by Vera Quinn
“Thank you, Chief. If the numbers are what I can live on, then yes. I can quit the lame jobs I have now.” Joy seems excited at the thought of the new job.
“You can stay here in one of the rooms if you want so you don’t have to pay rent.” Then she will be here if there is trouble with one of the girls.
“I want the job, but I need to keep my apartment until my sister gets on her feet, but then I’ll take the room if it is available.” I didn’t even know Joy had a sister. “My baby sister moved in with me about a month ago. She just moved here from Pittsburg. Her husband was killed in Afghanistan three years ago, and she’s just surviving, not really living. She moved here to get a fresh start.”
“I thought you were a Texas girl. What was your sister doing in Pennsylvania?” Joy had me curious.
“Oh no. She’s from Pittsburg in Texas. No h on the end. It’s a very small town. She’s twenty-six and she married her high school sweetheart. She’s a good girl and used to be crazy as hell, but when she lost Michael her light went out. I’m helping her get back to life even if she fights me at every turn. I was going to ask if I could bring her around, but she is really shy.” I can tell Joy really loves her sister.
“What’s her name? Joy you can bring her around, but maybe wait until we have something for family. You take this job and you will be included in all our family functions. You said she is shy, so it would probably work better.” I can’t imagine another Joy that is shy. Joy is anything but shy.
“Her name is Emily. Em to most. You’re right, family function is probably better. I just want her to get back out there. Michael is the only man she ever even dated.” Joy stops talking and looks like she is in thought and then she smiles. “Thank you Chief, for this chance. I won’t let the club down.” She has tears in her eyes.
“You deserve it Joy. You’ve shown your loyalty and you’ve been here over ten years with no problems. Just keep a strong hand on these females. All we need is fighting in our club. I have no patience for it. Now be sure everyone is happy tonight and get with Hammer for the paperwork. If anyone gives you shit, let me or ZMan know.” I see Shield raising a shot glass and I know he is on his way to a great party, but I am just tired, so I head to my room for some much needed rest. I sleep with one eye open in my house.
Chapter 6
Chief
The last two weeks have been a whirlwind. Callie is here, and I am going to go wake her soon, but I just need a few minutes to really take in having my daughter back home, even if it is temporary. I should be able to get some sleep tonight.
Just when I thought we would get everything under control and tie up loose ends, we have found out another club is pushing drugs. That shit does not happen in our town. We are busy on all fronts now. We will put this club out of our town with a quickness.
My mind goes to my other problems. I came home two nights ago to find Kim is gone. Apparently Steel is under the impression Kim and I are more than we are. He called and said if we stayed together, it was full out war. The next day she is gone. He threatened Callie’s freedom. I told him to fuck off, but where he got the impression Kim and I are anything is beyond me. I couldn’t help but to let him believe it for now. Now he knows how it feels. Kim’s playing her games. Not that I want her here, but something has changed, I don’t know what and I don’t like it. I think it is time for a little chat with Devil. I will let him decide what to tell Steel. I also need to call Dra and have a talk with him. He needs to be aware of the threat to his ol’ lady. This is not easy for me, but the more I think about it, the more I know it is the right thing to do. Realizing Callie is a full grown woman with an old man to take care of her is not easy, at all. Devil is my grandchild’s father and it is his right to be able to know about Kim’s hate. This shit is making me feel old. I won’t ever let my baby girl completely go, but I have to give respect to the men in her life, because if it was the other way around I would go ballistic. My mind is set.
I get up and get my shower. It is still early, but everyone needs to get a move on. Today we find out if Callie is having a boy or girl. I would love to have a little granddaughter, but will love either one. Just want it to be healthy.
I also have to deal with Blake. I didn’t know Blake was coming, but am glad Callie did not make that trip alone. Blake said he has plenty of vacation time, but I know his boss is trying to get rid of him. Another thing that needs taken care of. We need to finally settle our differences. I know it is time.
My house is full again. It has felt empty since Callie has been gone. Before it was always full of laughter and her friends, but now it is just a place to sleep, when I do that. I’ve spent more time here since Kim has been here. That could be because all we do is fuck while I pump her for information. No, that did not make it feel like a home. It just made it feel lonely. Damn, I need to get Callie up and run to the clubhouse.
