by K E Osborn
Savanah scoffs. “That? No, that was child’s play. They’re all big children with big toy bikes, who think they own women. The second you remember you have the pussy, which is the one thing that weakens them, you have all the power, Jovie.”
“You’re so confident…”
“You are, too, I’ve seen it. You’ve just taken a step back because of what happened with your father. Don’t let that man rule your head, Jovie.”
Leaning up against the wall, I exhale.
She’s so right.
I’m letting Father get to me.
He is stopping me from being myself.
I need to quit it.
So, I down the rest of my vodka, then turn, slamming my fist against the door to be let back in.
Savanah presses up on her toes in excitement. “Yeah, girl! You go tell him.”
My nerves wrack through my body, but I am a strong, confident woman, so asserting myself is what I need to do right now. The door flies open to Bayou, his eyes widening as I push past him, Savanah following me while I race down to the bedroom.
“Well, hey, sweet thang!”
“Stop! I am not your sweet thang. What the hell even is that? I am my own person. I am a strong, self-sufficient woman, not a slave to your fucking club. I do what I want and am not a fucking puppy to be ordered around.”
Savanah throws her hands in the air. “Whoop! There it is.”
The corner of Kevlar’s lips turns up as Hurricane bows his head. “Good to know…” He switches his eyes to Kevlar. “I’ll catch up with you again, Kevlar. This was… interestin’, to say the least.” Hurricane stands, walks over to me, chuckles, shakes his head, then signals to his two men, and walks for the door.
I spin, facing him in my outrage. “So what? That’s it? You’re not gonna say anything?”
Hurricane turns back to face me. “I think you said it all. I’m glad you stood up for yourself, Jovie. Now you really proved to me just how good for the fuckin’ club you are. You’re the entire package deal. If someone doesn’t swoop you up, I just might come back for ya.”
Bayou chortles as he leads Hurricane out the door.
Standing there shocked, I thought he’d be angry at me, not turned the fuck on. I spin back to face Kevlar, confused as hell.
Hearing the door close behind me, I throw my hands in the air. “What on earth was that?”
Kevlar exhales. “That was NOLA Defiance, and you just got a good dose.”
“Gee, thanks.”
He steps up to my side. “You’re welcome. Now, let’s get going. The voodoo shop was calling before we were so rudely interrupted.”
I roll my shoulders. “Why did they come to see you?”
He exhales. “I’m a Defiance brother from another chapter, but I am in their turf. If I’m not here for a social call, they need to know why.”
“And are they okay with you being here?”
“Yeah, for now. They don’t want trouble barging down Bourbon Street searching for me.”
“Is it going to?”
He exhales. “I sure hope not.”
“You gonna tell me what this is all about?” I ask.
Kevlar’s hand comes up, swiping a strand of loose hair away from my face. The gesture sweet and caring, which makes my nerves calm dramatically. “All in good time, sunshine.”
“Can we go to this voodoo shop already? Seeing you two make googly eyes at each other is making me nauseous,” Savanah quips.
Kevlar lets me go as he gestures for the door.
We all walk out of the room, then the hotel, and down toward Bourbon Street. It’s a little quieter during the day than it is at night, but there’s still a heap of people milling around right now. Pardi-Gras banners line the streets, the trop-rock festival alive and well in the streets of New Orleans. People dressed up in Hawaiian shirts walk around as we move as a trio toward the voodoo shop. The front is all weathered wooden paneling giving it an old-world vibe, though somehow, I feel a connection to it instantly.
“This place is freaking creepy,” Savanah whispers as she takes the rickety stairs one at a time.
I waggle my brows at Kevlar, and inside we go. My eyes widen as we enter because I’m not sure where to look first. There’s so much to take in—walls and walls of voodoo trinkets and charms. Excitement bubbles up inside me, my stomach flittering at the energy inside this place.
It’s quiet, even with the number of people inside. It is almost eerie as Savanah rushes off to the back wall where a goat shrine is located. I grimace, not really wanting to see that, so Kevlar and I make our way to the middle of the shop where the voodoo dolls are hanging from the rafters in various states. Some appear mummified, some are in what look like dresses, some are made of twine, they’re all so freaking different. So unique. Each with a tag depicting what they represent.
