by Xyla Turner
As we ate dinner, my dad asked Apollo some really tough questions about his loyalty to the Guardians, me, and what his plans were for the future.
Then he asked the ultimate question and I could have simply died.
"That situation with Bronx and Shay some time back, you were the one that killed the man. You've been on the battle field for your country and now for the Guardians and their wars. What does that do to a man?" My father was sober and resolute. "How does a man make the transition and come to care and take care of a woman, specifically my daughter?"
"Uh, Adam," my mom called, but Dad waved her off.
Apollo laid his fork down and I touched his arm as a reminder.
"Over a year ago, I said something crazy to this woman and a list of unfortunate things happened as a result. She was sick, got well and came back. You know better than me, what that feels like to have a child fighting battles that you have no control over. Her courage to come back to a place where she had been shamed and embarrassed was impressive. She did that with the strength that lies deep within her and the resolve, I only hope to have an ounce of. I think these are similar traits when fighting for a cause greater than you."
He lifted one finger. "Fighting for my country was an honor and privilege. Taught me so much about military life, control, and discipline. So much so that when I came back home, I wanted to continue to do that in a way that was honorable and noble."
He lifted another finger. "This is where the Guardians came in. My first years there were okay but it wasn't until our President, Razor, saw something in me that I didn't see. He gave me a model, a friend, and a band of brothers. Those are men that I'd fight and kill for if necessary. They also have taught me about civilian life, control and discipline."
He lifted another finger. "Now, there's Lori. She's beautiful, smart and I swear she was made for me. I know some of her struggles as I've suffered with them myself. I get her which is why I admire her even more. That's just on an outside level. How does war and my brotherhood play into having and taking care of a woman, my woman? In every way possible. Like I felt it was an honor to serve my country, it's an honor that this woman even gives me the time of day. Just like the Guardians gave me a friend and a band of brothers, she is my partner, in everything. Our wedding, our house, our kids, our marriage, our life will work because we will work for it. Just like I fought for my country, my brothers and their women, I will damn sure do the same for her. I may not be able to control the uncontrollable, but I will fucking try and anything she deals with, will be dealt with through me. That goes for anything or anyone."
Apollo put his hand on the table and said, "That's just the short answer."
My mom had tears in her eyes and so did I. My dad looked at me and said, "Looks like you're going to be in good hands."
The watery smile waned as I tried to keep the tears inside my eyes. Then my dad looked at Apollo and said, "I'm glad I got to know you a bit. You'll have to stop by more often, you know. Like to see how a man bowls or fishes around these parts. That determines a lot."
Apollo laughed and said, "I'd love too. Not sure you can hang with me in bowling, I average one-eighty."
Dad raised his eyebrows and said, "Honey, tell him my average, will ya."
My mom buttered a biscuit and said, "That’d be a two-hundred, dear. Stay in your lane."
I laughed and hit Apollo on the arm.
"We'll see you at the lanes, then." Apollo nodded. "Challenge accepted."
We finished dinner, left my parents with smiles and plans for the competition. On our way home, Apollo said, "I want you to move in, Lori."
Uh, okay.
"We do live across the street from each other," I tried to reason.
"Yeah and I want you waking up in our bed, in our house because we're making a home," he countered.
My mouth remained closed because when he put it that way, there was only one answer. Turning my head out of the window, I remembered everything he’d said to my father. His hand squeezed my thigh and he asked, "What you thinking?"
"Just thinking about what you said to my father," I answered.
"Meant every word." His fingers pressed into my thigh.
"I know."
My mind wandered to that frightful night at Pepper's when this same man crushed my heart with little to no effort to the man that spoke before my father, expressing his love for me. Those were two different men and also a different me. Both probably not at our healthiest points but we persevered and found each other to bring out the best in us, individually and collectively.
He pulled in his driveway and we sat there, until I broke the silence.
"I want three kids, Apollo," I started. "Two boys and one girl. They're going to need a tree house out back. I want a room for just me, okay. My own home office. You have your man cave but I get an office. I may want to write romance novels later in life or something. You're going to have to get a minivan once the kids come because mine won't ride in this monstrosity. You're going to have to teach me about sports because I need to be a soccer mom with accurate yelling and screaming. I already told you, I want the wedding, reception and everything out there and I'll leave the honeymoon details to you. Oh, I almost always need one or two weekends to hang with Mom when we get our lady pampering. My period comes every three months with this birth control that I'm on, so you're going to want to see if you can deal with me during that week, to see if you still want me to move in. I'm just saying."
There was light snickering on his side of the car, then I felt a hand reach over and pull me on top of his hard body.
"I've dealt with women on periods before," Apollo told me.
"Not me," I said. "Even Shay and Kylie stay away from me during that time."
"Guess I need to get your office a chaise lounge chair so you can keep your ass in there for a week," he said.
"Yup and a refrigerator filled with chocolate. Oh, a big screen television with cable so I can watch chick flicks and cry."
"Sounds like a woman cave," he countered.
