Page 9 of Death's Devotion
“You can’t do anything to us. We’re not part of your little club or whatever,” the other bitch says, placing a hand on her hip as if she has a leg to stand on here.
“See, we can do whatever the fuck we want. You’re on our property and came into our house. That means you’re in the wrong here and we have no problem gettin’ rid of the trash. Permanently,” Lash adds from his spot just behind Talon and me.
“Look, none of this was our idea. We were at a bar last night. Some guy came up to us and paid us money to show up here, get up to Death’s room, and make it look like we fucked him last night. It would be even better and worth more money if some skank named Kelsey saw us in bed with him. So, we took the money and did what was asked of us,” the darker blonde says, her voice filled with panic as she takes in our hard glares.
“Who the fuck paid you to get in our clubhouse and to Death’s room? How the fuck did they even know where his room is?” Talon asks, his voice coming out lethal as he continues glaring the skanks down.
“I don’t know who he is. Didn’t give us a name and paid in cash. Said he wouldn’t be around much longer and wouldn’t see us again. Not sure how he planned on giving us more money for making some bitch see us in bed with him. Which she did. Not sure how he knew where this room is either. We were given a napkin with a map drawn out on it. Pointed out the large room downstairs, where the stairs are, and which door we’d need to come in. I know how to pick locks and that’s how we got in before you ask that,” the same girl continues speaking as if she’s talking about the weather and not hurting someone.
“Death, what do you wanna do here? The call is yours. We can hold them or let them go,” Lash asks, not sure what to do in this situation along with the rest of us.
“Let them the fuck go. You’re not to get dressed or take your fuckin’ clothes. Not takin’ anythin’ out of this clubhouse. I see your asses around here again and I’ll make sure you don’t make it five seconds here. I’ll bury you so fuckin’ deep no one willeverfind your bodies. You’ll simply vanish from this world and no one will give a fuck,” I state, letting my voice show how serious I am.
“You can’t make us leave here naked,” the lighter blonde skank says.
“I mean, we could always call the cops. Trespassin’, breakin’ and enterin’, and who knows what other charges you’ll get. I don’t know what the fuck you did while you were in here with me. What you stole from me and put in your bags or clothin’. So, those are your fuckin’ options,” I state, my voice not changing a single bit.
“We’ll go,” the other woman says, knowing we’re not giving them what they want.
Talon, Judge, and Lash follow the bitches from my room. Everyone else clears out, leaving me alone once again. While I may have them out of my room now, everything in here is fucking tainted. And Kelsey fucking saw them in here. She’s never going to come near me again. I supposed I should be happy as fuck because it’s what I keep telling myself I want. In reality, I need to see her on a daily basis. To know she’s safe and her douche canoe ex hasn’t gotten his hands on her. When she says he’ll kill her, I believe her. Vince isn’t a fucking man to take her betrayal lightly. Not that she really betrayed him.
Heading for my bathroom, I get in the shower. I barely leave time to take my clothes off and toss them in a pile on the floor before stepping in under the cold as fuck water. While showering the alcohol haze off me, I try to figure out how I’m going to explain this morning’s shitshow to Kelsey. While I won’t let her get close to me, it doesn’t mean I want her hurting or stressed out because of something she believes I’ve done. The baby and her don’t need that shit. I’m the one who has to fix this situation and make sure she knows she’d never catch me in that type of situation if I can help it.
Chapter Seven
SEEING DEATH IN bed with two women this morning is not something I ever want to see again. Part of me still wants the man and I can admit I’m totally jealous of the women he’s spending time with. I know the type of man he is though. He’s the guy you get one time with, never get to stay the night, he’s done with you the second he’s found his release, and he won’t call or check on you. The only reason he still has anything to do with me is because of Vince. Death is one of many on guard duty which means he has no choice but to see me after we were together. Now, he also gets to see reminders of our few hours spent with one another. I’d change it if I could, but there’s really nothing I can do about it.
I’m definitely showing now and it doesn’t matter what I wear. When I’m home, I can hide it behind the baggy tee-shirts and loose jeans. That’s not the case when I’m at work. I have to look professional and ready to work when I’m at the shop. I can’t lounge around in leggings and baggy as hell tee-shirts that are so faded I can’t barely tell what’s on them these days. Instead, I have to wear the few maternity clothes I have while at work and they show my ever expanding baby bump. It really must suck for Death when he has to see me and the bump I’m now growing.
Anyway, to say I was devastated when I ran from his room this morning, would be an understatement. My heart broke into a million pieces and there’s not enough glue in the world to put it back together again. I literally only went up there to find out who was supposed to go to the shop with me. Judge wasn’t sure and no one was answering their phones to find out. So, when I went back down to the common room where Judge was watching over Brent for me, I just left without saying a word to anyone. A Prospect followed me to the shop and is sitting inside as I go about my morning routine. One I’m implementing today because it’s only the second day we’re open.
