Prince mounted his bike with the other Baztards and they rode off. As they pulled onto the street in the opposite direction that the Henchmen took, Shepherd took the place at Chief's right. But after a mile, the young man pulled back, and let Prince pass him to take the spot. The right-hand spot was reserved for the Baztard's VP.
They pulled up to the Baztard's clubhouse a half hour later. It was a warehouse that he, Chief, and Sully began renting their senior year of high school. By the time they'd graduated, they were able to buy it outright.
Then Prince went to law school and Sully went on his first tour. That left Chief alone with the recruits. But pulling up to the warehouse it looked as though Chief didn't lack for company.
The ranks of the Baztards had filled quickly when they first began. One of the reasons for that was that there was no discrimination in the club. Prince saw many familiar faces, but even more new and young faces. Baztards had always been a mixed bunch. They prided themselves on it. All races, ages, ethnicities, genders, and sexualities were welcome within the walls.
The Baztard motto: you cool with us, we cool with you.
A number of women from Prince's past rubbed against him. But inside his pants, his cock was an angry beast. It paced inside its cage, eager to get back to the warm place it had left a couple of hours ago. Instead of heading back to his side of town where his body and mind and dick wanted him to be, he collapsed down onto the couch next to Chief.
He was surprised there wasn't a girl in Chief's lap. The club President's mouth was locked around a beer bottle instead of a girl's lips. The two men sat in companionable silence, like old times, viewing their empire, which looked like the world as it should be. Everyone lived in harmony. Respect was earned. Disputes were mediated with justice that was swift, had eyes opened, and hands out of everyone's pockets.
It felt like times hadn't changed. The only thing missing was Sully.
"How's he doing?" Prince asked, popping open a beer.
Chief didn't need to ask who. "He has his good days."
"I'm guessing that today wasn't one of those."
"The last tour really messed him up."
Sully had been on three tours to Iraq and Afghanistan. It was more difficult for him because he looked like the people on the other side of the war lines. Prince decided to change the subject.
"How's Han?"
"He's grown big," said Chief with a smile that always came when he spoke of his son. "But his mama's being stingy with visitation."
Chief and Raquel had been high school sweethearts. But Chief had always had trouble keeping it in his pants and Raquel wasn't keen on sharing.
"What about Ida?" Prince asked about his younger daughter by another woman.
"I'm going to be chasing after boys with a gun in a few years," Chief groaned, but the grin took the bite off the sound. "I had her last weekend. Her mama just got married so she lets me take her on date nights."
"You managing to pay support and keep the club up?"
"Yeah," said Chief, his jaw tensing. He took a swig of his beer and crossed his arms. "Go on. Ask how."
Prince didn't. He realized he'd rather not know. He'd prefer to keep the peace with his friend if only for one night.
"I made a mistake," said Chief, slamming his beer down on the table in front of them. "It almost cost me everything I love; my kids, my brothers, this club. I set things straight. You and Raquel are the only ones who refuse to see that."
Prince's hands gripped the near empty bottle in his hands. "Maybe because we're also the ones who know you best."
"You know what, motherfucker?" Chief turned fully to Prince. "You owe me an ass-kicking for letting that Nazi fuckface go."
"I told you," said Prince, slamming his bottle down and turning to face off against his oldest friend. "I'm handling it."
"And I trust you." Chief jabbed a finger in Prince's face. "Because you're my fucking brother."
Prince smacked the finger out of his face. "Then why the fuck are you yelling at me?"
The music and dancing had stopped. Everyone cleared the floor as Prince and Chief faced off.
"Because I'm pissed and I want something to fucking punch."
The two stood up, fists raised. They eyed each other as they circled. Prince's gaze was calculating, looking for the best place to strike his best friend. Chief's gaze was full of fire. He simply threw out a punch.
When it failed to connect, Prince caught him beneath his shoulder. But Chief must have anticipated the move because he dodged Prince's motion, rendering the punch not as effective.
