife again. “See you both at dinner.”
“Should I be worried, now?” Beth wondered.
“No,” Amber laughed. “Derek will have a blast with Zander and Devin.”
The girls continued to lounge and swim for the next couple of hours. Beth couldn’t remember a time when she ever got to relax like this, even before Derek was born. Everything growing up was always so prim and proper. She hated it, but this, this she could get used to. She could be herself, and that calmed her like nothing ever had in the past.
The relaxation came crashing to an end when three other women came walking outside to the pool. They sat on the opposite side and kept looking at Beth and Amber.
“Great!” Amber said sarcastically, “The resident ho-train is here. Ugh!”
“Who are they?” Beth asked, because ‘ho’ really looked like an accurate description. The swimsuits they wore barely covered anything. She was glad Derek wasn’t out here. She would have flipped shit if they wore that little in front of her child.
“Those are the club girls,” Amber explained. “They literally bounce from bed to bed.”
Beth couldn’t help but wonder if they had bounced into Devin’s bed. Not like it was any of her business. She left him, and while she was the mother of his child, they were not a couple. If she were
honest with herself, they probably never would be a couple. She couldn’t expect him to remain celibate. Even back then, Devin had a healthy sex-drive and she had no doubt that he still did. But the thought still made her nauseous.
Deciding to ignore them, the girls left the pool area and headed to the living to watch some TV. This day called for a NCIS marathon. For the next three hours, the girls watched episode after episode until dinner was ready.
“Let’s go eat. I’m starving!” Amber exaggerated. Granted, she was pregnant, so it was allowed.
Laughing, Beth followed her into the kitchen. “Everything smells so good. I think I am going to gain thirty pounds by the end of the week,” she complained.
“Even then, you’d still be beautiful,” a voice said behind her.
Beth turned to see a tall, lean man behind her. He was handsome in a boyish way, but something about the way he looked at her put Beth on edge. It was like he was trying to see into her soul, and was succeeding.
“Thank you,” she said politely.
“Slither off Viper!” Amber demanded. “She isn’t interested.” Turning back to Beth, Amber acted like the man wasn’t even there.
What did she call him? Viper? Like a snake? That name didn’t seem to fit him. Snakes were nasty, ugly creatures. And this guy was definitely none of those. He was handsome, in a classical way. He had a smile that put her at ease.
“Don’t pay any attention to him Beth. He is literally a snake!” Amber smirked, still looking straight into Viper’s face. Whatever issue was between Amber and the man beside her, Beth didn’t want to get involved in it.
Turning back to fix her plate of food, she felt Viper at her back again. “Don’t mind her, she is still mad because I questioned her sanity in men.” He laughed, placing a hand on Beth’s lower back.
“Whatever, asshole.” Amber rolled her eyes, but there was no heat behind it.
“Well, it’s true,” Viper laughed. “Anyway. Would you lovely ladies care to join me for dinner?”
The President: Devil's Henchmen MC, Book Two Page 4