I make my way to Callie’s room and knock. “You better get up sleepy head. You’ll be late for your doctor appointment. Today is the big day.” I sure am excited about that. It takes me back to when Cheryl was pregnant with Ty.
“Okay, dad. I’ll shower and be down to cook.” Finally, some of her good home cooking. “Dad it’s still early. Everything ok?” Callie always knows. She is too smart for her own good.
“Just life, Baby Girl. I have to run to the club, so thought I would wake you first. Can’t say I haven’t missed your cooking, and I am looking forward to it.” My stomach could definitely do with it. It is already growling.
“Okay, it’ll be ready when you get back.” I turn and leave, knowing I need to get this done and get back. My phone call to Dra will not wait, and there’s no way I want Callie to hear it.
Chapter 7
Kim
“Look who I found outside.” Ty is cute as hell, but dumb as a bag of rocks. Like Callie can’t see who we are.
“Well good. Food is almost done” Callie is fixing another of her fattening, heart attack waiting to happen breakfasts again. Has the woman never heard of healthy food? Blake goes over and kisses Callie. How sickening. Women do not get kissed on the forehead by uncles at her age.
“Good morning, sweetheart. Look at you. You look beautiful, pregnant and in the kitchen.” Ma is fussing over the fat cow. “I have missed you.” I do not want to be here, but I need to be. I need to turn that knife in Chief’s heart I placed there when I left with no word. He tries to act like he isn’t affected, but I know he is. All he has to do is realize it, and what better way than to put myself under his nose as the dutiful friend. Even my family swallows it and they have known me forever. I can’t believe Chief didn’t set my dad straight when he called the other night, but Chief’s hate for my dad is working to my advantage.
“Don’t know about beautiful, but I’m comfortable.” Could Callie ask for more attention?
“You’re very beautiful barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen. Would only be better if it was my kitchen.” Could Kylar grovel anymore? He might as well cut his balls off and let Callie carry them around. He’s not a MC VP, he’s a worm. These people slobber over Callie anymore, and I’m going to throw up. He even went as far as to wear the cologne I helped her pick out for him. Since he can barely function these days, it is hysterical. Much more and Stone won’t have to take over the MC, they will hand it to him. I decide to completely tune out so I don’t have to hear anymore, until I hear Chief and Driller come in the door. Chief is pissed and I can tell it has to do with me. Exactly the reaction I wanted. I’m getting to him. It’ll be no time before he is crawling to me and begging. He’s trying his best to keep his eyes off me, but I know he’s paying attention. He goes to get a cup of coffee.
“Everyone ready to eat? We have about forty minutes until we have to leave.” He wants out of this room. I smile at him sweetly. No reaction. He fixes himself a huge plate. “I’ll be in my office. Come get me when you’re ready.” That’s it. He walks out. Ty and Driller follow close behind. Probably has work to talk about. Then I n
otice Callie is giving me an evil look, as if she is trying to see if she can see inside me. Her little friend Felix is doing the same thing.
“Anyone want to explain what just happened? Because I will not have my dad thinking he has to go to another room to eat in his own house.” I look at Kylar. Apparently no one has let Callie know everything that is going on. Interesting. I thought they let her in on everything.
“I told you I should have stayed at home.” I give the most helpless act I can. Yes, I have put Dad on the warpath. Ma pats my arm trying to reassure me. I stare at my brother.
“Steel told Chief if he stayed with Kim it would be full out war. Chief told him to fuck off, but when Steel talked to Kim, she went back home. To say the least, Chief was pissed, but when he found out he threatened your freedom, Chief lost it.” Blake just has to let everyone know. Everything is going just the way I want it. Now the bitch will feel guilty. Or that’s what I thought her reaction would be. Then I see her reach for the phone.
