Page 53 of Flint

“Explain.” Typical Bulldog, barking orders, and with the VP patch and the shit I’m still in with him, I got to comply.

Okay, I can say “fuck off” and walk away, but I kind of need to talk this out. Been talking in my head all morning and didn’t get anywhere. This can’t be any worse than what I was doing to myself, sitting here drinking alone. Only issue is that they now know what the fuck is going on with me. They’re brothers and won’t use it against me, but I still don’t like showing my hand and admitting that I’m coming up with nothing on my own.

“You’ve seen her file. She was a fucking supermodel at ten, and before she dropped in our laps, she did a few follow-up gigs here and there. The fact that she can just pick up the phone, say she wants to walk a runway, and they just cater to her needs and make it happen speaks to what level she’s on. She dropped out of college only ’cause she got sick, and while she was going through recovery, she got her CPA. Who does that? I’ll tell you: someone who’s a hell of a lot smarter than me, and I know my own worth. She might not know it yet, but her skills keep her boss’s whole office employed.”

I swallow hard as I look back at the empty glass that I picked up and rolled between my hands at some point.

“I don’t know her social life, not really. She didn’t keep social media accounts of any kind, but from what Bailey says, her parents always tried to trap her into getting more out of her. It would make sense that she now tries to keep herself out of any limelight. Not only because of them but her fans, which apparently number in the thousands. Whole pages are dedicated to her, but she never interacts with them. I don’t even know if she knows about them. I think she’s got a friend who manages that side of things, but Jules only reaches out via email when she wants something. They never reach out to her, based on the email traffic I’ve found on her computer going back about seven years.”

I shake my head as I think it through. “Bailey makes it sound like she was free as a bird in the single department. Even her crazy misfits club screams she was single and liked it that way. But she acts different now. Everyone tells her that. How am I to know she wasn’t saving it, saving herself for someone special? Hell, she might have had a person in mind and was just waiting for the right opportunity or some shit. She’s the first person I know who’s been untouched at her age. Got to be a reason for that, and I took that from her.” I close my eyes tight, knowing how bad I fucked up and wishing there was a way to make it right for her and not be taken from her life.

“I ran.” Chains’ words pull my eyes to him as he stares ahead at nothing more than a memory. “Maddy told me who she was, and I ran. Tail between my legs and all. My fear and past had me gone before I thought it all through. Took me a few hours to figure out that I’d rather face my own demons with her beside me than not at all. Thank fuck I did. I was in hell before her and didn’t even know it. She pulled me through it, kicking and screaming, and I thank Christ every day for it.”

Chains smiles a bit, and I can’t help but do the same. Guy was put through hell but came out the other side with a good woman on his arm. I was there for most of the shit that went down with them, so I know firsthand the truth he speaks. Still, hearing it from him is something else.

Bulldog grunts before speaking up too. “Never wanted anything to do with a high-maintenance chick. Thought that was all Izzy was. Pushed her away more times than I can count. But just like Maddy, both women put up with our bullshit, then called us on it. Nothing gets you hard like your woman telling you you’re full of crap.”

Chains nods as he laughs softly.

“What I’m saying is we don’t get to decide what’s best for them. Would life be a bit easier without us in their world? Maybe. But if that was the case, would Maddy be alive? Would Princess? Even Julianne? A simple act put each of them in our way, and things have actually turned out for the better in my opinion, not the worst. So stop thinking only of the bad parts. We might have the colors, but these women are the ones who carry our balls on a damn leash. And I ain’t even mad about it.” Bulldog shrugs as if just realizing how accepting he really is of his old lady carrying his manhood in her purse before chugging his longneck.

Fuck. Guess these assholes are right. Known the girl for three weeks, and she’s got that leash all right. I’m screwed up about this chick, and it ain’t ever been like this before.

“Anyway, Lady and Mama Bear like her. So you fuck with her, and we fuck with you.” They both clink their mugs in agreement to Chains’ declaration.

I huff out a laugh. Not because it’s funny, but it’s the truth. Since finding their old ladies, they ain’t about to screw things up more than they did when they were still in the claiming process. They would do just about anything to make their women smile these days.

“Ain’t going to fuck it up. Well, no more than usual.”

“Good. You keep her happy, and we’re straight.”

I look over at the VP, eyes a bit wide. Did he just say what I think he said?

He smirks and nods before walking away.

“Looks like you’re out of the doghouse, brother. Welcome back.” Chains smacks my back as he walks away too.

The weight that’s rested on me since my colossal fuckup has finally lifted, and I sink lower into my chair in relief. Bulldog just cleared me. Not sure what did it for him, but my debt has been paid. I bet I could even stop the babysitting shit if I wanted to, but he knows I don’t. Probably why he cleared me. If I’m sitting here at the bar talking about feelings and shit, good money says I got more than just lust on the brain. Other organs are involved now. Dare I even say my damn blackened heart.

Law comes in and barks, “Yo, listen up. Church in twenty. Clean the fuck up, because once it’s done, club’s going out.”

Well, this is new. We usually end up all together at a place, but Law’s never announced it before.

“Where we going?” Bass is always the one to ask the questions no one dares. Law is the prez; you just do as you’re told and don’t question things. He’s never led us wrong before and ain’t about to now.

“Got a show to go to.”

“A show? What the fuck?”

Law just chuckles at Bass before looking over at me. I raise my eyebrow, and he just smirks more. “Trust me, you ain’t going to want to miss this.”

Okay, that doesn’t sound good.

Maybe I ain’t free and clear like I thought.

Chapter 23 – Julianne

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