“You used her.” The snap of his finger dislocating sounds as Nick winces. He’s trying to take it like a man, but I see the tears in his eyes. I’m gonna break you fucker.
Picking up his left ring finger, I continue on, “This was the finger you would’ve been wearing a wedding band on. You proposed to her, but you didn’t really want to marry her. All of this was a business deal for you.” Another pull and snap followed by him crying out in pain.
His middle finger trembles as I lift it harshly. “You manipulated her into thinking she was better off with you than her own family. Well, her family never left bruises on her beautiful skin, but you did, you piece of shit.” Pull and snap.
His shoulders shudder as I reach his index finger.
“No, please,” he begs.
“She was sick. You didn’t take her to the doctor.” His fingers are swelling as, once again, I give a pull and hear a snap.
Moving back to his right side, I see the tears fall down his face. “Pansy ass motherfucker, cry all the tears you want to cry, none of it will help you now.”
His left hand now useless, Danza steps back as I lift the pinky of his right, holding his palm down against the bar just as I did with his other hand. “You put her down.” He tries to pull away, only I don’t let go so he inadvertently helps me. I twist more as he grunts through the pain.
Moving to his ring finger, I continue, “You called your own baby a bastard.” He cries out as I pull, drowning the sound of the snap.
His middle finger shakes uncontrollably as I lift it. “You lied to her over and over again. Every single time you said you cared or you loved her, it was all lies.” He shakes his head violently back and forth, a plea for me to stop. I pull and twist as he throws his head back in agony at the snap.
Picking up his index finger, I move it back and forth, teasing the skin. “You aren’t worth the air you breathe. You put your hands on her, so let me make this clear, in case you missed it, you do not put your hands on my woman. Every time you look at your hands for the rest of your miserable life, you think about today before you touch a damn thing. As for Sass, you forget she ever existed. The arrangement with your dad is null and void. We’ll be paying him a visit to make sure of that. And, if you want to keep breathin’, you stay away from Sass and her baby. You tell anyone what happened here today, we’ll find you and make you suffer even more.” With that, I make the final tug, hear the snap, and drop his finger.
I step away as Danza moves in. “Get your head on straight because, if I find out you’ve done this to someone else’s daughter, there will be hell to pay. Learn your lesson today, motherfucker.” After Danza reaches up to the back of Nick’s head and slams it face first into the bar, blood pours out of his nose as he comes up.
Roundman, Danza and I leave him there to sort himself out and walk out of the house.
At the bottom of the stairs, we climb on our bikes, and Danza and Roundman nod to me before we pull off. This time, I’m riding off to my girl and my future.
Chapter
19
Enough Time Wasted
~Sass~
It’s been two weeks since I left Nick and moved in with Tank and Doll is still here, helping me get settled. My dad and Tank don’t want me to work, so I have a lot of time on my hands. I did try to go to the office, but it was quickly proven the boys were right. The smells of rubber, oil and all things that say dirty garage were mixed together, and I spent more time in the bathroom than at my desk.
Doll shows up as I finish up cleaning the kitchen, enjoying the smell of the lemon-scented cleaner. Her face changes, and suddenly, she’s off to the bathroom. As she empties her breakfast into my toilet, I hold her hair back.
When she finishes, I smile down at her. “Babe, you got something you want to tell me?”
“I think I have food poisoning,” she replies, totally oblivious to what I’m insinuating.
“Doll, honey, you’re a married woman, and I’ve been around you and your man; I don’t think rabbits could keep up. We’ve done everything together since childhood, why should parenthood be any different?”
Her mouth drops open. “Are you sayin’ you think I’m pregnant?”
“And she finally catches on,” I openly retort with a laugh.
“Shit, Sass. Ummm…” Her shock registers in all of her features.
“We should probably go buy a test,” I reply, grinning from ear to ear.