Chief rounded on Prince and caught him in the eye. Stunned, Prince touched the side of his face and felt a bruise forming. He glared up at Chief who had one hand raised and an amused grin on his face.
"Aw shit, bruh. I thought you saw that coming. I wouldn't—" But Chief didn't get a chance to tell Prince what he wouldn't do because Prince clocked him in the nose.
"Fuck," shouted Chief. "Fuck you, asshole."
"Fuck you, too," Prince shouted right back.
Both men took a deep breath as they touched tentative fingers to their tender wounds. Shepherd came up and offered them both an icepack. Both Prince and Chief took the packs and settled back down on the sofa. The music turned back on and the dancing resumed.
"Feel better?" asked Prince after a moment.
"Yeah, thanks," said Chief.
They sat back in silence, watching the party play out before them. Prince glanced over at Chief as he tossed the ice pack on the table. The man's nose had been broken before. Prince was sure his blow improved his friend's face. The spot on his own face had stopped throbbing. It would swell, but not too badly.
Prince rolled his shoulders, feeling relaxed after he'd let out some of his aggression. There was nothing like a good brawl to get over blue balls. He turned back to his friend, wondering if he was facing the same dilemma.
"So," Prince said, picking up another beer. "You seeing someone?"
"Trying to," said Chief after tossing back half a new bottle. "She said I'm too old for her."
Prince burst out laughing. Despite never going to college himself, Chief had been chasing coeds since he was a sophomore in high school. Finally, they were putting his ass in place.
Beside him, Chief glared. He waited patiently to make his next remark. "So, you and Gabby?"
That sobered Prince up. He didn't answer. He gulped down what remained of his beer.
"Hawk texted me an hour ago," Chief grinned. "By the way, he's not planning the bachelor party."
Prince bent over and put his head between his legs as the air in the clubhouse thinned out. He closed his eyes and tried to take shallow breaths. It didn't help.
"I can't believe it took you this long," Chief said. "I thought you'd hit that as soon as she turned eighteen. I lost the fucking pool."
Chapter Seventeen
"Your brother walked in on you!" Diniece squealed. She tipped over in a fit of giggles and landed face first into Gabby's mattress.
Gabby shut her eyes and then rubbed the heel of her hands over her face. She had nearly died when she saw her brother's face framed in the doorway of the pool house. But her heart fell when Prince had hopped off her, walked out the door and hadn't come back.
Hawk hadn't returned either. Ellie had stayed behind to talk to her. The woman was a bit socially awkward.
Ellie was an Entomologist; a person who studies bugs. After a few moments in conversation with the petite blonde, it became obvious that she spent more of her time with insects than she did with humans. But Gabby liked Ellie's awkwardness because it was clear to see that she was genuine and that she was head over heels in love with Gabby's big brother.
Hawk had never in his life had a girlfriend. Sure, there had been plenty of women in his life. But never just one. Whenever they were together, Hawk couldn't keep his eyes off Ellie. He'd brush a tendril of hair away from her forehead as she became animated about some new find in her lab, and then gen
tly nudge her to turn the conversation away from creepy crawlers.
Last night, as Ellie tried to cheer Gabby up after Prince ran out on her, the bug doctor regaled Gabby with tales of the mating rituals of bugs, such as water bugs, praying mantises, and fireflies, who trap their partners as they copulate. A certain water bug known as the Male Strider actually trapped females when they copulate. Gabby wasn't sure if Ellie was trying to make her feel better or worse about Prince's running off, but she certainly had been distracted for a few minutes.
"He didn't come back," Gabby sighed. "I feel like my vagina is a Prince repellant."
Diniece fell over in another fit of giggles before sobering and coming to sit by Gabby's side. Gabby had told Diniece about what happened between her and Prince three years ago during their sophomore year. Her friend couldn't deny the pattern. Each time Prince gave Gabby an orgasm, he'd run off afterwards and wouldn't return for years.
