by Nicole James
“Ooow, someone woke up all cranky this morning?”
Crystal followed Angel past the pool table on the left to the open floor plan kitchen with its granite island. She took a seat on one of the stools at the bar. Shannon and Mary were mixing up more drinks.
Crystal’s eyes slid over Shannon. She was a tall slender blonde that looked totally put together, even with her hair up in a twist and yoga pants on. “I hate you,” Crystal growled as she bit into her celery.
“Hate me? Why?” Shannon’s beautiful smile faded.
“Because you look like a movie star at ten in the morning.”
Shannon’s smile returned. “Yeah, you’re a real dog with your thick glossy dark hair and those big gorgeous eyes. I really feel for you, girl.”
“Come on, let’s go up on the rooftop with these drinks,” Angel suggested.
They made their way through the loft and up the metal stairs that led to the roof. As Crystal looked around, it was obvious that Shannon had definitely had an influence on the place already since moving in with Crash. Previously there had only been a couple of Adirondack chairs and some wooden crates. Now, the crates were gone, there were cushions on the chairs, as well as two loungers and a nice table.
“Wow. Nice upgrade,” Crystal commented as they all sat down.
“Thanks. I love what Crash did with his loft, but the roof…it needed a little help.”
“You ain’t lyin’.”
“So, how are you doing, Crystal? I haven’t seen you in a while,” Shannon asked.
“I’m okay.”
“You look tired,” Angel noted.
“I didn’t get much sleep last night.”
“Oh, really? What’s his name?” Mary asked.
“Oh, right away it’s a guy?”
“I’m just saying…” Mary replied in a sing-song voice.
Angel gave Crystal a knowing look. “Shane?”
Crystal huffed out a laugh. “No. Actually Cole told me to steer clear of him. At least until he gets his patch.”
“And once he gets his patch?” Shannon prodded.
Crystal gave a sly smile. “Let me see. How did he put it? I believe his words were ‘I could have at him’.”
They all giggled.
“So, if it wasn’t Shane, what or who kept you up all night?” Mary prompted.
Angel stared at her, urging her when she didn’t reply. “Crystal?”
“It was Wolf, wasn’t it?” Shannon asked.
When she didn’t reply, they all knew.
“Crystal!” Angel’s mouth fell open. “You and Wolf?”
“Maybe.” Crystal put her off, shrugging like it was no big deal. But she knew this was all news to Angel. Shannon knew. And probably Mary had heard from Red Dog, but Crystal had never spoken of her affair with Wolf to Angel. She’d have kept it a secret from all of them if she could, but Shannon had witnessed the fight that Wolf had had with Shane over her, and had dragged her off and wormed the whole story out of her. A story she’d kept from her best friend, Angel. And now Angel knew.
“Spill. What happened?” Angel demanded.
“Oh, all right. He was at my place when I got home.”
Mary frowned. “You mean waiting out front for you?”
“No. I mean he was waiting inside for me.”
Mary’s brows shot up. “Inside?”
Crystal nodded. “Sitting in the dark in my bedroom.”
“Whoa. Wait. Is that creepy or sexy?” Shannon asked.
Angel gave her a look. “Have you lost your mind? Of course it was sexy. This is Wolf we’re talking about.”
“Just sayin’. It would kind of freak me out.” Shannon shrugged and took a sip of her drink.
“So, what happened?” Angel pressed Crystal for details.
Crystal lifted one shoulder. “What usually happens.”
“You are so bad,” Mary teased lying back on her chaise lounge. She lifted her sunglasses off her eyes and looked over at Crystal. “Was he good?”
Crystal couldn’t hide the smile pulling at her mouth. “Wolf is always good.”
“So, then why are you so in the dumps this morning?” Angel frowned, studying her.
“That’s not the problem.”
“Then what is?” Shannon asked.
Crystal gave her a look. “You should know.”
“Oh. That.”
“Oh, what?” Angel asked, frowning, looking from one to the other.
“Cole ordered Wolf to stay away from Crystal.”
