Page 16 of Death's Devotion
“No. I got my bike. Lash brought Brent over to see her. He’ll take them back to the compound. I’ll hang out tonight and make sure no one gets close to her. I’m gonna start havin’ two men on the apartment. One on each side to make sure Vince can’t get close. Also gonna make sure the gates are closed at all times and everyone has to be checked before comin’ inside. Also gonna look for that little bitch who left her alone. It’d be wise of him to have disappeared and never show his fuckin’ face in Braedon again,” I tell him, standing and letting Sab pull me in for a man hug before we make our way toward opposite ends of the hall.
Before we get too far from one another, I hear Sabotage’s voice and turn back to face him. “You haven’t been to the warehouse since all this shit started, have you?”
“No, I haven’t. I haven’t even thought about goin’ there, Sab. I promised I wouldn’t go there again back on the day you guys dragged me out of there,” I answer, hoping he believes me because it’s the truth.
The warehouse is where I used to spend a majority of my time. It’s for underground fighting, but that’s not all that’s offered there. Anything you want, you can get. When I was betrayed and made a fool of, I went to a dark place. Every fucking night I was in that place. Fighting, fucking, and doing whatever the hell I wanted with no thought of the club. I barely made it for church and other events I had to attend as a member. Once the guys found out what was going on, I was pulled from the warehouse and vowed never to go back. I’ve always been in fights and as I got older, I turned to the underground fight scene. When I stopped caring about anything in my life, the warehouse gave me an outlet when I needed it the most.
I’ve got a ton of thinking to do and not a lot of time to get it done and figure out what I want to do. Part of me wants to take the damn leap and make Kelsey mine in every way possible. She’s the only woman I’ve ever had this sort of reaction toward. However, a large part of me can’t let go of my past. Of the things I saw, the way I was done wrong by a conniving bitch who wanted the club and ol’ lady status with nothing more from me. Kelsey isn’t like that. She doesn’t care about the club like that. She’s friends with two of the ol’ ladies because she hasn’t let herself get to know more. The girl keeps herself locked up tight and doesn’t let anyone get too close. Part of it is always being on the move and the rest is more than likely thanks to the fucking dead man walking. He’s got so much to pay for and I’m going to dole out his punishment.
Finally leaving the hospital, I make my way to my bike and let Lash know through a message I’ll be out of contact for a while. The need to find Vince is overwhelming when I think of what Kelsey and I could have lost. We could have lost our son and I didn’t even want him at that point in time. I’m still not sure what I want. Hopefully riding around looking for Vince and the Prospect will allow me to clear my head and start to figure shit out.
Talon and Boxer meet me out at my bike with their engines already running. My brother shouldn’t be with me if we’re going in search of Vince and the Prospect. We never let brothers go on something like this together. If something happens, we don’t want an entire family line, or a major portion of it, taken out by some vindictive asshole who wants some type of revenge. Vince is crazy as fuck and I have no doubt he’ll fire a gun or use some other weapon instead of coming at us head on. He’s a fucking coward who will only ever put his hands on a woman because he sees her as weaker than him. When it comes time to face a grown man, he’ll step back and let others do his bidding and take his beating.
“Tal, you shouldn’t be here. Not for this ride,” I tell him, knowing he knows this better than anyone else in the club as the Vice President.
“Not gonna let you go on this alone or with one other guy. We got this shit. Plus, not gonna let my future sister-in-law look over her shoulder the rest of her life. Heard you left her room after the ultrasound with a fuckin’ smile on your face. Got some news to share, Death?” Talon returns, a shit eating grin on his face that only grows when I pull out the picture.
“You’re gonna be a fuckin’ dad?” Boxer pipes up, his voice full of laughter at the thought of me being a dad.
“Yeah. Kelsey’s pregnant and the baby’s mine. Not sure what it means movin’ forward, but that’s where we’re at. Had an ultrasound today to make sure that fuck didn’t cause any harm to the baby. A boy. She’s havin’ a boy,” I say, feeling the smile spread across my face once again.