Her heartbeat increased. Her palms began to sweat. Had he gone back to D.C.?
"There is a pretty big age gap between you two," said Diniece.
"Do you really think a number should keep two people apart?"
Diniece turned away from Gabby, looking out Gabby's bedroom window which overlooked the pool house. "People will talk."
"I don't care what people think," Gabby insisted.
"Maybe he does." Diniece twisted her bottom lip as she continued to stare out the window. "What about his reputation? People could call him a cradle robber, or a sell out for dating someone outside his race."
Gabby frowned. "How did this become racial? We're both minorities."
"Yeah, you two are."
"What?" asked Gabby.
"What?" blinked Diniece, turning away from the window and focusing on Gabby. Diniece's eyes were fogged as though she were someplace else, with someone else.
"You're not making any sense," said Gabby.
Diniece sighed and looked out the window again. "I'm just saying that we're getting started with our lives. Someone like Prince has lived. I mean lived. Sure, I bet the sex would be crazy good, but then what?"
Diniece twisted her bottom lip again. She rose and went to stand at the window, looking out over the pool house.
"But then you only live once," she said. "And we are young."
She tapped her fingernails on the bedroom window. Then she turned to Gabby abruptly. Eyes clear and bright. Mouth set in a firm line.
"Gabby, do you still need the pool house?" Diniece didn't wait for an answer. She grabbed her phone and headed out the door. Gabby could hear her bounding down the steps.
Diniece wasn't usually this inattentive. But she supposed that she had a lot of work to do for her internship. Gabby picked herself up and headed down the hall. Her parents were in their bedroom packing for a weekend getaway. She left them to it. The last thing she wanted was to witness her lovey-dovey parents dote on each other when the man she wanted couldn't stand to be in the same room with her.
She bypassed the kitchen where her textbooks lay untouched. She padded into the living room and peered out the front door. Prince's car was still at the curb of the Obademi house. But Gabby had heard his motorcycle take off into the night. She hadn't heard it return. And she didn't see any signs of it now. She did see Judge Obademi head down her driveway where her morning paper sat just inside the open gate.
Gabby threw the front door open and trotted across the street. "Good morning, Mrs. O."
Oluyemi looked up in surprise. "Hello, Gabby. I thought you'd be at the beach by now."
Gabby's steps faltered as she came up to the gate. "I'm getting some school work done."
"Really?" Mrs. O's brows sank together in a frown. "I thought you were a music major."
"I am." Gabby bit at the inside of her cheek. "But I still have to do regular core work."
The sound of an engine had Gabby whipping around. Unfortunately, it wasn't a motorcycle. And it wasn't who Gabby wanted to see.
"Kemi, is that you?" Judge Obademi beamed as the Wicked Witch got out of the car.
"Oluyemi." Kemi came into the judge's open arms for a prolonged hug. "It's so good to see you."
"It's been too long," said Mrs. O. "Is Prince with you?"
Gabby turned back around and peered into the car. She knew it had been empty when Kemi marched up the drive on her broomstick. But she still did a double take to be sure.
"No," Kemi confirmed. "We had talked about getting together last night."
"Yes," interjected Gabby. "Last night while we were at the Governor's mansion, where you work."
Kemi turned and arched an eyebrow at her. "Oh, I didn't see you there Gabrielle."
"I had heard you were working for our new governor," said Mrs. O with a purse at her lips. "That must be some task."
"Governor Drummon and I don't agree on everything," Kemi nodded. "But I love this country and this state. It's given me and my family so many opportunities. I'm committed to doing all that I can to be certain it is run well so that others have the opportunities that I was afforded."
Judge Obademi nodded slowly. Gabby could tell she was turning over Kemi's words in her head. Prince and his mother got the same look when they were working through a problem.
"Anyway." Kemi turned her back on Gabby, shutting her out of the conversation. "I just thought I'd stop by on the off chance that he was around."
"No, he's not here," said the judge.
