by J. M. Walker
“I would like to get to know her.” A ghost of a smile splayed across her lips.
My heart swelled. “I would like that as well.” I sat forward, clearing my throat and pulled a picture of Luna out of my wallet. “Um ... guys.” I rubbed the back of my neck.
“What are you doing?” Creena asked.
“I’ve kept this to myself for too long.” I cupped Creena’s cheek. “Luna deserves to be loved by everyone,” I said low enough for only her to hear.
She nodded, her eyes shining.
“I should tell you something.” I didn’t tell my previous squad anything about myself and look where that got me. Closed up, brooding, and angry as fuck.
Creena placed her hand on mine, giving me a small smile.
That small touch sent the strength I needed to show my new team, my brothers, a piece of me I didn’t share with anyone. “I don’t talk about this but ...” I handed the picture to Coby who sat in the lawn chair beside me. “That’s Luna. My daughter.”
His dark eyes met mine, showcasing a warmth and a hint of sadness I had never seen from him before. “She’s perfect.”
“Why didn’t you tell us about her earlier?” Dale asked, pulling Max into his side.
“We’re not the chatty bunch.” I shrugged. “My old squad ...” My chest tightened. “We didn’t tell each other shit. Maybe it’s why we were attacked. We weren’t focused. We didn’t know each other as well as we should have even though we spent months together in Hell. But you guys, my brothers, you’re the fucking family I never had. Besides my sister.” I cleared my throat. “So ... yeah.”
Creena squeezed my hand. “You’re doing good, baby boy,” she whispered.
My blood stirred. I leaned over, giving her neck a gentle nip followed by a slip of my tongue. “It’s only because you’re with me, Creena. You give me the strength I need to take on this motherfucking world.”
Her breath hitched. “I love you.”
“Fuck,” I growled. “I love you even more.”
“Tell me something,” Brogan said, pulling my attention away from almost attacking Creena in front of our friends.
“What?”
Brogan cleared her throat. “Do we have an ex we have to worry about?”
I looked from her to Creena back to her again. “I guess when you girls say you got each other’s backs, you mean it.
“Fucking right we do,” Jay said, taking the picture from Brogan. “She’s beautiful,” she said absentmindedly.
“Thank you but no.” I turned back to Brogan. “There is no ex. Not anymore. Even if she was still around, there wouldn’t be a problem.”
Sympathetic murmurs went around the group.
“Luna’s mother, Sienna, was murdered.” That tightness in my chest strengthened. “Fuck. I’ve never told anyone this except for Creena.”
“You got this.” Creena squeezed my knee. “I’m right here.”
I took a deep breath. “After Luna was born, I had gone to get groceries and came home to Sienna being attacked. Everything next happened fast.” I explained what I had walked in on. The image of Sienna’s lifeless eyes would be something that I would never be able to erase from my mind but with Creena, I could at least learn to cope.
“Fuck me.”
“Holy shit.”
“I’m sorry.” That last one was Max, always the empathetic one.
“It’s done.” I ran my hands up and down my thighs. “I got rid of two of the bastards.”
“Tell me where the third is and I’ll gut him like a pig,” Brogan said, cracking her knuckles.
“Me too.” Coby hooked an arm around her shoulders and kissed the side of her head. “We’ll tag team.”
“Aww, baby.” Brogan grinned up at him. “It can be a date.”
I laughed at the two of them. “I appreciate that but this needs to be done on my own.”
“How many times have we all said that before?” Angel sat forward. “You need anything, anything at all, you call us, you hear me?”
“Angel ...” I could do this on my own. “I—”
“I said, do you fucking hear me?” His eyes narrowed, challenging me to argue again.
“Yes, I hear you.” As much as I didn’t want to back down, the fucker was bigger than me.
“Your daughter is beautiful and what is yours,” Dale interrupted. “is ours as well. We look out for our own.”
Creena cupped my hand, giving it a light squeeze.