Two hours later, two more lines in front of us, we are now in the throes of planning how to tell Tripp, who is back in town for a meeting. Doll and I already planned for him to be here for dinner, so we decide to share the news in a fun way, and I help Doll wrap the small box to give her man.
The boys come home and eat like they are starved animals. After dinner, Tank and I are on the loveseat with his arm leisurely laid across the back behind me. Doll and Tripp are sitting in a similar fashion on the couch with Tripp on the end and Doll in the middle, his arm lying behind her. Doll reaches under the throw pillow where we hid the gift earlier today and places the small box in front of Tripp.
“Babe, if it’s a holiday, then I’ve missed it,” he states. Doll and I both laugh.
Tripp opens the box, pulling out the tiny black onesie, and I smile as Tank realizes what it is; one of the custom onesies I’ve had made for our baby. Given the short notice, I’ll be ordering a replacement, but Tripp deserves this one.
Holding it up, I watch his eyes as he reads the front of the baby-sized shirt that says, ‘Daddy’s Lil’ Hellion’ in red. When recognition dawns, he looks to Doll, and without a word, he leans over and kisses her thoroughly and loudly.
Leaning over, I whisper to Tank, “I’ll order our baby another one, but we just found out today and needed to improvise.”
As he kisses my temple and wraps his big arm around my shoulders, pulling me against him, I move my arm to hug his waist and snuggle down into him. Everything feels right. Perfect.
*****
(Two Months Later)
Doll is back in Catawba with Tripp pampering her. They’re both excited for their baby. She went to the doctor, and as it turns out, we’re due the same month. She had been ignoring the signs, pushing it off on stress, traveling and anything other than a baby.
Tank and I are still living together because he says I don’t need to be alone and knows I don’t want to live with my parents. If it wasn’t for him, I’d honestly go stay with Doll. He’s here, though, and he’s my heart. Yet, I’m just not sure where we go from here.
Nick’s dad sold the company to some investors from up north. He made a mint and is retiring in Florida. I don’t know where Nick is these days, however, I did get a certified letter from him through his attorney stating that he was relinquishing all paternal rights to my unborn child and that he wouldn’t contact me ever.
Mr. and Mrs. Valentine, for some reason, bought the beach house from Nick or from the bank, I’m not sure which. I saw the Cayenne and Nick’s Mercedes for sale in the newspaper, too. He took a huge loss on those cars, but whoever bought them got a steal of a deal. As his life is falling apart, mine is finally coming together.
As I’m getting ready for the night, I bump into a box on the floor of the closet and the lid pops open. The top paper has the hospital letterhead on it. Flipping the first few pages, I see it’s Tank’s medical record. My heart beats loudly in my chest as I look at the paper it has stopped on. The nurse’s note stands out.
Mr. Oleander is unresponsive for the most part. The only reaction he has is when a Ms. Savannah Perchton visits him. Although it could be unrelated and involuntary, his heart rate accelerates with each of her visits.
He heard me every visit. He loves me with every beat of his heart. In that moment, I realize enough time has been wasted.
~Tank~
As I get ready to spend another night on the couch, I realize for the hundredth time we really need to get a bed in the second bedroom. This is getting old, quick. First of all, I don’
t like wearing clothes to bed, so wearing sweats and boxer shorts makes it more uncomfortable even if they are loose fitting. Secondly, it has been months now that I have slept without being able to really stretch out, so my leg stays stiff. I need to find the time to get a bed in the other room, but I have also been waiting for Sass to decide if she wants that room or my room for the nursery. There is more here to think of than just me.
“Tank,” I hear Sass call from the bedroom.
I walk in to find her standing by the bed. “Yeah, Button.”
“Enough time has been wasted.”
“Button?” I question, raising my eyebrows, unsure as to what she is eluding to.
“We’ve danced around each other for years and both made mistakes, which have cost us so much time together. I know we said we were gonna take things slow, but I don’t want to waste another minute. I love you.”