“Steel. What the hell do you think you’re doing? I will say this one time only, so listen, no one uses me against my dad. Now I’m going to tell you, find another way. I don’t care if you tie your damn daughter down. I don’t care if you put a damn moat around your house so you can keep her there. Do not use me! No, you shut up and listen to me, you have thirty minutes to change your tactics. Yes. By the time I leave to go to the doctor’s appointment, my dad better have received a phone call from you. Letting him know whatever you think you have on me has disappeared. Are we clear? If he doesn’t, with everything in me, you will never lay eyes on this child. Do you get that you over grown brat? Find another way!” I can’t believe Callie just lit into my dad. He will never cave to her demands, and I will be the good daughter because I listened to him and went home. She has her nerve speaking to him that way. I want to hurt her. Then my sniveling brother is looking at her like he is going to apologize for dad. I better try to smooth this so she thinks I’m still on Chief’s side.
“I’m sorry. I love your dad, but I don’t want you in any trouble. Dad still has some things on you about the night that dumbass tried to take me.” That sounded sincere. She looks like she bought it, but something in Kylar’s eyes looks skeptical. Surely dad didn’t tell him that I said they should take a hard stand with Callie. I know I was taking a chance saying that to dad, but he wouldn’t have told Kylar. Callie is looking at my ma.
“I tried to talk reason into him. He is going crazy over Chief with Kim. He will do anything. All the men in our family have lost their good sense. I’m at the point I am going to disown every damn one of them. You do what you have to. I love them all, but enough is enough.” Ma is being disloyal again. She already made dad stay at the clubhouse for weeks, and they fight all the time. She doesn’t deserve our family. Sometimes I wished Deacon had shot her and maybe then she would realize who family really is. Now she’s just sucking up to Callie. I’ll make them both pay.
Chapter 8
Chief
I couldn’t stand to stay in the kitchen and see Kim’s face any longer. She kept following me with her eyes, waiting for me to speak with her, but it’s not happening until I can control this anger. I spoke with Dra on the phone so he knows about Kim, but he seemed distracted. He is going to keep a close eye on Callie. I also let him know about Diamondback’s other children and he wants to keep it from our girl until after the baby is born, or until Diamondback comes clean. He’s trying to protect my girl, so I have to agree with him. She hasn’t known this long, so a little while longer is not going to hurt.
I have to be sure to get Devil off to himself before he goes back home. This shit with Steel needs to be handled. I have other things to concentrate on. ZMan says another high school student has overdosed on that shit that is being sold on our streets. It has to end before anyone else gets hurt. We have to stop the Possessed Blood Soul MC.
Tazer and Driller are staring at me. Driller finally decides to speak. “Are you going to let them know what is going on? I mean Devil, Callie, and Kat? They have to think you are sulking over Kim leaving.”
“One damn thing, grown ass men don’t sulk. I am going to speak to Devil when I can get him off by himself. That’s hard to do since Dra is not here to keep him from sniffing around Callie. It’ll be his nose in her ass all day. I won’t ruin today for Baby Girl.” I’ll figure out a way. We’ll be lucky not to come to blows, but at least he will be warned. I have noticed a change in Devil. He’s trying to do right, but we’ll see. “I spoke with Dra about their situation, also. Since Colorado has legalized marijuana, there has been some growers who want some land and a house Hawser has. He doesn’t want to sell and they have been giving the Troubled Fathoms problems. That is why Dra has the extra security on the women. Dra said it is their club business, not ours, and they have it handled. That’s the same thing Brain dug up, so we just have to let it ride out and hope for the best. Hopefully, if they can’t handle it, they will ask for the help I have already offered. Callie does not know about it all, so no slip ups.”
“After the baby is here I am setting up a meeting with Callie’s siblings. I’ll give Diamondback that long to come clean about it. Then Dra will be on board, too.” I don’t like keeping secrets too long, they always bite me in the ass.
“Baby Girl is going to be happy. She always wanted a sister. She wanted you to shack up with someone and give her one.” Tazer is right. She will be happy.
“I love both of you, but I’d rather cut my nuts off than raise another child in this life. I love my brothers, but club life is harder than hell sometimes and you miss so much being gone. You two were smart and learned your lessons fast, but to start all over? No, I’ll leave that for the younger, more patient sorts.” I look at Tazer and he understands. I missed a lot of ball games, hunting, and camping. I look at Driller and that poor bastard doesn’t know what he is in for. I take my last bite of food when my phone goes off. I look at it, what does this hot head want? Steel and I said what there was to say a few nights ago. I flip open my phone to hear what the ass has to say.
