Chapter Ten

 

“Don’t you ever get hungry?” Mary asked.

Anna was … bored.

She sat outside, enjoying the last rays of sunshine. It wouldn’t be long before fall was upon them, then winter. She wondered if she’d still be coming around the clubhouse during those times. If so, she’d have to get to know them all a little better so she could get the right gift for each of them.

Still, Holly and Mary were interrogating her as if she was some specimen on a Petri dish.

Not cool. Not nice, and she was getting a little … fed up.

“I don’t know what you want me to say,” she said. “I get hungry, sure. I can eat bread so long as it’s made with vegetable fats and not eggs. I’m a normal kind of girl.”

“Don’t you miss the taste of cheese and bacon?”

“No.”

“How long did you say you’ve been a vegan?” Holly asked.

“Since I was fourteen. We’re talking nine years now.”

“Wow, that is a long time,” Mary said.

She stared at the women. “Do you know how to become a member of the club?” She wasn’t looking to join, but her curiosity had certain piqued. She was curious as to why it was such a secret to everyone.

“Oh, erm, it’s club business. Are you thinking of joining?” Mary asked.

“Why is it club business? Is it top secret? Do you have to kill someone?”

“No, nothing like that,” Holly said. “No one has to kill anyone. Do you have feelings for Landon?”

She stared between the two women. “I don’t feel comfortable discussing something like that.”

“Please, there is no way Landon is ever going to settle down.” A woman with long blonde hair approached the table.

Anna didn’t recognize her.

“Scarlet, we don’t need you here. You can just run along,” Holly said.

“You think you all are superior to us. You’re not. You’re just the paid pussy. Where we get a taste of the whole club, you can only have the one dick.” Scarlet ran her tongue across her lips and moaned.

“Please, there is no way my husband will ever sleep with you.”

“I bet he’d love to though. Just because a man can’t have, doesn’t mean he can’t crave it. I bet Duke would love to ride my pussy.”

“Wow,” Anna said. “This is … wow.”

“Like I said, I’ve been one of Landon’s favorites, and I know he’s not the kind to go settling down.”

“Don’t listen to her,” Mary said. “She’s just pissed off that Landon hasn’t been around lately.”

“You’ve been his favorite?” Anna asked. “Landon has been screwing you.”

“Landon only screws people the once. It’s all he ever does, but he loves for me to use my mouth and I’ve got no gag reflex. He can take me wherever he wants me.”

“Wow,” Anna said.

“You’ve got no chance of ever winning him. You may as well forget about it. You’ll never be a club pussy. You’re too uptight to ride more than one, and Landon gets bored really easily.”

“You’ve been warned about the shit you spew,” Holly said.

“Then I guess Landon has a new favorite,” Anna said, standing up.

Scarlet threw her head back, laughing. “Please, don’t make me laugh. You don’t have what it takes.”

“Then tell me why last night alone he had me three times?” In her head she was screaming at herself to shut up. She didn’t want people to know, especially not strangers, what she got up to last night. But she was pissed off. From one to ten, she was at a nine and a half, maybe even higher.

“Yeah, in your dreams.”

“Scarlet is a club whore,” Mary said, standing up. “The men who are single, who want to use pussy, go to the club’s women. They’re not allowed with anyone else, and they spread for whoever will have them. They’ll never be an old lady. Never be owned.”

Staring at Scarlet, Anna didn’t understand why she wasn’t backing down. This wasn’t like her, and she didn’t like it.

“You’re not worth it.”

“I’ll be choking on Landon’s cock by the end of the week.”

“I doubt that,” Landon said. His arm banded around Anna’s waist, pulling her against him.

Anna didn’t fight him.

Scarlet’s cheeks went a deeper shade of red. “So it’s true. You’re settling down.”

“I’ve found a woman I want to keep. I never gave you any indication I wanted you. I’ve never made any promises to any of you. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to deal with my woman.”

Before Anna knew what was happening, he’d spun her around and lifted her over his shoulder.

“Hey, put me down, now!”

“Not going to happen.”