“Why did he do that? And why am I just now finding out about all of this?”
Mary polished off the last of her drink. “Well, this has been fun, ladies, but I can’t stay. I have a nail appointment.”
“You can’t go. I baked a breakfast casserole!” Shannon turned to give her a stern look, ruining it with her smile.
Crystal sniffed the air. “Speaking of casseroles, do you smell something?”
Shannon’s smile faded, and her eyes got big. Then she jumped out of her chair and darted for the door. “Oh Crap.”
Crystal, Angel and Mary looked at each other, and then burst out laughing.
“Hey, every bride burns a meal or two,” Angel defended.
“Yeah, but eating the burnt remains is supposed to be the groom’s job,” Crystal replied.
Mary giggled and waggled her fingers in the air as she headed to the door. “Ta-ta, ladies. Enjoy your meal.”
“Chicken-shit!” Crystal called after her.
Mary stopped in the door way and turned back, flicking her waist length hair over her shoulder. “Mama Wu didn’t raise a stupid daughter, honey.”
“Mama Wu raised a chicken-shit,” Crystal called after her in good natured fun.
“I’ll tell her you said that.”
“Mama Wu loves me. She knows I’m right.”
The door closed on Mary’s laughter.
Angel turned to Crystal. “Well, come on. Let’s go see if it’s salvageable. But you’re not off the hook. I still want the full story on you and Wolf.”
“Okay, okay.”
They both got up and began collecting glasses to carry inside.
****
Crystal took a small bite, put it in her mouth, and then spoke sarcastically around the mouthful. “Umm. Yum.”
Angel almost snorted out her drink as she began to laugh.
Shannon took a bite and threw her fork on her plate. “Okay, okay. It’s terrible.”
They all giggled.
A moment later, Crystal was covering her mouth and jumping off her barstool to run for the bathroom as her stomach cramped. Reaching it just in time, she vomited into the toilet.
When she came back out, Angel asked, “Are you okay?”
“It wasn’t that bad, was it?” Shannon asked, frowning.
Crystal shook her head and moved back to her barstool. She reached for her Bloody Mary glass. “I don’t know. I just suddenly felt nauseous.”
“That’s just how I was when I was pregnant with Brayden. Every time I even smelled eggs, I’d…” Her voice faded off as a shocked look formed on her face.
Crystal watched her two best friends look at each other, then Angel looked back at her.
“Crystal…you’re not pregnant, are you?”
“What? No. Hell no. I can’t be. I’m on the pill.”
Shannon frowned. “Yeah, but you were sick with that bronchial infection last month, and you were on antibiotics.”
“So?”
“So? They make the pill ineffective. Didn’t you read the prescription?” Angel asked.
Crystal looked back with what she was sure was a ‘deer in the headlights’ look. “Shit.”
Angel took the drink out of her hand, walked over and dumped it in the sink. As she did, Crystal thought about the two shots she’d done with Red Dog at the end of the night last night. Before her scrambled brain could get any further than that, Shannon took her by the arm and hustled her back into the bathroom with Angel
hot on their heels. Shannon pulled a box down from the shelf and handed it to Crystal.
She looked down at the box in her hand. It was a pregnancy test. Her brow rose. “You keep these in stock?”
Shannon shrugged and admitted a little shyly, “Crash and I have been trying.”
“You have?” Angel squealed, excitedly.
“No luck yet.”
After Crystal peed on the stick, they all stood around staring at it for three minutes watching the little plus sign form, until it couldn’t be denied. It was positive. Crystal felt the room spin.
“I think I need to sit down.” They guided her over to the couch. Shannon got her a bottle of water, and she sipped on it and again thought about the shots she did last night.
“So who’s the father?” Angel asked softly.
Shannon sat down next to her and took her hand. “Is it Wolf?” When she didn’t answer Shannon pressed, “Shane?”
She’d had her period since the one time she’d been with Shane. But Wolf had been with her one night last month. No, wait, twice.
Oh, God.
