Beauty From The Ashes Of Destruction (Rebellions 4 Blood MC Book 2)

by Vera Quinn

  “Why a damn gym? My twin has never liked working out. What have you done with my sister?” Micah says while laughing. She’s right. I never liked working out until I started exercising after Lucas was born but that’s not what this is about.

  “I grew up and faced the reality of life. Please, just listen with an open mind.” I look at the two women I admire the most.

  “You’ve got the floor, Maddie,” Aunt Deb says. Micah winks at me with a smirk on her face.

  “Like I said, this is a two-part operation. My part alone will be the gym, only it’s not going to be an ordinary gym. It’s going to be a fitness complex. It will have the workout area with all the regular equipment and cardio programs, but we will have different fitness programs as well. I want to add nutrition classes with a bar where you can get protein shakes or slushes. I want a nutritionist available to help people pick the healthy choices while becoming stronger. A lot of the snacks out there aren’t good for you.” I stop and look at the two. I have their full attention. I hand them both the business proposals. “There’s not a facility in our area that gives such a wide variety of services. I have also reached out to different agencies to find out the regulations on having a rehabilitation center in the gym and I am interviewing a doctor that may join me in the endeavor. His part would be forming a medical team for the rehab. I have also reached out to the Federal Physical Therapy section to get the parameters that must be met to get approved to rehabilitate military personnel. Most people around here are required to go to Dallas or Shreveport and the distance is a problem for them. I think this is an area we can help with. I also want to have some type of after-school program to help the working parents and I think it can be done under one roof that I build. I would like both of you to be on my board of course. What do you think? I bought the property and the old building will be gone today. Then there is the cleanup and I am getting all permits now.” I look at Micah and Aunt Deb and they are going over the first proposal. Aunt Deb looks up at me.

  “How have you had the time and knowledge to get all this done? You’ve only been here a few months. You have put together a proposal that is very impressive. How close do you think you are on these numbers?” Aunt Deb asks.

  “Are you even sure this is what you want to do? This is a big commitment,” Micah adds.

  “I came up with this idea when I was in Colorado. I took a few classes to learn the basics online, and I liked what I was learning so I continued the classes. In Sunshine, they had everything I wanted to offer. I didn’t want to give the idea up, so I started running the data and numbers for this area. I made the phone calls and found the property. I filled out the forms that were needed but until the bottom fell out from under me, I wouldn’t move on it since I knew that meant I would need to be here for at least two years. Dra would have never agreed to me bringing the children here for two years. He was never around, but I was to stay home. I kept all the data and numbers and last week I knew it was time to get on with my life. This is what I am going to do. Luckily, the property was still available plus the two other buildings that burned last year.” Aunt Deb is sitting there with tears in her eyes. “I also have bids on two buildings across the street for office space.” I catch my breath. “What’s wrong, Aunt Deb? Do you think this is another wrong move for me?” I ask, knowing that her opinion won’t change my mind. I can make this work. I will make this work.

  “Don’t be silly, of course you can make it work as long as you have the right people working with you. I would be proud and honored to work beside you. If you need investors, we can help. I know some people that might be willing to help as well—some with mighty deep pockets.” Aunt Deb doesn’t cry very often but the tears are rolling down her cheeks. I look toward Micah and see she is handing tissues to Aunt Deb.

  “I thought I was supposed to be the hormonal one,” Micah says, trying to lighten the mood for Aunt Deb. Aunt Deb dries her tears.

  “Micah, can it,” I tell my twin. It only makes her laugh. “Right now, with both my trust fund and what Diamondback left me, I can cover it along with a few other things. I have set aside money to live on until the gym is in the black. The less I borrow, the better. I know how to live frugally from when I was on the run from Dra. I set a budget and live on it.”