"Tomatoe, tomato."
"Done," he answered. "Anything else, ma'am?"
"That’s all I can think of now but let's do weekly check-ins. Mental, emotional and physical health," I told him. "We say what we need, stay honest and open."
"Exactly." Apollo laughed. "Okay, so you should know one thing though."
“What?”
He pulled out his cellphone and showed me a website. It was for The Manor Press, our local newspaper.
“This is coming out tomorrow,” he said as he handed me the phone.
Quickly skimming over the image, words and a handsome looking picture of Apollo on the screen, I gasped.
“Is this?” I started. “This is you?”
“Yeah, sweetness.” He nodded. “I wanted to surprise you over breakfast tomorrow morning but I wanted you to know since we’re coming up with our pacts.”
Tears were rolling down my face as I read that Connor Locklear had started a landscaping company that also donated a sizable portion of its proceeds to rehabilitations like the one I was in and they highlighted his skills with fixing and transforming bikes over the past ten years. The picture was of him, arms crossed, no smile but his eyes were happy.
He was happy.
“Wow, Connor.” I was in awe.
His hand wiped my face when he asked, “Why are you crying?”
“Because,” I sniffed. “I’m so proud of you.”
He laughed and said, “That’s how I feel about you, sweetness.”
"Then we're good." I laughed it off.
"Now, can I get that kiss?" Connor asked.
I leaned forward but he tilted his head back and said, "Not those lips, sweetness. My other ones."
"Oh God, yes." I opened the door, climbed off his lap and ran in the house with Connor chasing after me.
Not only did he kiss those lips but so many other things. The man put the N in naughty and I wasn't any better because I loved every bit o
f it.
Around three in the morning his cell rang, startling me awake.
"Yeah," he answered. "Be right there."
"Pollo?" I called.
"Sweetness, got some club business I need to take care of. I'll be back later, okay."
My head nodded and as he pulled on his pants and boots, I couldn't help but feel fear. As he was leaving, I yelled, "Be careful."
He stopped, turned around and said, "Always. We got a future to build and I ain't missing that for nothing in this world."
"You better not." I smiled as he kissed my head, nose and finally my mouth.
"Go back to sleep," he instructed.
Then he was gone.
13 - Not Over
APOLLO:
"Here he is now," Swag called as I walked through the doors of the conference room.
Razor, Shiz, Swag and Dash were in attendance. Bronx was on his honeymoon and I knew Razor would not want him to be in on whatever shit fest this was about to become.
“What happened?” I asked as I sat at the table.
“The rogues are trying to rear their ugly heads again and I’m going to need you to run point,” Razor nodded towards me. “Kylie’s about to pop in just a few days, Bronx is out and you’re next in line.”
“Of course,” I acknowledged. “Now, what happened?”
“We still had surveillance on Shay and Dessy even after the last incident with Haz. Remember, the Pres of the Devil’s Viper said he acted alone but then Dessy’s old boyfriend said there was a takeover and he wasn’t running shit no more?” Razor asked.
“Yeah.”
“Turns out, it’s true,” Razor confirmed. “One of the guys Bronx fucked up that day is the leader but there was a divide in the club, so there’s two Vipers clubs and one of them is full of rogues.”
“Those rogues are the same ones that beat up Avery’s brother that night.” Shiz directed his attention to me. “Remember, the one that crushed my bike?”
I nodded.
“That was the rogue Vipers.” Shiz confirmed.
“Okay...” I let it linger because I knew there was more.
Swag threw a bunch of photos on the table. Most of them were of Shay, Dessy and Lori. Kylie was in a few but with the rest of the women.
Red hot anger raced through my veins as I thought about the possibilities of what this could mean.
“Where?” I asked.
“Vipers Lair, number two,” Swag answered. “We had their place under surveillance for the rogues and now that Lori is connected to you, she’s a target too.”
I looked to the men in this room and said, “May not want me running point.”
“Apollo,” Razor called. “I need you.”
“You know I’ll do anything for you Raze. Any fucking thing but I just got her. I just got permission to marry the only love of my life from her father. We’re building Raze, and I’m telling you right fucking now, any threat to any of that, I will kill all of those motherfuckers. She’ll hate me for getting life in prison but she’ll live, man. So, you sure you want me to run point? Fine. But if they try to hurt my family and I mean my brothers and their women too, I will put them down for good.”
“And that’s why you need to run lead,” Swag said. “That’s why you’re the Sergeant of Arms and that’s also why Wolf is on retainer. Our goal is to shut down the threat and if necessary neutralize it. That ain’t just on you, Apollo. That’s every Guardian.”
I nodded my head and said, “What’s the mission?”
“Right now, we’re still trying to figure out what they are up to. We know they are watching Shay and Dessy, so we’ll need to bring in Bear. We’re putting surveillance on Lori and back on Kylie. I’m going to reach out to both Presidents and see about meeting in neutral turfs. You’re coming with me,” Razor pointed to me, “after Kylie has our baby. Swag’s going to lay low for now and then we’ll assess from there. The mission right now is recon until after the baby, meet with both Presidents and then do what we need to do. Nothing is off the table at this point. Apollo, I’m with you. I’m carrying everyday with my new wife and we’re about to have my second child. Bronx just got married, fucking today, and you and Lori are just starting. Ain’t no restrictions, brother.”
