by Levine, Nina
He shook his head and gave me a hard glare. Pointing at me, he said, “Mark my fucking words, if a cat shows up at my house, I’ll get unwhipped faster than you can say tight pussy.”
I highly doubted this but didn’t say anything more. Instead, I stood up and said, “Griff’s given us the okay to hire that new manager. Can I leave that with you while I take the cat home?” I checked the time; it was just after six pm so I could make sure Lisa had eaten some dinner too.
“Yeah. How’s that kid going? Has her mother cleaned herself up yet?”
“Michelle still hasn’t gotten her shit together so I check on Lisa every day. If I was sure foster care would be better than what she’s got, I’d report it but I refuse to throw Lisa to the wolves when I can watch over her.”
I picked up the cat cage and left; Lisa had been waiting long enough for her cat to come home.
***
I knocked on the door and waited. It only took her a minute to answer, and when she saw me, her face lit up.
“Monty!”
I handed him to her and said, “Can I come in?”
Lisa was so excited and didn’t seem fazed by the ugly wound on his face. That was good because she was going to have to look after him now. She let me in and I headed towards the kitchen, in search of her mother. She wasn’t in there, nor was she in the living room.
“She’s asleep,” Lisa half whispered when she realised what I was doing.
“How long’s she been asleep?”
Lisa hesitated, but then replied, “Since just after I got home from school.”
Fuck.
“You had dinner?”
She didn’t say anything; just shook her head, no, and then stared at the ground.
I reached out and lifted her chin with my finger. We stood staring at each other for a long moment. That fucking mother of hers had a lot to answer for. Finally, I said, “Come on; let’s go get you some dinner. I haven’t had any either.”
We secured Monty in the house and then headed out to a Chinese restaurant because I knew that Lisa liked Chinese.
We’d ordered, and chatted a bit about school, and were eating when she suddenly stood up and said she had to visit the bathroom. When she returned five minutes later, she seemed a little more highly strung than usual.
I tried to catch her eye. “What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well or something?”
“I’m okay. It’s nothing,” she answered, but it wasn’t convincing.
“Lisa, you were okay but now you’re not. I can tell something’s wrong so spit it out.”
She shook her head vigorously. “I’m fine.”
Christ, I was not equipped to deal with twelve year old girls. I tried to maintain my calm but when she started crying two minutes later, I was out. Grabbing my phone, I tried to call Madison. No answer. Shit. I tried her again, and then I tried J. Neither were answering. Who the fuck else could help me with this? As I was racking my brain trying to figure out who to call, Lisa started really sobbing.
“Hey, darlin’, it can’t be that bad.” I was pretty fucking sure that wasn’t what she wanted to hear, but it was all that came to me.
She didn’t say anything; just kept sobbing.
Fuck.
In my desperation, I dialed Harlow’s number.
She answered almost straight away. “Scott?”
“Thank Christ. I need your help.”
“What’s up?”
“I’ve got a twelve year old girl here who won’t stop crying and won’t talk to me and tell me what’s wrong. Don’t suppose you could come here and talk to her. You know, girl to girl type shit.”
“Umm, okay. Where are you?”
I gave her the directions and she arrived ten minutes later. Lisa was still crying and not talking. Her body was wracked with sobs now and I felt completely fucking helpless.
Harlow took one look at her and moved to sit next to her, wrapping her arms around her and patting her hair. “Shhh, shhh,” she repeated over and over.
Eventually, Lisa started to calm down, at which point, Harlow looked at me and suggested, “Perhaps you could give us a moment?”
Shit, I was more than fucking happy to do that. “Sure, just text me when you’re done,” I replied, giving her my number and then left them to it.
I spent the next fifteen minutes outside the restaurant, wondering what the hell was wrong with Lisa. If Michelle had fucked up somehow, she’d be answering to me. When I finally got a text from Harlow to come back, I was apprehensive about what I was going to find. But they were standing waiting for me and appeared to be okay.
“We need to go to the shop,” Harlow announced, giving me a strange look that reminded me of the look that Madison used to give me when she was telling Dad something that she didn’t want me to question.
“Okay -” I was cut off.
“Good, we’ll be back soon,” Harlow said, confusing me.
“What -” she cut me off again. Now I was getting irritated.
“Just wait here. We won’t be long,” she asserted, eyes boring into me. It was like she was trying to send me the message to sit down and shut the fuck up. What the hell?
I noted Lisa’s apparent discomfort with this situation and decided to let it go for now, but Harlow would be telling me what the fuck was going on; I would make sure of that. “Fine, go. I’ll wait here,” I grumbled and let them go.
While they were gone, I organised for our food to be bagged up to take home. I paid the bill and had just settled the food in my car when I got a call from Griff. “Scott, need you at the clubhouse now; got some trouble here between Marcus and Blade.”
“Fuck. I’ll be there soon.”
I hung up from him and called Harlow. “You going to be long?” I asked when she answered.
“About five minutes, we’re just at the convenience store down the road.”
“Did you walk there?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Shit, Harlow, it’s not fucking safe to be out walking at night by yourself.” I knew that Stoney was tailing her tonight but shit could have still gone down.