  “Alright, zipping this lip on that matter about all the tears. You two are way too serious and don’t get on me about the seriousness of making these decisions.” Micah stands up and is reading the proposal some more. “This looks much better than the proposal I showed Aunt Deb on the computer for my business venture, which is going well by the way. This looks fabulous, not that I am an expert on business proposals. You know I am in with anything you need. Are you solid on these numbers on the construction and have you checked what small print the contractor will put in there for the projected finish date? My contractor tried to piddle diddle around so I would need to pay him more money. Aunt Deb’s shotgun threat put his butt in gear, and it was only six days over.” Micah cracks me up with how animated she is with her facial expressions and how her whole body always tell the story. She flops back down in the chair.

  “Aunt Deb taught us better than to let a man take advantage of us just because we are women. I have a contract lawyer on retainer so there are no loopholes. This is still in the preliminary stages, but I dropped a few copies of the blueprints off to some local contractors to get bids. The numbers that are in the proposal are on the high side, but I want room for issues that may come up during construction. The rest of the bids for fixtures, equipment, and permits are the ones that are locked in. The dirt work on the site starts next month.” I feel a churn in my stomach as I say the words and then a flutter of butterflies. I don’t know if I want to throw up or if I am too full of anticipation.

  “This means that you are staying. I mean you’re settling here, and we have the three of you home forever. I would hate to lose you and those precious children. You haven’t given us a definite answer before now. You said you were living one day at a time, but this is putting roots down.” Aunt Deb has asked me many times about my intentions, but all I told her was I was here for the foreseeable future. I have even talked about building my own home. I guess it is time to give them all my plans. I have been keeping it all to myself, savoring the plans without interference. Time to pull that Band-Aid off.

  “Aunt Deb, the roots I’m putting down here couldn’t be any deeper because this isn’t everything I have to talk about.” I can see the relief in her eyes. “I talked to Devil and Callie a couple of days ago and the Feral Steel MC bought that gym a few years ago in Oklahoma to train boxers and MMA fighters. I’m going to help Devil get the rehab part of my project started there. The demand for rehab facilities is everywhere. Then when my facility is open, we can join our businesses by his specializing in sports injuries and then certain areas of other rehabilitation. That is all still in the early planning stages. Devil will have more red tape to go through because the gym is owned by a motorcycle club. It may pan out and it may not.” I take a breath and look at my sister and aunt and they look shocked, so I go on, “The dirt work on my house starts this week.” I look at them both. They are looking at me and then each other. “Say something.”

  “I have to say, Maddie, when you put down roots, you bury them deep,” Micah says but I see the worry in her eyes. “I’m just going to say this so I can get it out of the way. Are you sure you aren’t taking on too much, too fast? I know you can handle it, you’re a Bass, but you can’t bury yourself in work and disconnect from the world.” I smile at my sister.

  “I promise I am not disconnecting from anyone except my old self. I became a doormat, but I had all these projects I wanted to do, and I have one more that I want to add to it. Micah, you said you wanted to add the horse riding for children with special needs. I would like to help with that and then add to it. We could also do the same thing for special needs adults. I want to start a nonprofit so we can raise the money and it will help with the insurance we
will need along with training the workers that help the riders. The number of hoops we need to go through for government backing is too much to go through and could take years. Nonprofit is the way to go.”

  “It wasn’t my idea, it was yours. I just wanted to move on it sooner rather than later. I knew something was off with our phone calls. Your voice always seemed so strained and off. I could hear in your voice that you were unhappy, and I wanted to draw you back home even if it was for a visit so I could find out what was wrong and try to help.” Micah always feels when I’m not right. Thinking I could hide anything from her is pointless.

  “I want to move on it,” I say with conviction. The more we talk about this, the more I am determined to make it happen.

  “If this is going to happen, the ranch takes it on, with you two in charge of it. You’ll need to hire a business manager or form your board now,” Aunt Deb adds.

  “That’s why I am talking to the two of you. I also hope to get Mr. Lyons from the school board, Ms. Dawson from the board at the hospital, and the new lady over at the Department of Human Resources in Mount Vernon. Do either of you have any ideas?” I ask. I have picked my candidates carefully. Each person has knowledge of some of the areas I will need help in.

