Page 11 of Fractured Hearts-Prospect

I don’t know who that jerk is but before I can say a word, a very deep, raspy male voice gives an order no one in their right mind would ignore.

“Knock off your bullshit right now, Bad Dog, before I sic that woman after your decrepit ass. Now everyone back to what you were doing. Celestina, right? I’m Fury. That big guy over there is Brick, and I believe you already met Chains. The one running his mouth is Bad Dog. Over there at that table is Beast and Cathy, who’s sitting next to my ol’ lady, Abby. Bubba and his wife, Molly, or as we call her Momma Molly, is with them. Right next to her is Chains and Jackson’s wife, Winnie. Jackson’s running late. At that other table is Stitch, his ol’ lady, Grace, Spitfire—ya know her as Clementine—and Joy with Irons, who you also know. We have some brothers out and about. Manning the grill is Bullet, Tiny, and Doc, along with Puma. The rest of the club you’ll meet eventually.

“Now, I think Dingo is done catching his breath. When Brick’s done on the phone we can then go over some things, then we can all get some food. Oh shit, the kids, we’ll go over them later as it seems like the club is more kids than brothers lately. Emmie, Brick’s ol’ lady, is on bed rest; she’s pregnant with triplets. So eventually three more will be running around here with the others.”

Looking down, I see a couple of boys are trying to help Frank up as they giggle and ask him how much his balls hurt, and if they went up into his body when I kicked him. Then I see Clementine coming out of the kitchen with some frozen peas. That’s when one of the boy’s yells at her.

“Dang it, Spitfire, make sure those go in the garbage when he’s done. I don’t want to eat peas that have been sitting on Dingo’s balls.”

“Damn it, Talon, get your little ass over here. Nice impression on Celestina with that mouth of yours. Should shove a bar of soap in it to clean it out.”

As I listen I hear, I guess, Talon telling his mother he can’t chew on any more Zest soap and that she’s damaged him for life. Fury chuckles in front of me while someone behind me gives him shit.

“Damn, Fury, you got your hands full with those two demons or no, what does your ol’ lady call them? Yeah, hellions. Not sure how you and Abby manage to have a life with those two delinquents around.”

It hits me that voice sounds like the one from outside when we first arrived. When I glance behind me my eyes meet Chains. Oh shit, just what I don’t need with my panic sensors on high alert. That man makes me nervous as hell. I need some quiet time and a soft bed so I can sleep for like ten hours. But apparently, that’s not going to happen.

“Can I get you anything? How ’bout that coffee you asked for? I think Diesel was making a fresh pot for you. Let me see where they are with it, can get one of the prospects to bring it back to the office for you. How you take it, Celestina?”

I tell Fury, who then picks up his cell, telling whoever he calls how I like my coffee. Feeling like I’m being watched, I look around and yes I am, by Chains. I raise an eyebrow, which he does right back at me. Son of a bitch, I’m not in the mood for any games.

“What are you looking at, Chains?”

“It’s eerie how much you and that crazy as fuck bitch in Montana look alike. You sure you’re not sisters instead of cousins? I don’t think you have it in you to do what she does for her club. Even though I’m sure at this moment Dingo would disagree with me ’cause his balls have to be throbbing, burning, and swelling up like a bitch.”

“Well, with that description that tells me you’ve been kicked in the balls, which is no surprise there with your winning personality. So since you’ve got a hard-on for my cousin, maybe it’s best we stay as far away from each other as possible.”

“Sister, first a hard-on and Shadow will never happen or maybe when hell freezes over. I save my hard-ons for my wife and husband. I got nothing against you, Celestina, except all the trouble you’re bringin’ to our clubhouse. My first question is how did you figure out my brother, Dingo, was associated with the Grimm Wolves motorcycle club? That is one of the first things all prospects are told; to keep all club affiliations private. Actually, they are instructed not to speak about the club at all. So wanna tell me how you knew to reach out to Dingo?”