I kissed her knuckles, thankful she was beside me or else I would have been a blubbering fool. I had never shared Luna with anyone. Not a woman. Not my friends. She was the best part of me. The only good thing I had ever created. I could never understand how God gave me such a perfect little human being. I didn’t deserve her. I didn’t deserve Creena. But I would show both of my girls that I loved them just the same.
***
(Creena)
Listening to Stone share about his daughter with our friends was something I could hear for the rest of my life. He was absolutely in love with that little girl and it only made my heart beat harder for him. Maybe it was because I was a nurse, I couldn’t be sure, but I fell in love with him more at that point.
“I never thought I could love someone as much as I love Angelica,” Angel said, kissing Jay on the side of the head.
My heart gave a start, noting Max and Dale smiling at each other.
He placed a soft peck on her forehead and then her nose. I could almost hear him say, Our time will come again, kitten. I wasn’t sure if it had to do with being in love but seeing those closest to me finally happy made me feel things I wasn’t used to.
Suddenly, my phone rang, interrupting my thoughts.
Stone glanced my way but went back to talking to Coby about Luna.
When I saw my brother’s name flash across the screen, my stomach twisted. “Yeah,” I grumbled into the phone, pulling away from my friends.
“Where are you?” Kenny demanded, his deep voice grating on every nerve in my body.
“I’m around. What do you want? I told you I’ll be there Saturday.”
“Yeah, you see, that doesn’t work for me,” a deep voice sounded from the side of the clubhouse.
I jumped, finding my brother standing only a few feet away from me. “What are you doing here?” I asked, hanging up my phone.
“I’m not a patient man, Creena.” His dark eyes narrowed at me. “You of all people should know that.”
“What’s going on?” Stone came up beside me.
“This is a family matter.” Kenny eyed him up. “You must be the boyfriend.”
“Yeah.” Stone crossed his arms under his chest. “And who the fuck are you?”
“Like you don’t know.” Kenny’s eyes moved past me. “Ah. So, it seems my sister can no longer handle shit on her own.”
I felt everyone surrounding us, standing guard. Watching and waiting for my instructions as when to strike. But it couldn’t be yet. Kenny wasn’t alone. Loved him, I did but the guy was a pussy and never fought his own battles.
“What do you want, Kenny?” I asked again.
“I need you to come with me,” he said, his gaze sliding back to Stone’s.
“Why?” I asked. “I told you I would be there Saturday and then we can get this shit dealt with.” Stone tensed beside me. The fact he knew Kenny had a hit on him showed how strong Stone really was. If it were me, the guy would be dead already.
“Well, there’s been a change of plans.” Kenny turned around and took a step toward the side of the building he came from. “I don’t suggest making me wait.”
“I’m not going with you.” I turned to Stone, pushing him back. “Let’s go.”
He wrapped an arm around my shoulders but his gaze never left Kenny.
“Stone?” I gripped his shirt, following his gaze. My eyes widened. “Shit.”
KENNY CAME TOWARD us with four of his men following behind him. “You will come with me, Creena. Whether I have to force you or
not, I don’t give a shit. I’m done playing these games.”
“What the hell do you want?” I shouted. “I’m out. I’m retired. I’m not doing that shit anymore.”
“I think you should take your little boys and leave,” Coby said, feigning a yawn.
Brogan jumped from foot to foot. “Aww but, Daddy, I want to play with the little boys.” She glared at the group invading our space and ruining our evening. “Please, can I play?”
“Not yet.” Coby grinned.
“You really need to leave,” Angel said, standing on my left while Stone stood on my right.
This wasn’t good. Not one fucking bit.
“Oh,” Kenny sneered. “Are we going to dance? I do miss our little sparring sessions, sister dearest. It was fun cutting you up.”
Stone growled, taking a step toward my brother.
“Don’t.” I kept a firm grip on his arm, pulling him back. “He never cut me.” I glared at my brother. “He’s only trying to piss you off.”
“Well, it’s working,” Stone bit out through clenched teeth.