“Holy shit,” Boxer breathes out, not sure what else to say as my brother looks at the picture still in my hands. “Never thought I’d see the day you’d settle the fuck down.”
“I didn’t say I was settlin’ down. I’ve got a lot to think about and decisions to make. Plus, I’m not sure Kels wants me like that. Not with everythin’ I’ve done and said to her since we found out she’s pregnant,” I tell him, the smile immediately disappearing.
“You’ll figure it out, Nolan. I got all the faith in the world in you, brother. Now, let’s get the fuck outta here and find this fucker. Don’t forget about the Prospect either. I want to know what the fuck he was thinkin’ about when he left her alone in the shop,” Talon orders as I start my engine and rev it a few times before pulling out.
The three of us go down every back road in town before making our way to the very outskirts and surrounding towns. We only stop to fill our tanks and grab a bottle of water. Boxer also grabs something to eat. He’s always shoving food in his mouth. Usually it’s the healthy shit he needs to fight and keep his body in peak condition. Today he’s been grabbing anything he can find to snack on. It must be his cheat day because that’s the only time he eats that way.
When we make our way back to Braedon, we go through town and circle around multiple times before finally calling it and heading to the clubhouse. Talon needs to get home and I’m sure Boxer wants to bury himself in a Rebel for the night. Instead of parking my bike and heading inside with them, I make my way to the row houses and park next to the SUV Kelsey has been using. I’m not even sure how it got back here since it was left at the shop. Getting off my bike, I stretch out my back before letting my gaze settle on the windows of the apartment Kelsey is in with her son and my son safe in her stomach. Other than letting Shank know I’m here to watch out with him for the night, I stay to the shadows and remain alert for any sounds that don’t belong here. It’s going to be a long night as so many thoughts circle my mind.
Chapter Twelve
I’VE BEEN OUT of the hospital for just over a week now. Every single time I hear a noise, see a shadow, or anything I jump out of my skin. I’m so damn scared of everything right now. It’s been over a week and I haven’t done anything to get Vince the money he’s demanding from me. I’m not going to give him the money because it’s not his. The money is mine and he’s not entitled to it. There has to be some reason why he’s coming after me for this. And not because he's owed shit for being with me or whatever he was spewing. There truly is no reason for him to need my money when he’s got his own. No, he doesn’t work. However, mommy and daddy give him anything he wants and let him get away with all the bullshit he pulls on a daily basis. They don’t give a shit what he does as long as he’s not bringing trouble to their door. I’ve been gone for a while, but I don’t see his father not giving him every damn thing he wants still. Vince isn’t fucking stupid and won’t do something that will take away his meal ticket.
My jumpiness is so damn bad even Brent is out of sorts right now. He’s reluctant to take naps, cries more often, and has a hard time if I’m not holding him. It could be from the time I was in the hospital and couldn’t take care of him myself, but I highly doubt that’s what’s going on here. My son feels the tension and fear in me and is acting according to how I feel. I can’t really blame him. If I could get away with it, I’d hide in a dark corner and cry my eyes out. I’d cry until I have no tears left and can’t hide away any longer. That’s not my reality though. I have a son to take care of, a shop to keep open and operating successfully, and doctor’s appointments to go to.
A few days after I got out of the hospital, Kathy called me to see how things were going. So far, everything is the same as normal. I did talk to her about the fear coursing through me on a daily basis because I don’t want anything to happen to my son. She’s assured me it’s a normal reaction after what I’ve been through and as long as I take it easy and don’t push myself too hard, I shouldn’t have any problems. That my little boy should be safe and healthy inside my body. It’s what I needed to hear because the last thing I want to do is have something happen to my boy now and know it’s my fault. That I didn’t protect him with every fiber of myself like I do for Brent.