Not wasting another second, I reach out and pull her to me, crashing my lips down on hers. She pulls on my lip ring as I reach down and cup her ass, then she pushes my pants down, letting me know exactly what she wants.
Naked, with her in my arms, my dick hardens. I run my hands up, going under her tank top, breaking our kiss to pull it off. With her full, plump breasts now free, I drop my head to suck one of her nipples into my mouth. Flicking the metal of my tongue ring around, her hands grab my head, holding me to her as she whimpers.
I guide her back until we hit the bed as I continue licking and sucking her breast while my hands grab and squeeze her ass. When I push her gently back, she lies on the bed before me in just her short, bedtime shorts and panties. I slide them down, exposing her to me.
Her small, rounded belly is in front of me as I stand over her. I run my hands over it as I take in all the new curves of her body. Her hips have widened, thighs thickened, and breasts… oh, her breasts have filled out. There is a tiny being growing inside her. My chest tightens in love for the life that’s developing with every breath she takes. Each beat of the tiny, little heart is another moment in its beginning.
With my hands laying lightly over her, I watch as she breathes. Another moment, another beginning for us, all of us.
“Tank,” she whispers.
I lean over her and kiss her gently, letting her tongue dance slowly with mine. She moves her legs around my hips, pulling me onto her. I kiss down to her neck where I breathe against the spot just behind her ear before I roll the ball of my tongue ring against her earlobe.
“Button,” I whisper.
She arches into me. “I need more, Tank.”
I run my nose against her collarbone. “Shh… no talking.” I trail feather light kisses down her swollen abdomen, still in awe there is a little life growing inside her.
Kissing each of her hips, I run my tongue to the crease of her legs. Finding her pussy, pink and plump, I pull her lips apart with my thumbs, stroking up and down the sensitive nerve endings as I run my tongue over her folds. I flick the ball of my piercing against her clit as she tightens under me then move to insert one finger in her. Slowly, I tease her in and out as I use the ball to keep pressure on her nub, sending her over the edge in a soft orgasm.
She’s panting as I back away to rub her folds, giving her body time to go through the aftershocks. She’s laughing when I look up at her.
“Pregnancy orgasms rock.”
“Is that so?” I smile up at her.
“Oh, yeah.”
Making my way back up, I lick circles around her right nipple while rolling her left between my thumb and finger. She shimmies under me, wanting more.
Back at her mouth, I suck on her bottom lip, releasing it with a smacking sound.
“Turn over, baby,” I command as I move her over onto all fours.
Reaching above us, I grab a pillow and put in under her belly. I massage her back then guide her head down so she’s ass up in the air in front of me. Rubbing her ass, I use my hands to spread her cheeks as I allow my thumbs to tease circles around her puckered entry. Leaning over, I run my tongue over her pussy again. She’s so wet and so greedy she’s trying to clinch around my tongue.
When she’s rocking back towards my face, I pull away and line up to enter her. Rubbing my dick through her wet folds, I continue to tease her. Inching just the tip into her opening, I pause. Before I can move, she pushes back, her pussy engulfing my entire length as she moans her pleasure. She fits like a damn glove as I slowly begin to slide all the way out to quickly push back in. She feels so good under me.
As I reach down, taking one of her breasts in my hand, and tug on her nipple, she stills beneath me as her climax is right on the edge. Increasing my pace, I place my hands on her hips to control her movements. When I thrust faster, she trembles as she cries out my name while her orgasm washes over her.
Knowing I am close, I pull out and turn her back over to face me. Slowly, I enter her again as her pussy grips my dick in her aftershocks. I lean down and kiss her as she wraps her legs and arms around me. Meeting her gaze, I increase my pace, no longer able to hold back as my own orgasm comes fast and hard.
Dropping my forehead to hers, I try to regulate my breathing. Still inside her, eye to eye, I whisper, “Button, I love you.”