“Bloody hell, we’re fine. Don’t get your panties in a knot,” she said, and had the hide to sound pissed at me.
“Wait there. I’m coming to get you,” I muttered, and hung up my phone without waiting for a reply.
A couple of minutes later, I was really fucking annoyed when I met them half way between the restaurant and the convenience store. “I told you to wait there for me,” I almost yelled at her.
“And I told you that we were fine,” she said calmly, but she was glaring at me, challenging me to argue back.
I stewed on that for a minute before blowing out a long breath. “Christ, woman, why do you have to argue with nearly everything I say?”
“I don’t. I only argue with the things you boss me around about,” she stated firmly.
“Seems like you argue with everything, babe.”
“Seems like you boss me around a lot.”
Fuck. She had her hand around my dick and she didn’t even know it. Hell, I hardly knew it, but I could damn well feel it.
“Harlow, we need to get back to the restaurant,” Lisa interrupted us.
Harlow shot me that look again; the one that said don’t question anything. I raised my eyebrows back at her; I was totally fucking clueless as to what was going on here but I kept my mouth shut.
“Okay, honey,” Harlow said to Lisa and they started walking towards the restaurant. I followed them, and when we got there, Harlow indicated for me to wait outside while they went in. Again, I followed her direction. While I waited, I received a text message.
Griff: How far are you?
Me: Ten minutes out.
Griff: Hurry up.
Me: Working on it.
I had started pacing by the time the girls came back outside. Lisa seemed calmer now; Harlow had somehow made that happen. Watching them walk towards me, I took in Lisa’s smile as they chatted; the smile I
’d hardly ever seen on her face. She caught my eye and directed that smile at me.
Smiling back at her, I asked, “All sorted?”
She nodded but didn’t say anything.
Harlow agreed, “Yes, but Lisa’s still hungry. What happened to all that food you guys had?”
“They packed it up for me and it’s in my car. I’ve got to head out to sort something out. Are you able to take Lisa back to my house and stay with her until I get home? I shouldn’t be too long.”
Before Harlow could reply, Lisa asked, “Why am I staying at your house, Scott? I can just go home.”
I shook my head. “No, your Mum’s not in any state to look after you so you can stay with me tonight.” I was worried about her and wanted to keep an eye on her tonight.
Looking at Harlow, I asked, “Can you do it?”
“Yes, it’s no problem,” she replied.
I gave her my address and house keys. “I owe you,” I said, as I took the food out of the car and passed it to her.
“Yeah, you do,” she agreed, and winked at me, taking the food out of my hands.
As I drove away, I watched them in my rearview mirror; chatting and laughing together. Something settled in my gut, something I’d never felt before. I wasn’t sure what it meant, but I was damn sure I wanted this thing at the clubhouse over as quickly as possible.
Chapter 15
Scott
I entered the room and Blade hit my sight. Motherfucker. He couldn’t be trusted. Why the fuck was I the only one who saw that?
“Scott, glad you could make it,” Blade greeted me as he stood up; cold eyes glued to mine.
I stopped in front of him, and said, “If I’d had more notice you were coming, I would’ve been here sooner.”
Neither of us moved; distrust and contempt thick in the air.
Griff broke the silence. “Blade’s changed his mind; he’s not willing to halt his distribution into Black Deed’s territory.”
I snarled at Blade, “What the fuck is your problem?”
Blade held my glare. “Black Deeds pissed a lot of people off under Nix’s control. Those people are more than happy to consider a new supplier. If the business is there, I’ll take it.”
“You’ve got no fucking idea what hell you’re bringing on yourself and your crew with that kind of decision.”
“My crew can hold their own.”
“You’re fucking delusional. Black Deeds will call in other chapters and favours; you won’t know what the fuck hit you.” Jesus, he was a dickhead and I was fast losing my cool. I knew he’d been bullshitting Dad when he agreed to pull back.
Griff knew my bullshit tolerance level and stepped in. “Scott’s right. Black Deeds’ power runs deep. They’ll smoke you before you even know it.”
Blade’s face contorted in anger. “Why don’t you let me worry about that and you stay out of it? This has got nothing to do with Storm.”
My anger had been walking a tightrope and that rope just fucking snapped. “This has got everything to do with Storm. Bullet’s asked us to get you to pull out, and if you don’t we’re in the fucking middle, and on Bullet’s shit list.”
“Not my fucking problem,” Blade snapped.
My fist was itching to connect with his face, however at that moment, my father joined the fray.
“It is your fucking problem,” Dad thundered; anger bubbling out of him, “And I’d appreciate it if you’d factor us into your fucking decision. You don’t need those coke dollars to survive, so do us all a favour and back the fuck off.”
Blade flinched. It was hardly noticeable but I was studying him, so I saw it. The hard set of his jaw was back in place straight away but he’d been affected by the way Dad spoke to him.
He glared at Dad. “I’ll say it one last time, I’m not giving in to that scum. I can’t believe you’re worried about him. Storm’s positioned well; your club can take him if need be.”