He stroked over the curve of her ass as he carried her through the clubhouse. Men stopped to watch.

“Are you enjoying the show?” she asked.

“It’s entertaining.”

“Pleased I can be of some assistance then.” She glared at each of them. Landon wasn’t done, and he didn’t let her go until they were in his bedroom.

He put her down on the bed, and she stood up, only for him to push her down. “We had an agreement, and I’m going to tell you how you become a member of this club.”

“Was Scarlet your favorite?” she asked.

“You care about what that bitch said to you? She’s not liked, and nothing she speaks is the truth.”

“I don’t care. I want to know.”

“No, she wasn’t my favorite. She was there to be used, so I did.”

“Ugh, I don’t even know why I like you.” She made to stand again, but he stopped her, putting his hands on her thighs, and keeping her still.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“I’m keeping you in place, which is where you belong.”

“I don’t like you very much right now.”

“I don’t care what or who you like.” He dropped a kiss to her lips. “I made a deal with you. What I’m about to tell you, you really can’t let anyone else know.”

“Fine. I’ve got to prove to you anyway I can keep my mouth closed.” She frowned. “Hold on a second. You’re not going to trust me, are you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I’m here because you don’t think I can keep my mouth shut. Are you going to kill me? Silence me? What?”

“When we know we can trust you, you’ll be free to leave.”

“You’re keeping me in the clubhouse now as a prisoner?”

“You’re free to walk around, so you’re not a complete prisoner.”

“Oh, yay, me. I don’t have to worry about being locked in one place. Just call everyone with how excited I am.”

“Stop being an ass.”

She glared at him. “I’m not being anything.” She folded her arms. “Tell me.”

Landon stroked his hands up and down her thighs, watching her.

Crouching down, he lifted one of her feet and slid the shoe off, then the other.

“For the club it’s a tradition if you will. Something to separate the old ladies from the club whores. When you become a man’s old lady, in the eyes of the club, it’s not by a wedding band. It’s by a certain claiming.”

“What do they do?”

“In front of several members of the club, they fuck,” Landon said, pulling her skirt down her body.

Anna put a hand to his chest. “Wait, what? There’s no way anyone would agree to that.”

“The club recognizes the claim. No other man is allowed to touch her, but for the rest of their lives, they will risk everything to help keep them safe. All of the old women wearing leather cuts, they have all done it. Been claimed by their man in front of the club. I’ve witnessed a couple.”

“And how does it work for the club whores?”

“Several men fuck them. They’re not off limits.”

“Ew, that’s gross.”

“You’d be surprised how many enjoy it. They’re here to serve, nothing more.”

“I don’t think I like you very much right now.”

“I don’t need you to like me, just to want me.” He pressed a hard, demanding kiss to her lips, and she moaned, cupping his cheek and sinking against him.

“You make me forget everything,” she said.

“That’s the idea.” He kissed her again, harder, urging her back against the bed.

She didn’t fight him. His hand slid between her spread thighs, and she moaned his name.

“I’ll never be an old lady. I don’t like performing for an audience.”

“Good, because I haven’t asked you to.” He took control, stopping all conversation as he kissed her harder still, and she melted against him, not wanting to let him go.

****

Several days later, Landon knew he didn’t have much choice left. He had to go and see Maya. Leaving Anna’s care to a couple of the club brothers, he took his bike and rode the distance to the rehabilitation center. They were paying a great deal of money into the place for her to have a private room and round-the-clock care.

He took a few minutes with the doctor to discover Maya was still in withdrawal, and her mood swings showcased how she was dealing with being forced not to take drugs. She didn’t always eat, so they had to insert a feeding tube, and she would attack the nurses. Duke had already told him how he’d sent in a generous donation to help with them being nice to Maya.

Entering the room, he saw Maya, sitting up. Her hands were chained to the bed. She looked filthy. Her long hair was greasy, and looked like it hadn’t been washed in days.

“Hey,” Landon said.