“I haven’t been with Shane.”
Shannon frowned. “You haven’t? I thought…”
She shook her head. “A couple of months ago. Once. But not since then. It can’t be his. There’s just been…”
“Wolf?” Angel’s face was soft with sympathy as she prodded.
“Yes.”
Shannon and Angel exchanged a look.
Crystal felt the blood drain from her face. “What am I going to do?”
“You should tell him,” Shannon advised.
Crystal shook her head. “No. I can’t. He’ll be so pissed.”
“No, he won’t,” Angel insisted, frowning. “Why do you say that?”
“He doesn’t want a kid.”
Shannon cocked her head. “How do you know that? Have you asked him?”
“No, but…”
“Men don’t know what they want until you give it to them,” Angel advised.
“Oh, really? Is that how it goes?” Crystal asked with a smirk.
Angel smiled. “Kind of.”
“Are you afraid Wolf won’t step up?” Shannon asked hesitantly.
“I don’t want him if it’s that way,” Crystal replied with conviction. The last thing she wanted was a man that resented her or that was with her because he felt trapped into it. She finished the water and set it down. “Promise me this is between us. You can’t tell Cole or Crash. Promise me.” She searched both their faces.
Shannon nodded. “All right. I promise.”
Angel squeezed her hand, looking meaningfully into her eyes. “Take some time to get used to the idea yourself. You don’t have to share the news with him right away, or decide anything yet, but no matter what you decide, he needs to know.”
Crystal just stared at her. If anyone knew about that, it was Angel.
“Crystal, you know how things went down with Cole and I. He was so upset that I’d kept it from him. And now look at how happy we are.”
Crystal nodded. “But that’s you and Cole. Wolf…he’s…”
“He’s what?”
“He’s always been so adamant right from the start that he wasn’t looking for an ol’ lady.”
“You think Cole didn’t say the same thing to me?”
Shannon smiled. “I think Crash may have said about the same thing to me, too.”
“See?” Angel insisted.
Crystal managed a tremulous smile. Her friends meant well. And in their cases, things had worked out. And she was glad for them. But she and Wolf were a different story. They had such a complicated relationship as it was, if you could even call what they had a relationship. And now to add this to it? She couldn’t even imagine what Wolf’s reaction would be. He was such a hard man to figure out. He took the term complicated to a whole other level.
On one hand, he didn’t want to be tied down. No strings. That had been his requirement from the very start. Yet, at the same time, he was so territorial and possessive of her. Hell, when they first met, he’d made sure the rest of his brothers knew to back off her.
She nodded, more to reassure her friends than anything else.
CHAPTER THREE
Crystal was at the clubhouse, behind the bar slinging drinks for the club’s weekly Friday night party. The place was packed with members, hang-a-rounds, friends and sweet-butts.
Crystal was partially distracted by her thoughts. A week had passed since she’d discovered she was pregnant, but she still hadn’t come to terms with her situation or worked up the courage to say anything to Wolf. God, what a coward she was turning out to be.
Red Dog reached across the bar and tugged on a lock of her hair. “You doin’ okay, doll?”
She blinked, putting a smile on. “Sure, Dog. You want a beer?”
“Does a bear piss in the woods?”
She popped the top on a bottle and slid it in front of him. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
Red Dog grinned and took a long pull off the bottle. Her eyes slid over his shoulder, and her smile faded. Wolf strolled in with his arm around Misty.
She watched as he greeted several of his brothers with back slaps, and then his eyes lifted and connected with hers. He had the gall to wink at her.
Red Dog noticed her gaze aimed at the door and twisted to look over his shoulder. He let out a loud, “Huh. Don’t even concern yourself, Crystal. She’s ain’t worth it. He’s just trying to make a point.”
“And what is that point, Dog?”
“That he can’t be caught, can’t be tied down.”
“Yeah. I think I’ve had my nose rubbed in that ‘point’ before.”
“Then fucking do something about it.”
Crystal looked at Dog, and then smiled. “You’re right, Dog. I should do something about it.”