  “I only want to suggest one other option that you may want to include in this complex. Have you thought about the psychological side of a person going through rehab?” Aunt Deb asks. I never thought of that.

  “I haven’t but this is the reason I needed to share with you two. I will research what we would need to do to incorporate counseling into the rehabilitation side of things for those that need it,” I answer Aunt Deb.

  “I think you need a banker or two on this board in case money becomes an issue.” Micah is right. My mind is trying to go over everything we have covered today. I hear Lucas waking up as he starts to whine.

  “Ladies, I hope I haven’t shocked you too much, but this first meeting is coming to an end. My little man is waking up, and he’ll want up and to be fed,” I tell my aunt and sister.

  “You know this news is going to make Shield a happy man. He’s got his eyes zoned in on you,” Micah teases.

  “Micah, Shield and I are friends. He’s become a special friend that listens to me and I enjoy our time together. I’m not looking for anything more. I don’t have any more to give.” I say the words with conviction.

  “Maddie, for your information, bikers don’t keep females as friends. Friends with benefits but never just friends, except for brother’s wives,” Micah says with a smirk on her face. “Isn’t that right, Aunt Deb?”

  “Micah is right, Maddie. Bikers are a breed of their own and after they get their foot in the door, they become part of your world,” Aunt Deb says with love in her eyes. I am glad Aunt Deb found Rye.

  “Friends with benefits doesn’t sound so bad right now.” Lucas is crying now, and I know it’s time for me to go. “I always say never say never. We’ll see.” I get up and walk out the door and head toward Lucas. Aunt Deb and Micah both sit with their mouths open but when I am close to the stairs, I hear Micah laughing. I’m glad I can still shock the two women I am closest to. I think I shocked myself as much as I did them. I like it.

  5

  Two weeks later

  Shield…

  I walk into the clubhouse and make my way to the bar. I need a drink even if it is two in the afternoon. I had to get away from Maddie. That woman is making me lose the grip I have left on my control. I was spending the afternoon with B, Lucas, and Maddie lounging around the pool. Sarge and I just built an awning over the small kiddie portion of the pool. The tiny bikini that Maddie wore out to the pool left nothing to the imagination and my cock loved the show. Typically, it’s all I can do not to have a hard-on around Maddie, but there was no way I was controlling him today. Then it was the children’s nap time and I swear Maddie was coming on to me. I have been trying to give her a little time to get used to us being together all the time. I have been ready to move forward from the beginning, but I want it to be for the right reasons. I want Maddie to be with me for the long haul and I want us to be a family. That’s why I got up from the lounge chair and walked away when Maddie asked me to put sunscreen on her back after she had undone her strings on the bikini top. My hands were not touching Maddie’s soft skin without my knowing she is mine. I respect Maddie too much to treat her like a one-night stand. Maddie will never be that for me. We’re either all-in or we remain friends only.

  “You look like the devil is chasing your tail,” Twill, the oldest member of our club says. I see that Tater is behind the bar; he’s our newest prospect.

  “A she-devil.” I half-smile saying it. “Tater, give me the coldest water you have.”

  “If the she-devil is directed at Maddie, we may have to step outside. If I were twenty years younger, that woman would be in my bed and she would stay knocked up. I’ve never seen a better mother, either. That girl has a heart of gold and is the first to lend a helping hand. She’s too good for the likes of us. She deserves the house with a white picket fence.” That’s more than I have heard out of Twill since he caught up with us from our last move. I know everything the man just said is true, but I won’t walk away. I’m too selfish for that. It’s time I step up my moves on Maddie. This waiting around like a good guy isn’t me. I have given her enough time.

  “Don’t give me shit, Twill. I had to put some distance between Maddie and myself this afternoon because I am trying to be an understanding friend and give her some time but sometimes that’s not the easiest thing to do.” I hear the roar of laughter from behind me and Twill joins in. I know who the assholes are that are laughing, Sarge and Stealth. They think this is all fun and games.