Death has been missing. I know he still pulls guard duty for me, but it’s the night shift. He gets here after dark and doesn’t make any attempt to talk to me or anything. The man remains outside with whoever else is on the same guard shift as him and sticks to the shadows. If I’m being honest, I thought something might change with him seeing the ultrasound, hearing the heartbeat of his son, and taking the picture we were given by Marsha. Nope. He’s still pulling away only it’s even worse now. So, I’ve decided I’m just going to continue on with my life and leave here as soon as I possibly can. There’s no reason for me to hang around and continue being miserable.
If I had the balls to make a change, I’d be talking to Lash and letting him know I can no longer remain in the apartment they’ve set me up in. I would find an apartment with some sort of short lease and live there so I don’t have to see Death or anyone else on a daily basis. Not only would Lash not let me leave the safety of the compound with Vince still out there, but I know I’d still have guys from the club on my ass and watching over me. So, I’ve remained at the compound and know it’s the best decision for right now.
The only time I leave the compound is to go to the shop or a doctor’s appointment. There are two guys from the club with me at all times. While I feel slightly more comfortable with being outside the gates of the compound, it’s not enough. Nothing will ever be enough until Vince is no longer a threat to Brent and me. Besides, I know he’s already managed to pay off one guy from the club. Who’s to say he won’t be able to pay off more of them? It’s the easiest way to get me alone so he can take Brent from me and beat the absolute fuck out of me once again. Vince can’t kill me just yet. If he does, no one gets the money in my trusts. Brent would eventually, but since he’s a baby not even Vince could touch it without a valid reason for needing the money. He’d have to provide proof of his need, what it’s for, and then provide the receipts of using it for the specified reasons. He wouldn’t just be able to drain the accounts and use the money for whatever he wants. It’s how I have it set up in case anything happens to me.
I did call my lawyer who is over the trusts to make sure they haven’t been touched. Not a single penny is missing. Vince has tried to get the funds and has been told no every single time. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall for those conversations. The man can throw a tantrum like no other when he doesn’t get his way. I’ve seen more times than I can count. Then, those tantrums turn into me getting my ass handed to me by him. It’s a violent and chaotic cycle he'll never break.
The money is available to me at any time I call my lawyer back. I don’t need to provide the receipts or describe what I’ll be using the money for because they’re in my name and I’m of age to use the funds. That’s what pisses Vince off the most. I have more money than he does and yet I’m still seen as the skank because his family feels they’re better than me. It’s not the case, but I’m not about to argue the point with a complete psycho. He doesn’t listen to anything he doesn’t want to hear anyway.
Today I’ve got Boxer and Shank with me. They’ve followed me to the shop and one of them are sitting inside while the other one remains on guard outside. I’ve kept them in steady supply of coffee and food because it is getting chillier outside and I don’t want either man getting sick as they continually switch out who’s inside and outside. Neither man says a word other than thanking me for what I hand over to them. I’m perfectly content with them not talking to me because I’m not in any mood to make small talk or go into any type of conversation about anything.
I’ve been really busy at the shop today. Not only with the customers coming in to make purchases or sit down and have something to eat and drink, but I’m preparing the food and other items needed for the first catered event I’ll be working. I know Kathy wants me to take things easy, but it’s just not gonna happen until this event is done and over with. Then I have a few weeks until the next event I’ll be catering. I will do what I have to do to make sure my baby boy is okay, but I can’t be taking down time right now when I’m the only one here.
I’m currently in the kitchen preparing some of the food for the event I’ll be heading to tonight. Brent will be going to hang out with Bronwan and Talon while I go to the client’s house to set the event up and make sure everything runs smoothly. I’m not going to let anything happen at our first catering event so we get bad reviews or anything. Jaelyn wants her company to be successful and I’ll do my damndest to make sure it happens for her. Rebellious Sweets and Catering is her baby and I promised her I’d take care of it.
“Kelsey,” a male voice comes at me, breaking me out of my thoughts.
“Ah!” I scream, pressing my hand over my chest as I turn to face Shank.