I run my hand over the dolls, not stopping on any one in particular, just touching them, not really sure why.
“This place is so crazy,” Kevlar states.
“You been here before?”
“Actually, this is one of the places Em would never come. Said it freaked her the fuck out.”
“I dunno, I kinda like it.”
Kevlar brings his hand up, assessing one of the dolls. It’s like an ancient mummy with a tulle purple dress and sticks coming out of its head. Very unique. “Yeah, I kinda like it, too.”
Suddenly, the beads on a backroom split open. A lady wearing a black velvet African head wrap glides out. A tight black and deep orange bodice which comes in at her waist makes her breasts seem overfull. The bodice then flows down in a skirt which is longer in the front and comes up shorter on the sides with frayed edges along the bottom. Around her neck is a necklace made of bones, and from her ears dangle long, intricate earrings of feathers and beads. Then around her left eye is a gray tattoo, stipple dots forming a circle, simply surrounding the eye with a filigree pattern around the edge. The tattoo flares out in a single line across her nose, up her forehead, down her cheek, and across her temple with filigree end zones. You would think a tattoo on a face like that would be strange, but on her, it’s majestic and beautiful against her warm chocolate skin.
She spots us, almost floating out from behind the beads as they flow down behind her like she’s magical. The way they descend behind her is like it’s done in slow motion, or maybe I’m just in awe of her.
She makes her way over to Kevlar and me, her eyes focusing on me first, then she tilts her head at Kevlar. “You, boy, you’ve been to N’awlins, but not come here… why?”
I widen my eyes as Kevlar tenses. “Ahh… that’s a long story.”
She inhales abruptly, her hand coming up, her two fingers walking up Kevlar’s chest. He jerks his head back but lets her. “You be thinkin’ I don’t know? You be thinkin’ I can’t read you, boy?”
“What he means to say is… he doesn’t want to delve into those painful memories,” I tell her.
Her head tilts sideways to study me, the whites of her eyes shining bright. “You, miss, you have a bright future, me thinks.” She reaches out, placing her hand over where my heart is. I tense a little, not knowing what to do, but I don’t back away. Her head snaps back to Kevlar, and she begins to chuckle. “The damaged boy and the bright girl, mmm… there be much turmoil to come between you.” She reaches up, grabbing the same doll Kevlar picked up before, the one with the purple tulle dress. “This is your talisman. It good luck for the both of you. Keep it. Protect it. It will protect you and your family.”
Kevlar furrows his brow. “But we’re not… a family.”
She hums under her breath. “Oh, damaged boy… you will be.”
My eyes shift to Kevlar as he takes the voodoo doll in his hands. She mumbles something under her breath, then leans her forehead against his. His eyes widen as he peeks at me, and I shrug. She pulls back, bowing her head at me. “Tell your friend when she gets the call from home to answer. It will be important.”
I go to say somet
hing, but she holds up her hand to stop me, then turns swiftly. Her skirt flowing out in a wave as she stalks off as quickly as she came out.
I let out a small laugh. “Who the hell was that?”
“Madame Bonheur, the local voodoo priestess. They say she has a direct connection to Marie Laveau, the most renowned voodoo queen of New Orleans. Though no one will explain whether it’s a family bond or psychically,” a shop worker answers, stepping in next to us.
I widen my eyes. “Wow! Kevlar, you just had a voodoo doll chosen for you by a priestess.”
He rolls his shoulders as the worker steps in again. “I don’t think you understand. She gave the doll to you both, and she blessed you, sir. The doll works only if you’re together, which she obviously expects you will be.”
“Wait, she gave us the doll?”
“It doesn’t happen often, but if Madame Bonheur comes out to give someone a doll personally, then we don’t charge. There’s a reason she gave it to you, and we’re not going to mess with that juju by charging you for it.”
Kevlar glances down at the doll. “Voodoo protection doll, huh?”