Chapter
20
Forever Ride
~Sass~
(3 Months Later)
When people talk about pregnancy glow, I know they are referring to the natural glow a pregnant woman’s skin gets from the hormones, but in my case, my life is practically glowing. Life is good. Tank and I are together, the baby is healthy, and I’m having a textbook pregnancy. With Tank needing to keep up regular exercise and stretching, we do things together. Through this, I have kept my weight gain to a minimum.
Doll, on the other hand, hasn’t. She has gained sixty-five pounds already and is having some issues with gestational diabetes. She is getting it under control with her diet now, but it has been a rough time for her.
She’s coming to visit tomorrow. We both found out the sex of our babies a few weeks ago, and neither of us have shared with anyone outside of our partners. I don’t know what she’s having and she doesn’t know what I’m having.
The Hellions are having a barbeque this weekend to announce the sex of the babies, though. So, Doll and I are going to pick names and then share them with everyone there. We have both narrowed down our choices; it’s just picking the right one and sharing whether it’s a girl or boy.
Tank and I spend the evening and next day painting the nursery. Well, actually, Tank is painting while I sit on the couch shopping online for baby stuff. The nursery is a vibrant shade of red with a black crib, dresser, and changing table set. Doll has the same color scheme. We decided early on if it’s a boy, we’re doing a motorcycle theme, of course; and if it’s a girl, it will be lady bugs.
When Doll and Tripp get into town, we order pizza for an easy meal, eating in the living room and then relaxing after dinner, not moving a muscle to clean up the pizza boxes. Besides, it’s time to share. I am so excited!
“Did you bring your envelope?” I ask, getting up to get mine.
She lays her hand out, palm up, to Tripp who retrieves their envelope from his pocket. Walking by on my way back to the loveseat, I swap envelopes with her and then sit down.
“On three,” I say with a smile.
Without a moment of hesitation, “Three,” Doll says with excitement as we both tear into the envelopes to reveal blue pieces of paper.
Jumping up, we both hug and squeal then we start laughing hysterically at each other. Of course, being pregnant, we both then have to pee almost instantly afterward.
We settle back to our seats after the excitement and shock that we’re both having boys.
“What name have you decided on?” Doll asks, knowing I haven’t shared with Tank what I really want to name him.
“Well, I’m hoping it will be okay with Marsha to name him Kenneth Thomas Oleander,” I reply, watching Tank.
“You wanna name him aft
er Bull and me?” Tank asks.
“He meant something to you, and you mean everything to me and this baby.”
Tank and I have discussed everything from our relationship to college education for this baby to my damn birth plan. He’s back in his bed with me and this house has truly become our home together. The one thing we haven’t discussed is the name. He told me whatever I wanted was fine. I know it’s because he wants the baby to have his last name, but he doesn’t want to push the issue. Blood doesn’t make a father. Tank is this baby’s daddy and the baby will carry on his name.
“Is there a reason you wouldn’t want this baby to carry your uncle’s name as well as yours?” I question as my hormones take over.
Tank leans over and kisses me. “Button, it means more than you know that you want to give that to our boy. I’m surprised, that’s all. I figured you would name him after Danza.”
“Danza’s my dad; you’re this baby’s father.”
“Kenneth Red Oleander, that’s his name. You’re my red, he carries both of us,” Tank declares, kissing me again.
A piece of me, a piece of him, and a Hellion to carry on—it’s perfect.
“Well, Doll?” I ask, wondering what she’s come up with.
“Blaine Ward Crews after my dad and Tripp.” She smiles proudly. “The next generation of Hellions are coming. Get ready for the ride.”
~Tank~
The girls have a barbeque planned for the big reveal. They have no clue what I have up my sleeve, though, and we have two hours before the party starts.
We’re at the clubhouse making sure the food is ready when Danza makes his way over to me.
“Take a ride with me,” he says then nods to Sass. “I promise he’ll be back in more than enough time.”
Forever Ride Page 17