Page 12 of Behemoth

Then Chains walks up next to Brick, smirking.

"Last warning, assclowns...Walk away and never bother Grace again. She is with Stitch now, so that means they are under our protection, and unlike your club, we protect what is ours. Got nothing else to say. Tell your prez to move on before we eliminate the Satan's Flaming Marauders MC, like we should have years ago. You’re fuckin’ little boys playing at being bikers. Not one of you truly understands the life or what it means. Grace is off-limits, as is her kid. Get the fuck out of here, NOW."

Brick feels me shaking so he pulls me closer while we watch the other MC members moving down the aisle, literally falling over each other to get away. Once they are gone, I go to pull away but Brick tightens his hold, looking down at me. Shivering, I look up to see the most intense green eyes staring right at me.

"Grace, sorry we finally meet like this, got a call telling us they were following ya so we had to make our presence known. Hopefully they get the message, but if not, don't worry; we got this. Can I ask why you’re alone?”

Feeling my hair stand on edge at his question, I want to tell him it isn't any of his business, but I can’t knowing the way it works in any club. He is the president, so respect is given, no questions asked. And I don’t want to make Francis look bad with his club and brothers, as we are dating. I try and can't hide the tone of my voice though.

"Francis is with Damien at the park. Both of my boys like to hang out together whenever they have the opportunity. Sorry, maybe Francis forgot to call you for permission. Thought he only needed mine."

Nervous at my smart mouth I watch Brick take in what I just said, I anxiously wait for him to lose his temper or put me in my place. I am totally surprised when he continues to look at me, then throws his head back and laughs. So do the brothers with him.

"Looks like Stitch got himself a quick-witted one, if you know what I mean. Glad to meet ya, Grace. Hope to see you again real soon. Tell Francis I get it, now that we’ve met. He was right. Hope to see you and your boy at the next family barbecue."

Not sure what he is talking about, I pull away, moving my cart down the aisle quickly. All I can hear is their laughter following me, and with everything that just happened, I’m feeling kind of spunky so I turn, smile, and for some reason not known to me I flip them the bird. My action makes them laugh even harder and brings a smile to my face.

Yeah, Francis’ brothers might be okay after all.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Francis

My pacing and swearing is upsetting Grace. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see her wringing her hands on her lap. About ten minutes ago, she put Damien in her room with the television on, watching one of his movies so he wouldn't hear me losing my fucking mind. Our relationship has been moving along perfectly. Grace and I are getting to know each other, and finally for the first time in my life, I am letting someone in. Well I’m holding back on trying to explain my powers and we’ve not gone all the way, we haven't consummated our relationship yet.

Well, we’ve played and I've gotten her off a few times. Holy shit what an experience. Grace is beautiful but watching her get off, I have no words except it took my breath away. She is kinda pissed that I haven’t let her get me off. For that to happen, she would have to put her hands on my body. Just the thought makes me panic. What happens if she is really disgusted? Or worse, started and then not only stopped but decided she didn’t need the baggage I bring into this budding relationship. That would kill me, so I’m trying to get in deep with her emotionally before we take that final step. I figure if we are emotionally involved, that might help with the physical stuff and my scars won’t scare her away.

"Fuck, Brick, when I called tellin’ ya I had seen Grace was in trouble I assumed you would take care of them. I trusted you with my girl’s life and you what...talked with them? What’s next, a campfire, s’mores, and singing “Kumbaya” with those sons of bitches? I'm losing my goddamn mind thinkin’ they were that close to my girl yet again.”

Hearing a gasp, I see Grace’s hands at her mouth, eyes fixed on me. Trying to reassure her, I give her a wink and a grin, which she returns with a cute shy smile of her own. I haven't been too possessive in front of her as of yet, so if she finds out I have the prospects and my brothers from both parts of my life keeping an eye on both her and Damien, she’ll probably be pissed. Not to mention worried. I filled them in about Wrecker and his shit club so they are watching her because my skills only go so far. They go as far as being able to tell when she is upset and scared, or even seeing what she sees when her emotions are high. But that isn’t all the time. Sometimes they just shut off and I can’t have that when that fuckin’ crazy-ass MC and its members decide to continue to show up and harass her.

Like today, I saw those assholes following her to the grocery store. That is why I called in Brick. As we were speaking, I watched them get off their bikes and go into the store looking specifically for Grace. That scared the fuck out of me. Even though she wants very little to do with my club, we have received several invites, including poker runs, family barbecues at the clubhouse, and other family friendly events. Fuck, after this, things are changing. Grace is it for me. She has to allow my family in so she can see how wrong she is about the Grimm Wolves.

They already see that she makes me feel alive. Makes me want to start each and every day with both her and Damien.

"Brick, this Sunday, are ya doing the barbecue at the clubhouse? Yeah, we’ll be there, all three of us. See ya then. Thanks, Brother."

Finishing the call, I throw my phone on the love seat then sit next to Grace on the couch.

"Francis, about Sunday, maybe we can take a rain check, you think?"

"No, Grace, not another rain check. If we are gonna move forward as a couple, you have to get to know my brothers. They are my family. I’ve met your parents and have spent time with them, so now you need to get to know mine. Even if they aren’t my biological family, I’m proud to be a part of them. And they proved they have your back, today was proof of that."

"I do get that, Francis. Wrecker said the same thing to me, and look where that got me. Even with him locked up, his club continues to harass and scare the crap out of me. And I worry about Damien as he knows nothing about his father.”

"Totally different, darlin'. Yeah, both of us are bikers in an MC, but the Grimm Wolves MC is different. I will never pull you into club business, saying that, my club has made progress and now believes in brothers and their families and they protect their own. Trust me, please, baby, give me this? If we get there on Sunday and you or Damien are uncomfortable we can leave. Please, let’s try."

Watching the struggle run across her face, my gut gets tight as I can hear how she is arguing with herself. Some of her fears are right on. Unfortunately I fuckin’ get that.

Being a nomad, I don’t have the same demands or duties as other club members. Brick gives me a ton of leeway due to my other job at the firehouse. That only goes so far though. It helps that he is in the loop about my spidey skills and he has used them to give the club the upper hand when needed in certain fucked-up situations. But I haven’t shared any of this with Grace; I’m being cautious. So caught up in my thoughts, I must not have heard Grace call my name because, suddenly, I feel her hand squeezing my arm. I tilt my head to the side to look into those beautiful hazel eyes and the golden aura surrounding her.

"Okay, Francis, we will go on Sunday to meet your family. I know how important they are to you so I will give them a chance. But I just want to remind you; I have to put Damien first, so if I think anything can harm him, we will leave. I have really strong feelings for you, Francis, so I trust you to protect and keep us safe. Saying that, honey, please find out what I can bring to the barbecue, okay? I can’t go empty-handed."

I pull her close to me, hugging her tightly. So tight I hear her gasp for breath. God, this woman is a miracle. A goddamn surprise I never saw coming. Instantly, I feel her body tightening then she is pulling away as I catch her thoughts replaying my conversation with Brick. And I can tell when she puts it together and there is no answer to her internal question.

“Francis, how did you see me in danger? That’s what you told Brick.”

Fuck, I knew the time would come for explanations but I wish it wasn’t tonight. My head is spinning with all the noise coming from her thoughts and concerns. All I wanted was some alone time with her. Now this.

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