  “Shield, you’re a damn biker. Put your big boy boots on, take what’s yours, and then hold on to her like your life depends on it. In the end, your life will depend on the woman,” Twill finishes.

  “Listen to the man, Shield. If you want Maddie, let her know it and don’t give her a choice,” Stealth says, moving to the bar. I glance around at Sarge and he has moved to the corner talking on his phone.

  “What the hell do you know about claiming a woman, Stealth? You are the king of one-night stands. If they last a full night.” I know that isn’t the full truth. Stealth is in love with a woman he can’t have the way he wants her. She isn’t a woman that wants to be tied down and the club ties Stealth here. Then there’s the woman that says she’s carrying Stealth’s child. To say Stealth’s life is complicated is putting it mildly.

  “Oh, brother, I have more pussy than I can handle,” Stealth says without elaborating.

  “Time for business,” Sarge states with no humor in his voice. That gets my attention. “That was Krill. The Troubled Fathom MC are having problems with what is left of the Spirit of Arms MC. The Troubled Fathoms thought they had it all taken care of, but Maddie was singled out with a threat, along with B and Lucas. Krill wants the three of them back in Colorado. Shield, Maddie is yours, so you need to move into the house with her. I don’t want Micah being upset. She’s already had problems with her blood pressure. The doctor is talking bedrest unless it gets under control. She’s due any day and if she doesn’t go into labor in the next week, they are going to induce her labor. How do you want this taken care of? Dra is calling Maddie and telling her that if Maddie doesn’t get the children to Colorado, he is taking her to court for custody.” I see red. “Krill just wants to make sure Maddie and the children are protected and they need eyes on them twenty-four seven. Dra doesn’t have a leg to stand on when it comes to getting custody, but he may try to nab them and go off-grid. Never underestimate the asshole. You know how this works, Shield. I will have eyes on Micah as much as I can. I’ll be taking care of that personally, but you may have to do double the work if it’s necessary.”

  “I need to be honest with Maddie, but I will tell her to keep it from Micah. That way she doesn’t worry her sister. What about Rye? He left for a few weeks as he was needed
in Oklahoma. Deb is at the house and she will keep an eye out.” I stop and give Sarge the chance to answer.

  “I messaged Rye. He said that he had a feeling that trouble would be knocking on our door soon. He thought it would be coming from Atticus, but it has been quiet on that front—eerily quiet.” Sarge is right about it being quiet. We’ve been waiting for the other boot to drop. We know Atticus and his people are regrouping and waiting for us to have a weak moment. With Micah being ready to deliver any day and the distraction of the problems the Troubled Fathom MC have warned us about, we are spread thin.

  “We need to step up our recruiting so we can get some numbers in the club,” Stealth adds. I agree.

  “I agree, but we can’t let down our guard down when Atticus would love to have an inside person giving out our information. Keys will still need to do thorough background checks on each recruit. That takes time,” Sarge says solemnly.

  “Why did Deb stay behind when Rye went to Oklahoma?” I ask Sarge.

  “To stick close to Micah, along with Maddie. I have Tag and Laser guarding them now. Things won’t be as tense after Micah delivers.” I understand Sarge’s concern. If Maddie were carrying my child, I don’t know if I could let her out of my sight.

  “Then we’ll have one more person to take care of. I don’t see how that helps,” Stealth says, but he knows he has let his mouth run a little too long by the look on Sarge’s face.

  “In case you haven’t noticed, I have been worried about both Micah and our child and I will remain to do that after the birth, but if Micah isn’t pregnant, she won’t be in a vulnerable situation. Micah is a very capable woman in case you have forgotten. That doesn’t mean that I still won’t have eyes on her; it just means I know if someone gets past us then Micah will go into momma-bear mode. I trust my woman. You should be worrying about your own soon-to-be child. Doesn’t matter if you don’t love the mom but as a dad-to-be, you have responsibilities.” Sarge softens his tone for the last part.