She saw the curious look in Dog’s eyes as he watched her plunge her hand in the tub of ice, pull out a bottle of beer, then throw the hinged end of the bar top up and walk around out from behind the bar. She saw him out of the corner of her eye as he twisted with a frown, following her with his eyes. He was probably going to be real surprised when he saw what she was about to do, because she had a feeling it wasn’t what he’d meant, at all. And she also knew there’d be hell to pay, but right now she was an emotional, hormonal wreck, and she just didn’t give a fuck anymore.
She made her way through the crowd. Wolf was now off by the pool table talking to Cajun, while Misty was standing off by the jukebox, looking bored and too above it all.
Crystal walked right up to her, taking in her trashy outfit, a short halter mini dress in bubblegum pink with a plunging neckline that went all the way to her navel. The little tramp.
Misty noticed Crystal coming toward her, and Crystal sure as hell didn’t like the way she looked her up and down like she wasn’t worth her time. Think again, bitch.
“Would you like a beer?” Crystal asked, holding out the bottle.
“I don’t drink beer,” Misty said with distain.
“Aw, that’s too bad because I’ve got a cold one right here just for you.” Then she twisted the cap off the beer, shook it and sprayed it all over Misty, who shrieked her lungs out. Crystal had a moment’s satisfaction watching Misty’s big hair dripping with beer, and her makeup running down her face.
“You little bitch!” Misty shrieked, holding her arms in front of her trying to fend off the worst.
Crystal continued to spray her, until suddenly two strong arms locked around her waist and dragged her back. Cole’s voice growled in her ear.
“That’s enough, Crystal. Goddamn it.”
Crash grabbed the bottle out of her hand. “Damn, girl.”
“You bitch!” Misty shrieked again, and Green got in front of her as she tried to rush Crystal, claws ready to scratch her eyes out.
“Whoa there, babe. Back off,” Green barked, his hand in her chest, pushing her back.
Cole squeezed Crystal, giving he
r a little shake. “Don’t suppose I even have to ask, but what the fuck, babe? You know better than this. This shit does not fly. Not in our goddamn clubhouse. You hear me?”
She nodded.
“I mean it, Crystal. You want to take her out, have at her. But it won’t be goin’ down on Dead fucking property. We clear?”
“Yes, Cole. We’re clear,” Crystal replied tightly.
****
Wolf was at the pool table talking with Cajun when all the shit went down. One minute everything was chill, the next all hell broke loose. Looking over, he was shocked to see Crystal smack dab in the middle of it. Crystal hosing down Misty with a bottle of beer. Jesus H. Christ.
Before he could shove his way through the wall of leather clad brothers to get to them, Cole had Crystal in a chest lock from behind, and by the look on his face as he bent his head to her ear he was reading her the riot act.
Shit.
As Wolf shouldered his way through the crowd, his eyes focused on the hold Cole had on Crystal, and a shot of pure adrenaline zapped through him. And suddenly he was filled with the overwhelming feeling of wanting to tear his VP apart for putting his hands on her like that.
He glanced to the left and saw Green restraining Misty. Misty, who was now drenched in beer and stinking like a brewery. If the situation wasn’t so fucked up, he’d have a hard time holding back his laughter, something his brothers apparently weren’t having a problem with as they were all now laughing their asses off. Every one of them except Cole and Crash, who knew just how fucked up this situation truly was.
When Wolf stepped between the women, it was Crystal who had all his attention. He glared at her, his temper flaring. Then his eyes lifted over her head to Cole. Cole, who looked ready to tear him a new one. Cole, who knew exactly who was really to blame for this shit. Cole, who rightfully held him one hundred percent responsible.
“You and I need to have a talk,” Cole ground out.
Wolf nodded once and bit out, “Let her go.”
Cole stared him down. “You want to say that again?”
Wolf swallowed his anger. “Let me talk to her a minute, VP.”
Cole released her, and Wolf clamped a hand around her forearm and dragged her through the crowd to the back hall.