This meant we were about to have a war and everything was about to change.
“Okay, I’ll take lead on this recon. Will let Lori know about the tail she’ll get so she can be on guard,” I shared.
“I’ll let Bear know about the tail so he can share with Dessy.” Razor nodded.
“We’ll do recon on the other Vipers if you do it with the rogues,” Swag offered.
“I’m with Apollo,” Shiz said.
“Me too,” Dash offered.
“Done,” Razor said before he hit the gavel on the table. “Let’s get some rest.”
The men stood but I stayed behind to go over some of the surveillance footage for the past few weeks. There was nothing out of the ordinary but my internal warning system was on red alert.
The bliss I’d been in was being threatened and I’d worked too damn hard to get Lori Barrister back. I meant what I said to her father, to Razor and her.
I would do whatever I needed to for her to be safe and be with me.
Mounting my bike, I touched my chest where I kept her engagement ring, my design for her tattoo that would be inked on my chest and the documents to put the house in both of our names.
All of that just got pushed forward if we were going to war.
Lori needed to be taken care of, no matter what.
End of the story.
I hope you enjoyed Apollo & Lori’s story. While, it may be the end of this couple’s direct story, if you’ve been following the series, you’ll know the guys and gals are close, so you will definitely see them again. Keep reading the series to find out what will happen to the Vipers and if Apollo will need to rectify the wrongs that they are plotting against the Guardians.
Next up is Dessy & Bear’s story
The best way to stay tuned is my mailing and texting list!
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1 - Prologue
BEAR
I knifed up in bed as sweat droplets trickled down my face, chest and back, and my breathing labored all because of one dream. Well, it wasn’t just a dream, it was the same recurring dream of an actual event.
Razor, Bronx, and I rode to RIGOR, Bronx’s gym, after having a heavy discussion about women and all the bullshit they sent us through when they get their hooks in us. We’d just decided Apollo would dump the nurse and get with Lori. I should have put my wager on that bet because that’s exactly what happened. It’s their story to tell but no matter what happened in the past, Lori belonged to him, through and through.
We entered the front area of the gym and saw Dessy talking to some dickhead wearing leather pants, a white t-shirt, and he had the dirty nerve to have his hand wrapped her waist.
A growl erupted from me and I could feel my brothers go on red-alert because this shit would not end well. It was a goddamn shame because Dessy wasn’t mine, but fuck if she didn’t feel like she belonged to me.
"You got business here?" Bronx asked the guy.
"You are?" The leather turd stood taller but his hand was still on Dessy, who quickly jumped between Bronx and her friend.
"Hey, Bronx. This is, uh, Jeb, the guy Haz set up with the Vipers. He was on the run, and he found me when he realized that no one was looking for him."
After hearing that tidbit, I took the opportunity to walk away, but Dessy ripped away from Jeb and called after me, "Bear, wait."
I kept walking, but she got in front of me. Razor started to ask the guy some questions, but I could feel Bronx near us.
"Fuck do you want?" I huffed.
"Wait, what happened? I thought we were supposed to be setting up dinner. You never called me and you won't return my calls." Dessy looked up at me like I could give her everything she ever wanted.
I couldn’t a
nd she needed to know that. Just because Shay looked at Bronx, Kylie looked at Razor, and Lori looked at Apollo like that did not put me in that category. I didn’t have shit to offer a young girl like her.
"Listen, girl. You got shit to handle." I jerked my thumb behind me, as she shook her head. "And so do I. Let's not cross this bridge, okay?"
Her features darkened as her brows closed together, her lips thinned, and her small nose flared.
"Okay, Bear. That's how you want it to be?" She moved out of my way and dramatically bent her body at the waist, then extended her arm for me to pass by her. "Go ahead. Just know I think you're scared. Not the sort of thing I expected from you, but...."
The fuck?
She let it hang out there and fuck if that didn't stop me right in my tracks.
"Little girl, you ever heard about what happens to folks who poke bears?" I growled at her.
"Don't see any bears 'round here?" She looked up and around the gym.
I took a step toward her and then pointed in the direction of the guy wearing leather pants.
"What's he to you?" I snarled.
Dessy's nose lifted as she looked at me defiantly, then she took a step closer. "Why?"
Yup, this was Shay's cousin and I told her before, sass would get her ass tanned.
One side of my mouth lifted, then I shouted to Bronx without my gaze leaving Dessy, "Bronx, Dessy needs a break. Now!"
Before he could respond I dipped, picked her up, and swung her over my shoulder like she was a rag doll.
"Bear." She hit my back. "Put me down."
When we turned the corner, I slapped Dessy’s ass hard. She needed to know I was not the fucking one.