“Not just a protection doll, it helps with… ah, romance, too.”
Kevlar scoffs. “Yeah… okay.”
I waggle my brows at him as Savanah comes rushing over. “Holy shit! Was that the priestess I saw talking to you?”
I reach out for Savanah’s hand. “You’re never going to believe what just happened.”
I’m not even sure I do.
The priestess believes Kevlar and I are going to be a family.
Holy shit!
KEVLAR
As we walk down Canal Street, heading back to the hotel for the night, Jovie and Savanah are chatting together, keeping themselves occupied while the voodoo doll burns a hole in my hand. I have no idea what the priestess was thinking saying shit like that. I hardly know Jovie. Now, I understand why Em didn’t want to go in there, it’s fucking weird as all hell. I’m not sure what the fuck to believe.
Jovie is great.
I like her.
But she and I being a family? Isn’t that jumping the gun a little too fucking fast?
“You look like you’re about to have a coronary. You okay?” Jovie asks.
“Yeah.” I don’t keep the conversation going, but she’s having none of it.
She faces me, walking backward. “You know it was all just a bit of fun, right? I mean… I have no clue how she knew that stuff, or why she picked the same doll you did, but you can’t take it on, Kevlar. Don’t get in your head about it. Just keep having fun, okay?” Jovie suggests as we enter the hotel.
“Yeah, right. Let’s go back to the room and watch TV or something.”
“She really got to you, didn’t she?”
I shrug. “I don’t know how you can be so blasé about it. How did that not make you feel weird?”
Jovie wraps her arm around my shoulders, then exhales. “Because, Kevlar, I’m not holding on to someone. Someone who’s holding me back.” She leans in, kisses my cheek, then rushes off to the elevator to Savanah.
I stand stock-still in shock. Is that what I’m doing? Letting the memory of Em hold me back? I thought I was honoring her, but maybe I’m doing just the opposite. Maybe Em would be sitting back watching me, thinking what a dickhead I’m being pining over a dead woman who I’m never going to see again.
“Kevlar, are you coming?” Savanah yells.
My head jerks up. She’s holding the elevator for me.
I quickly rush forward next to Jovie, who’s purposely avoiding eye contact. The doll in my hand gives off the sensation like it’s burning me again.
That shit’s all in my head.
But it makes me all too aware when Jovie’s near how much I feel alive. More alive than I have felt in fucking years.
With my free hand, my pinky finger slides along Jovie’s. It’s not a massive move, but she turns to look at me, the corner of her lips turns upward. Keeping my eyes ahead, I thread my fingers with hers, taking her hand in mine, my skin tingling and sparking with electricity I haven’t felt before. I have no fucking clue what this is. I felt a connection with Em, which was deep, emotional, but whatever this is with Jovie, it’s not only emotional, it’s physical as well.
Like our bodies are attuned to each other.
Fuck, if it isn’t scary as all hell.
The elevator dings on my floor, and our hands disconnect as the three of us walk out to my room. I pull out my keycard, swiping it over the reader, and Savanah walks inside, mumbling about something to do with the weather, but my eyes lock onto Jovie’s as I hold the door open for her. She smiles at me, and it’s like I’m seeing her for the first time. Like really fucking seeing her. She’s glowing so damn beautifully, it’s like the sun is shining in all its glory down on her. This woman is magnificent. She licks her lips, the small gesture gaining my attention, my cock jerks in my pants, and I inch forward.
“What the hell are you guys doing? Are you coming in or what?” Savanah yells down from the bedroom, breaking the moment.
I smirk as a flush crosses Jovie’s face. “Glad you’re coming around,” she whispers, then enters my room, walking down to meet Savanah. I can’t help it as my eyes drop to her ass on the way.
I close the door, clenching my eyes shut, then lean my forehead on the door taking in a couple of deep breaths. “Get it together, dickhead.”
“Kevlar, where’s the remote?” Savanah yells.
I shake my head, then turn, walking down to the bedroom. As I walk in, Savanah’s on the oversized chair, legs thrown over the side and laid back like she’s making herself comfortable as she throws her head back in my direction. “So?” she asks.