Before I can answer all his questions, a growl behind me has me turning and my eyes lifting to see Frank standing next to Bad Dog, his face red.

“Back the fuck up, brother. Not sure what your problem is but leave Celee alone. She’s got enough going on, though I’m a bit pissed off right now. I’ll never be able to hear the words‘rack your balls’without grabbing my junk. Damn, sweetheart, might need to train with ya, didn’t even see it comin’. No pun intended.”

Then he smiles my way and I know he’s not mad at me. When I turn back I see that smirk on Chains’s face, so I do it without thought or hesitation. I flip him the bird, which by the look on his face shocks him until he bursts out laughing. Everyone in the room joins in, including me, which helps with the heaviness of my anxiety. Well, at least for this moment. Later is another story. I’ll see what this discussion is about and then will go from there. I’m kind of at the mercy of everyone here, thanks to Frank.

BRICK

Listening to Emmie tell me,once again, how sick she is of always being left out of everything because she’s forced to stay in bed is honestly giving me a fuckin’ headache. As much as I love my ol’ lady, personally, I can’t wait for these babies to get their little asses here already. Thank God, Spitfire’s friend, Esmeralda, took the part-time job helping out, making sure she’s okay and following orders. Like Spitfire, Esmeralda is in the process of becoming a nurse, so she has basic knowledge if my woman starts to go into early labor. Fuck, the thought I’m gonna be a daddy both thrills and scares the ever-lovin’ fuck outta me. I’ve even talked to my dad, Griller, about it.

Now that I finished the call to my ol’ lady, time to take care of the situation Dingo brought home. That lil’ fucker is like that bunny with the batteries, always giving us more and more trouble. Flinging my office door open, I walk into the common/party room and come to a complete stop. Everyone is either chuckling, giggling, or outright belly laughing. Chains for one, which almost lands me on my ass. My enforcer barely smiles let alone laughs out loud.

“Somebody want to tell me what the fuck is goin’ on, for Christ’s sake? One minute I’m being told Chains and Celestina aren’t playin’ well in the sandbox and the next, I walk in to everyone laughing and having a gay old time. So which is it?”

I glance around and it still startles the hell outta me when I lock eyes with Celestina’s icy-blue ones that match Shadow’s to a T. I kinda always wondered what that maniac in the Devil’s Handmaidens MC would look like without all that ink on her face. Now I know.

Hearing a throat clear, I see it’s Celestina so I give her my attention.

“It’s my fault, Brick, your boy over there, Chains, was giving me shit so I dished it right back to him. Guess he found it funny, though he’s not laughing now. He might need to get checked for being bipolar or having mood swings. Just saying.”

I can’t help it; I laugh with everyone but Chains in the room. He looks like he’s gotta take a shit or is ready to blow a gasket. Either way, it’s funny. Goddamn, Celestina and Dingo together could take their comedy act on the road as a show.

“Thanks for that laugh, woman. Now everyone back to the office and park your asses so we can get down to business. Dingo here has kept us in the loop on what he knows. But if you want our club’s help, gonna have to fill in the blanks ’cause goin’ against any mob is bad enough, but hittin’ horns with the De Luca mafia is actually insanity. We did get word that one of your brothers is still alive for sure. Now, did you have only two, some information stated you had three?

“If you can start at the beginning so we get the full picture. Not asking you for all the tiny particulars, but enough so we can see if the idea we have will work. You good with that? Oh, here’s Tiny with some refreshments. Better have some Jack on that tray or you’re making a second trip, brother.”

“Prez when don’t I have Jack Daniels on any tray that is in a room with you. Brought the Gentleman Jack, figuring you need something smooth tonight.”

As we bullshit, I see Dingo’s woman glancing around with a confused look on her face. From what I’m gathering, she wasn’t involved with her old man’s interactions with his men. She’s uncomfortable too, if her body language is speaking the truth. I make sure I notice this shit ’cause it could be the difference between life and death for me and my brothers.

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