“I know.” I kept hold of his hand because I had no idea what the hell to do. A year ago and I would have gone off with my brother no questions asked. But now that Vice-One and the King’s Harlots were involved, I couldn’t find it in me to just leave. I had joined up with them because I needed a change. To feel normal. Although, becoming a member of a female motorcycle club wasn’t exactly normal. They were still my family. Kenny was my brother but I knew, I wasn’t sure how, but I just knew something was off with him.
“Whatever happens, I got your back,” Stone said low enough for only me to hear. “We all have your back.”
I nodded, taking a deep breath. What Stone and I had was too good to be true but his words were nice. This thing between us would end. It had to. I wasn’t good enough for him.
“Don’t fucking doubt me, Creena.” He tugged me back against him. “I love you.”
“Is it enough?” I blurted.
He only stared at me. “Second guessing me now?”
“Aww, well isn’t this cute. Their first fight.” Kenny nodded to the guy on his left. “It seems to me—” The other three guys behind him pulled pistols from the waistband of their pants and aimed them at us.
Fuck.
“—my sister is in love.” Kenny snapped his fingers. “But she has doubts. I bet I can tell you what those doubts are. Want to hear them?” Kenny started pacing back and forth, rubbing his jaw. “My sister feels she isn’t good enough for you. Aren’t I right, Creena?”
My jaw clenched to the point of painful but I didn’t respond.
“But she loves you. She’s confused.” Kenny stopped suddenly. “Such a hardship.”
Two of the men charged for me, pulling me away from Stone.
“Get your fucking hands off of her,” Stone boomed but was suddenly pushed back by another guy I hadn’t even seen.
“What the hell are you doing?” I yelled, struggling against the men holding me.
Kenny laughed, pulling his own gun out of his jacket pocket and aimed it at my friends. “Get back. All of you. And you.” He narrowed his eyes at Brogan. “I see any fucking movement from you and you’ll be dead faster than you can spread your legs.”
“Fuck you, asshole.” Brogan clenched her hands into fists at her sides. “That’s my girl. You hurt her—”
“Or else what?” Kenny laughed. “She is my sister and she’s been playing hard to find. We have family business to deal with.”
“You’re giving your family a bad name.” Coby grabbed Brogan’s hand, pulling her to his side for fear she would jump at Kenny. “I think you should gather your men and leave.”
Kenny laughed, shaking his head, his gaze zeroing in on me. “You have them all wrapped around your finger.”
“Why the hell are you doing this? I told you I would be there Saturday. I always keep my word.” I shoved against the men holding me but they were too damn strong.
“Hold him,” Kenny demanded.
“What?” My eyes widened.
The man keeping Stone back sidestepped around him and shoved him forward.
Kenny walked up to him. “Kneel.”
“I don’t kneel for no one, bitch,” Stone spat.
“Leave my friends alone,” I screamed, slamming my head back into the nose of one of the bastards holding me.
He shouted, gripping his bloody nose.
“Now, Creena.” Kenny turned on me. “You will stop if you know what’s good for you. You know what I can do, right? What I’m capable of?” He closed the distance between us, stopping only a foot away.
“I don’t give a shit. You’re a fucking pussy.” As soon as the words left my mouth, a heavy fist punched into the side of my face. My head rang but it only made me laugh.
“Watch who the fuck you’re talking to.” Kenny grabbed my jaw. “I should tell your friends how you really are. What you’ve done.”
“They already know,” I ground out.
Kenny glanced over my head, releasing me. “Keep ahold of her,” he told the men who each had a firm grip on my arm.
As soon as he walked back to Stone, I knew this would be it. I shouldn’t have let myself fall in love with him. I shouldn’t have given him a piece of me that I had never given to another man before. He had my heart. And Kenny knew that.
***
(Stone)
As soon as his fist landed against Creena’s jaw, I saw red. But the fucker holding me was strong as hell and I also wasn’t stupid. My small pistol was in the ankle of my sock beneath the hem of my jeans. If I could just reach for it—
“Try and reach for your gun and I’ll kill your little girlfriend with or without her brother’s permission,” he growled in my ear.