I walk over to the bedside table, pick it up, then take it over to her. “Did you even look?” I tease.
“What good is a manservant if he won’t serve you?”
Jovie snorts out a laugh as she sits on the edge of the bed while I let out a grunt. “I can kick you out. This is my room, remember?”
Savanah snorts. “Pfft… if you were gonna, you would’ve.”
I move in, sitting next to Jovie as Savanah scrolls through the endless channels. I turn to face Jovie and open my mouth to speak when my burner cell rings. “Fuck… I better get that.”
Jovie’s warm expression calms my anxiety. “I’m not going anywhere. Take your call.”
I stand, pulling my cell out of my pocket.
It’s Zero.
Anxiety runs through my veins as I quickly answer the call, “Pres, tell me you know what the fuck’s going on?” I walk over to the window staring out at the murky Mississippi, where a majestic paddle steamer is floating along in the current.
“Finley is working on it. By the looks of it, the Baron is targeting you to get back at Ethan for putting him in jail. The Baron can’t get to Ethan because he’s squeaky clean, so he did the next best thing.”
I tense all over as I run my hand over my head. “Me.” That one word comes out incredulously.
Zero hums down the line in agreement. “He’s coming after you to get at Ethan.”
Clenching my eyes tight, pain sears through my very soul. Ethan and I might not see eye to eye on most things, but he’s still family. “When can I speak to Ethan, Zero? I haven’t talked to Sadie and Lucas in far too long. They’ll be wondering where I am.” I subtly peer over my shoulder at Jovie, and like I expected, she’s intently listening in. I haven’t told her about Sadie and Lucas yet. The idea of her and me is one thing, the idea of her being involved with my kids, that’s entirely another.
“I’ll get Ethan to call you. We’re working on something to bring you home, but I don’t want to say much in case the phones are tapped.”
I completely understand. With the Baron getting his hands into everything, we can’t be too fucking careful, and that includes listening devices. “I get it. And thank you, brother. Thanks for digging into this for me.”
“Of course. How is everything?”
I look over at Jovie and Savanah letting out a huff. “I’m keeping busy. I’ll fill you in when I’m able.”
“Right! I’ll call again when I know more.”
“Thanks, man.”
He ends the call, and I don’t have a second before Jovie jumps up, rushing toward me. “Who’s Sadie and Lucas? They seem important.”
I tense, holding my hands up to placate her. I glance from Savanah back to Jovie. “I should have told you in a better way than thi—”
“Just tell me,” Jovie interrupts.
I hesitate as Savanah turns to listen in. Exhaling, I stand taller. “My kids.”
Jovie’s expression falls as Savanah quickly hops up from the chair, turning off the television. “I’ll ah… just go back to our room now. I’ll be there if you need me, babe. Okay?”
Jovie nods as Savanah scurries out of the room.
Jovie exhales but appears calm. “Having kids wasn’t something you wanted to mention?”
I let out a small laugh. “Of course, I did, they mean everything to me. I wasn’t sure how you would take it. Honestly, I’ve never had to tell anyone about my kids before, so I had no clue what the protocol is.”
She relaxes, moving in front of me. “Tell me about them.”
Warmth floods through me as I think about my two beautiful little children. I reach out for Jovie’s hand, leading her over to the bed. We sit as I try to figure out where to start.
“Sadie is six, going on sixteen. How she can be my little girl one minute, then be so smart and grown up the next, I have no clue. She’s cute as hell, but I might be biased. Her little dark ringlets drive me crazy.”
Jovie smiles, her hand sliding up into my hair. “Just like her daddy.”
“Yeah. Hers are way cuter.”
“What does she like? What’s her favorite thing?”
“Tea parties… it’s the only thing she remembers of Em. She used to have tea parties with her when she was little, or littler, I should say. She also has this fucking rabbit. I swear the thing is filthy as all get-up, but she won’t go anywhere without it.”
She giggles. “It’s a security blanket. She’s had it since she was a baby?”