Dad stepped forcefully towards Blade, his heavy boot thudding with the impact. “What you don’t get, son, is that there are times to invite a war, and times to do every fucking thing you can to avoid it. We don’t want a war with Black Deeds. You go ahead with your plan, it’ll be inviting problems between you and me.”
Again, Blade flinched. Interesting; he hadn’t been expecting that.
“I’d say our meeting is done,” Blade declared, moving to leave. Tension clung to everything in the room and silence filled the space while we watched him go.
“Fuck!” I muttered, running my fingers through my hair.
“Fuck is about right,” Dad agreed, looking at me. His face was a picture of stress; the lines of age etched deeply in his skin, and the worry barely hidden. “We’ll just have to wait and see how Bullet takes this news.”
“You do know where this is headed, don’t you?” I asked him.
“Of course, I fucking do. Any fool can see that,” he snapped.
“Good, because we’re going to have to be ready to strike Blade’s crew when the time comes.”
He scowled at me. “Hold on one second. Who said that would be the plan?”
“Well, I’m not fucking taking on Black Deeds. You said it, now’s not the time to go to war with them. And certainly not over this for fucks sake.”
“Scott’s right,” Griff interjected.
Dad was quiet for a moment, assessing what had been said. “Well, nothing’s settled now and if it comes to it, we’ll take a meeting.”
I nodded. “Agreed.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Dad said, and then left Griff and I alone.
“This isn’t going to end well,” Griff murmured as he watched Dad go.
“I hear you, brother. I fucking hear you.”
Chapter 16
Harlow
Looking around the room, I tried to get my bearings. I wasn’t in my bed but I hadn’t woken up enough to instantly remember where I was. Mornings weren’t my best time; I needed coffee to function properly before nine o’clock. I took in the grey feature wall to my left, the black and grey colour scheme, and the Harley Davidson print on the wall, and realised I was in Scott’s bedroom. It came back to me; after Lisa had gone to sleep in Scott’s spare room, I’d decided to lie down until he got home. He must have come home late because I’d fallen asleep, and now it was morning. The early morning light was filtering through his grey curtains; my watch said six thirty.
The bathroom called so I dragged myself out of bed and went in search of it. Scott’s home had surprised me. I’d expected messy and undecorated. In reality, it was clean, homely and had some decoration in the form of bike prints, rugs on the wood floor, and I’d even noticed a plant in the kitchen. His house was a Queenslander; I loved the wood and the wrap around verandahs. He’d obviously spent time and money looking after it too because it was in immaculate condition inside and out.
As I walked down the hallway, I glanced at the photos he’d hung on the wall. There was one of an older couple that I suspected could be his parents; looked like his dad was a biker too. The woman in the photo looked like the kind of woman you wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of; tough, and the way she was holding the man was very territorial and protective. In the next photo, I recognised Nash and J. There were some other men in this photo that I didn’t know. I really liked this photo, Scott looked happy in it and I bet if I could zoom in on it, I’d see his crinkled eyes. Moving my gaze along the wall, I came to a photo of a gorgeous, blonde standing next to Scott who had his arm around her. And this photo had been taken close so I could definitely make out crinkled eyes.
I lingered over that photo. She was beautiful, and they looked so happy and carefree together. I was overcome with a strong desire to know who she was and what she meant to Scott.
“That’s Summer; my cousin,” a soft voice breathed into my ear.
I was startled and jumped a little. Scott had come up behind me without me even realising. His body was pressed against my back and his breath tickled my ear and
neck when he spoke. My skin tingled and butterflies took over my stomach.
I turned and sucked in my breath at the sight of his naked chest that glistened with drops of water. His hair was also wet. I desperately wanted to trail my eyes down his body to see the rest of him but I maintained eye contact instead. And oh, holy mother of God, his eyes were crinkled as he watched me. The butterflies whooshed out of me and desire took hold.
“She’s beautiful,” I finally managed to get out; his closeness was affecting my ability to think straight.
He took a step back and I caught a glimpse of the towel he was wearing. Pointing at the photos he said, “That’s my parents and those are the boys from my club.”
“I guessed that was your parents. They look like they’re still happy together.” Although Madison had told their story, the photo told a different story and I wanted to hear what Scott had to say about it.
He scoffed at that. “It’s funny how the outside world can be deceived into thinking something is a certain way. Appearances can be very fucking misleading,” he jabbed his finger at the photo, “My parents aren’t happy, and any happiness they did have was a fucking lie.”
I took in what he’d said, looked at the photo again, and then back at him. “You’re right, things aren’t always what they seem.”
“In my experience, Harlow, things are never as they fucking seem.”
His voice had a hard edge to it, and I wondered at what he’d seen and lived through in his life. “Not always, but sometimes they are exactly as they seem,” I murmured, “We’ve just got to open our eyes a little more and when we do see it, we have to believe it the first time and stop second guessing ourselves.”
Scott’s eyes widened a little, and he leant an arm against the wall. I couldn’t help but stare at his arm muscles as he did this; like I said, I had a weakness for arms, and getting a close up of his bare arms like this could not be wasted. “Fuck,” was all he said for a moment. His eyes searched mine, and then he said, “They don’t make chicks like you around here.”