I’ve already gotten the new drawer in the register and ready for me to start ringing customers out. Coffee is brewing already as I begin to fill the case with the remaining baked goods and candy from our grand opening. While we’re not going to typically sell food on a daily basis, I figure I can get some stuff made up today in order to continue drawing a crowd in. Offer them little samples so they want to book the catering portion of the business. I’m not sure if I should run this idea past Jaelyn or not, but she’s really busy with her new babies and still in the hospital after having surgery.
Once I’ve gotten everything set up the way we’ve talked about and some food prepared and cut into samples, I make sure Brent is still good in his playpen before walking over to unlock the front door and turn the closed sign to open. I also make a plate of things for the Prospect guarding over me to munch on while he sits here bored out of his mind. I also make him a cup of coffee. If I’ve noticed anything since being around the club it’s that all the men and women love their coffee. I’ve personally never had a taste for it, but that’s just me. After delivering his snacks, I head to the kitchen where Brent is now sleeping in the playpen. I double check the door to make sure it’s still shut and locked before starting to get to work on things I need to do here in the back. We’ve got a bell on the counter in case someone comes in.
I spend the next two hours working on anything I can. Including a deep clean of the counters in the front of the shop. Anything to keep my mind busy and off of Death. Of the entire situation if I’m being honest. There isn’t a single thing I’d do to make him feel as if I’m going to force him into anything or be around when seeing his son or daughter is the last thing he needs or wants in his life. That would just be cruel of me. This is also something I need to talk about with Jaelyn. She deserves to know I’ll be leaving sooner rather than later. I’m not going to leave her in the lurch and just disappear unless I truly have to.
My gut is coiled tight as fuck the longer the day drags on. We’ve gotten a decent amount of customers and I’m thankful to see people still coming in after the grand opening. I’ve also added another job for the catering side. We’re really starting to gain some interest in catering people’s events so it’s one less thing for them to worry about. When Jaelyn comes back a party planner wants to sit down and discuss things moving forward. She’s sampled the food and treats here and would like to work exclusively with us. While a large part of me jumps for joy at the thought of having a contract with a party planner, the rest of me knows I won’t be here for it. Jaelyn will have a successful shop and I’m happy to help in some small way.
“I’m headin’ out, Kelsey. The next guy will be here in about ten minutes to switch out. I’d wait, but I’ve got somethin’ to do at the clubhouse for Lash,” the Prospect guarding over me says as I make my way back out from the kitchen.
We’ve been here for several hours already and I was wondering if they were going to switch out or if this guy was going to be stuck here with me for the entire day. Thankfully, he doesn’t have to be here.
“Okay. Thank you for sitting with me today. I know it’s not fun or anything,” I tell him, a smile on my face as I look at the younger guy.
“It’s no problem, Kelsey. I’m really sorry about this,” he says before turning and walking out the door.
I’m totally confused. What’s there to be sorry about. If Lash has something for him to do and the other guy will be here in a few minutes, then he’s gotta go. I’ve been here alone before and nothing happened. It was just yesterday when I was left here alone. I’m not stupid enough not to realize it’s not a risk, but a few minutes won’t really mean that much in the grand scheme of things. Checking on Brent once more, I squat down and continue cleaning off the shelves. No one can actually see me from where I am behind the counter. Maybe if I stay hidden until the new guy gets here, everything really will be okay.
As I’m pulling everything off the last shelf that needs to be cleaned, in my mind anyway, my hair is suddenly yanked hard from behind. I’m pulled up so I’m standing with a hard body at my back. The smell of cigarettes and pine assaults my senses and I immediately know who has me. Fear makes me freeze up so I can’t move a single muscle as I wait to see what he’s going to do. My nightmare is coming true as Brent continues sleeping a few feet away from us. Vince is here.
“Kelsey. Did you really think you could hide from me? That I wouldn’t find you at some point because you’re too stupid to continue moving?” he questions me, his harsh voice making me wince as he pulls my hair tighter.
I don’t say anything in response. No matter what I do, Vince is going to get pissed. If I respond, he’ll blame my supposed tone for the reason to hurt me. When I stay silent, he tells me I’m ignoring him and being disrespectful. There is no winning when it comes to Vince because in his mind he’s always right. Everyone else is wrong and the sooner we all learn that lesson, the less pissed off he’ll be. So, I remain quiet as usual. Vince doesn’t even deserve my tears as I hold them back.
“No answer for me, slut? I thought you would have learned by now to answer when I ask you a direct question. I mean, I can smell the fear wafting off your body. Feel you shaking and trembling while wondering what I’m going to do with you. This isn’t the first time I’ve had to correct your behavior. I can guarantee you now, it will be the last time,” Vince promises me, spinning me around so I’m facing him.
Still I don’t answer the man who has taken almost everything from me. With Brent in the kitchen, I’m hoping he hasn’t seen him yet. Or that I can play it off as watching someone else’s kid. There’s nothing I can do to hide the pregnancy though. He’s going to notice and make it a point to let me know he knows I’m pregnant.