Gabby wanted to interject that he'd been out all night, most of it with her. But she didn't get the chance.
"Why don't you come inside?" Judge Obademi linked arms with Kemi.
The two women continued talking, leaving Gabby standing in the driveway. It was clear Judge Obademi preferred the woman in the enemy camp to the girl next door.
Gabby's chin hit her chest as she slunk back across the street. She didn't have Prince. His mother had never taken to her. And now her toughest competition was welcomed back into the game with the advantage of home field.
Chapter Eighteen
Prince pulled onto his street. Through his visor he spotted a luxury car with tags that read "Kemi." He pulled up to the curb on Gabby's side of the street and parked his bike.
He knew Kemi was there for him, but she and his mother had always gotten along just fine. They could keep each other company. Prince had someone else more important to see.
He spotted Samuel Hernandez lugging suitcases into the trunk of his car. "I hope you're taking the weekend off."
"I am." Prince greeted the older man with a handshake. "I think I just got some evidence that'll break the case. I'll be in the office first thing Monday morning."
"Unfortunately, I won't be there. I'm headed out of town for a few days with the old ball and chain."
"What's this about a new gold chain with a diamond ball for me?" Valeria Hernandez stepped out of the house with an eyebrow cocked and a hand on her hip.
Her husband's mouth went slack as he took his wife in. "You can have anything you want, mi alma."
The older couple embraced as though Prince wasn't there. Prince was used to the Hernandezes' amorous displays. They embarrassed Hawk and Gabby, but Prince always found them endearing. His parents were very reserved in their affection.
"You looking for, Gabby?" Mrs. H. asked Prince when her husband finally released her.
"Yes, ma'am."
Mrs. Hernandez smiled with a twinkle in her eyes. "She's inside. Alone." She gave Prince a peck on the cheek and sighed. "You two are going to make beautiful grandbabies. And I just won the pool."
She slid into the car. Mr. Hernandez closed the passenger door and then rounded the car. He chuckled as he slid behind the driver's seat and pulled off down the street.
Prince walked up to the door. He raised his hand to knock, but he heard Gabby playing inside. He pushed the door open. He followed the sound like the animals following the tune of the Pied Piper.
She sat at the kitchen table. Her eyes were closed as she worked her instrument. Her slend
er fingers pulled and pressed at the strings along the neck of the cello. Her wrist danced along the lower body of the instrument, until it pulled one long, final note off the highest string. Gabby's head bowed down in the silence that suddenly filled the room.
"That was so sad," said Prince.
Gabby's head jerked up. Her big, light eyes wide as she gazed at him. "What are you doing here?"
Prince took a few steps into the room. "This is where you are."
Gabby set aside the cello, but the bow remained in her hand. She looked down at it instead of up at him. "I thought you'd be in D.C. by now. Or out with Kemi."
Prince pulled up a chair and sat down before her. His legs boxed her in. "I saw Kemi's car outside. But I didn't see her."
She lifted her head. Her heart shape face tilted to the side as she regarded him, searching his gaze. Her brow crinkled, and she tugged at her lower lip. "You knew she was there, but you didn't go see her?"
"No." He reached for her hand and uncurled her fingers until she released the bow.
"You came here instead?"
"That's right." He set the bow on the table and laced his fingers with hers like he'd done when she was a baby, a little girl, and now a grown woman.
"Because you came here?" she said. "To me."
He nodded, rubbing her fingers from the knuckle to the primly trimmed nail. And still she studied him, searching for … something.
And then her face broke out into a beatific grin. She tilted her head back to the ceiling and shouted, "Finally." Then she launched herself at him.
Prince teetered back in the chair as he took on the full weight of her body. He chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close where she belonged. "It was inevitable. Did you know our friends were placing bets on when we'd get together?"
Gabby nodded as she ran her hand over his brow. "Yeah, Mom had twenty-two. She'll be thrilled when she finds out we're together. We are together, right?"
Smart Baztard (Baztards MC Book 1) Page 10