“You get off on being someone’s bitch?” I threw back at him. “Does he have you suck his dick too?”
The bastard shoved me to my knees. “Who’s the bitch now?”
“I see you’re finally on your knees,” Kenny came toward me and crouched in front of me. “I bet you do the same for her too. I know how she likes it. She’s a controlling little slut.”
“Who the fuck are you?” I growled through clenched teeth. “You’re supposed to be her brother.”
“Maybe I’m not.” Kenny winked. “Have you ever thought of that? You’ve researched me. But there’s something you couldn’t find. Isn’t there, Stone?” He leaned down to my ear. “Have you ever thought that maybe I’m not actually Creena’s brother?”
Fuck.
I DIDN’T KNOW what to do. I didn’t know where to begin. I should have gone to Kenny’s right when he asked me. Now all of our lives were in danger and it was because of me.
“Don’t, Creena,” Brogan snapped.
My gaze flicked to hers.
She shook her head. “Don’t think that shit.”
I looked at my feet. I was stronger than this. I was trained by the best. Although my father had trained us both, I was who he focused on.
“It’s a difficult world, Creena,” my daddy said. “I need you strong. I need you to be able to handle your brother when the time comes. He has a darkness that would make our enemies shy away. There will come a time in your life where you will be against each other.”
“We’re brother and sister. That can’t happen.”
My father cupped my cheeks, kissing my forehead. “Sweet girl, yes it can.”
My father’s words had stuck with me since. Even after he died. And now was the time for me to channel everything my father had taught me.
“So, are you still not going to come with me?” Kenny asked, scratching his temple with the end of his pistol. “I’m kind of enjoying this cat and mouse play.”
Everyone around us was waiting for me to make my next move. To give instructions. To just do something. But with Stone on his knees and guns aimed at my friends, I was lost. Thrown into a situation I never knew was possible.
“Fine,” was all I said.
Kenny grinned, nodded once, and that was when I heard it. The man looming over Stone cocked his pistol, aiming the gun at Stone’s head.
“What the hell, Kenny?” I screamed. “I said I would go with you.”
“No,” Stone yelled. “Don’t you fucking dare.”
“Kenny,” I pleaded, ignoring Stone. “Please. Just take me and let everyone else go. I’m all you came here for.”
“You see” —Kenny made his way to Stone, pointing his own gun at his head— “I want to hear you say it.”
I swallowed hard, shaking my head.
Voices sounded around me, yelling and arguing, but I couldn’t make out who said what. All I could focus on was the man I was in love with on his knees and the other man I thought I trusted with his gun at his head.
I shoved the men holding me back but they kept their grip tight on my arms. Nails dug into my skin, fingers bruised and marred my flesh. This was it. I fell in love and it would be taken away from me. All because I let my heart get in the damn way.
“Creena,” Kenny demanded, shoving the pistol against Stone’s head. “Say it. Better yet, get on your knees and say it. That’s what you do for him, isn’t it? You switch personalities like a psychotic bitch. Get on your damn knees.”
I was shoved to the ground. A boot kicked at my back, shoving me forward. I grunted, a slice of hot pain traveling up the length of my spine.
“Get up, Creena,” Kenny demanded. “Kneel for me.”
Stone growled, keeping his gaze locked with mine.
“Please let everyone go,” I begged. “I’ll do anything.”
“Kneel,” Kenny yelled.
I pushed to all fours, sitting back on my ankles. “What do you want me to say?” I asked, swallowing past the bile threatening to escape my mouth.
“Say you don’t love him. Say you’ll come home with me and forget all this. These people. Him.” Kenny’s eyes were wild, zeroing in on me but they looked right through me.
My heart sped up at what he was demanding of me. I wasn’t sure why, I didn’t even know what the hell he was talking about. He had been good with letting me do my own thing. Why the change of heart all of a sudden?