“Yeah?” That’s all I’ll give him.
“Never took you for one to let women do your talking for you.” What the hell is Steel talking about?
“What the hell are you going on about? No woman speaks for me.” I am irate and rightfully so.
“Callie called me and gave me a fucking what for and threatened me with not seeing my grandchild like I am doing something wrong.” Steel must have gotten on the bad side of Baby Girl. I just don’t know how she found out. It’s time to enlighten Steel on a few things.
“How’s that my problem? I haven’t told Callie shit you said. I told you to fuck off and that was what I meant.” I’m sure Callie is pissed.
“Look asshole, leave Kimberly alone. Then I’ll leave Callie alone.” This man is too much.
“You know what, the other night when you called I thought I would let you think what you wanted because you deserved it. Now I’m telling you. Kim means nothing to me. Never has. She came to me with her daddy issues and asked me for a place to stay. I gave it to her and I could care less she’s gone. In fact, I don’t even want her in my house, but this is for my daughter, so whatever she has told you is a sack of shit. I care nothing for her.” That’s as direct as I can give it to him.
“So you haven’t fucked my daughter. You have no relationship and this is just more of her drama?” Steel is grasping for straws. He knows no woman will ever be anything to me.
“We have no relationship. I did fuck her, seven ways to Sunday, but that is all it was. She offered more than once and I took her up on it many times, but she is like any other whore to me.” See how he likes that.
“You fucking mother fucker. That is my daughter you’re talking about. We didn’t disrespect Callie like that.” Steel is furious and that is exactly how I wanted him.
“Oh, really? Using her to get another woman back. Going to make sure she got pregnant and then abandon her. At least when
I fucked Kim, I was smart enough to wear a condom and she knew exactly what we were. I didn’t lie to her about anything and I told her where she stood with me. She not only agreed to it, she wanted it. Now this conversation is about over, since you know your daughter is no better than a whore.” I have now avenged the use of my daughter.
“Tell Callie she wins.” With that Steel disconnects. I laugh. Baby Girl strikes again.
“Well that was brutal. Is he looking for blood?” Tazer knows I would be if the shoe was on the other foot.
“No, actually Steel sounds defeated. He can’t deny what a shit job he did raising his children and the way they have turned out. I need to set Callie straight about doing things behind my back.” She has to stop. She’s going to be a mom soon.
“Like that is going to do any good.” Tazer is probably right, but I get up and head to the kitchen on a mission. It doesn’t take me long to get there.
“Baby Girl what the hell did you do? I can take care of Steel myself.” She needs to know to let it go.
“Callie is on the warpath again.” Driller is smiling non-stop. He’s loving this.
Kim walks in from outside. “Dad is mad but he won’t use anything against Callie. I guess that means I can stay, if you want me.” This woman is delusional. I told her if she left not to come back, and she thinks I want her to come back. I don’t even want to talk to her. She just keeps looking at me.
“This changes nothing between us. I told you if you left you weren’t coming back, and I meant it.” I turn my back to her and look at my watch. “We need to get moving.”
Callie is riding with Fe and everyone else just gets into their own vehicles. The ride didn’t take too long and Devil and Callie go to the back first, we are left to sit up front. Good thing today is not a busy day, or this would be one crowded room. Kim keeps trying to make eye contact and it is not happening. She can leave today and never come back. Kat keeps giving me the eye, if she keeps it up she will be enlightened just like her husband was on her daughter’s antics. Soon they call us all back and we each step in long enough to see the sonogram and hear the heartbeat. There is not a more beautiful sight or an amazing sound. I am going to have a grandson. I am over the moon. Maybe I can do some of the things I missed out on with Ty. We give both of them congratulations and as soon as I see the baby on that screen, I knew another piece of my black heart has been claimed. I will do anything to protect that baby. Not like before I wouldn’t have, but being able to finally see him again just cemented it.