Maya glared at him. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see how you’re doing.” He closed the door behind him but didn’t make a move to go any closer to give her more space. A part of him still felt like he’d betrayed her. In a way, he had. He’d promised to take care of her, and in the end, he’d done this.

“How do you think I’m fucking doing? Look at me, Landon. Believe it or not, I didn’t ask for this. Wow, who knew you could be so touchy about me wanting a fuck. It makes me wonder if that’s what you want from me.”

“I don’t,” Landon said.

“Could have fooled me. Don’t you love all the pussy you can have?”

“This person isn’t you.”

“Oh, please, you didn’t know me before.”

“I knew you after, and if this is the real you, you wouldn’t have been able to keep up the act for so long. This is the drugs. Your need. You’re acting out.”

“I’m not a child anymore. You need to stop fucking treating me like one.” She started to scream and fight against the restraints. “I hate this. I hate you. And I hate that fucking club. All of you. Men are all the same. You use and abuse women. It’s what you do. So I decided to get ahead of the game. I wanted to have a little fun.”

“And you had to be completely stoned to even enjoy it.”

“Fuck you.”

“No, thank you. They’re running some tests to see if you caught anything while you were enjoying your freedom.”

“Oh, please, I didn’t catch anything.”

“You also didn’t use a condom.” He tutted. Landon didn’t know what to do with this woman before him. She was nothing like the woman he’d been living with, at least not when she arrived.

“Just give me something for the pain. Come on, Landon, you know how hard it can get for me. I need something. I’m afraid here. Please.”

One moment she went from begging, to sobbing. She sounded like a child. There were a few glimpses of the old Maya, but that was all they were.

“There’s nothing I can give you.”

“Fucking useless.” She swiped at her face.

“What happened, Maya?” Landon asked. He grabbed a chair, dragging it over toward his friend. He’d taken care of her and done everything he could to protect her.

“What is it you want me to say? You expected me to remain a child forever, is that it? Some sad little girl with a damaged past?”

“I don’t believe you’re damaged, Maya. I didn’t expect anything from you. I certainly didn’t want this for you.” He pointed at the bed, at the cuffs.

“Then get them to take them off me. Please.” She started pleading again.

“Not going to happen.”

“Useless fucking asshole. What good are you to me, huh? You’re a waste of fucking space. That’s what you are. Waste of space. You’re nothing. Not even worth wearing the leather cut.” She started to fight against the restraints again. “Let me go.”

“You’re going to stay here until you’re well again.”

“Fuck you!”

“We caught Winston,” Landon said.

Maya immediately stopped moving. “What?”

“We arranged a meeting, and it would seem you owe him a lot of money. You ran through your allowance really fucking fast, didn’t you?”

“What did you do to him?”

“No matter what happens, you’ll never find any supplies from him.”

She burst out laughing. “You think he’s the only fucker who can get me drugs? You’re kidding yourself if you don’t think there’s a problem in Vale Valley. Anything you want, you can get. Haven’t you learned that already? Nothing is sacred, and people don’t jump through hoops for the Trojans MC.”

Landon smiled. “You think we don’t know a problem. We’re already dealing with it, sweetheart. You get well. We’ll make sure your name is blacklisted, and anyone who sells you anything will have to deal with us.” He got to his feet and headed toward the door. “You know, I never understood when parents said how disappointed they were with a kid. Looking at you, hearing you, I know completely what they’re going through.”

“Fuck you.”

She was sobbing now though, and to Landon, they looked like real tears. He doubted they were, but he was going to pretend otherwise.

****

Holly lowered the book she was reading as Duke walked into their bedroom. They weren’t at the clubhouse tonight, which she was thankful for. She didn’t mind hanging out and having a couple of days there, but she did miss her home.

“Did the kids go to sleep okay?”

“They’re sound asleep,” he said, dropping down on the bed beside her. “You’re studying to impress our latest friend to the club?”

“I’m thinking about it. I’m wondering if it would be worth feeding her,” she said. “Do you think Landon is going to keep her around?”

“I don’t know when it comes to him. He’s kept her longer than I expected.”

“He has feelings for her. You should have heard the way he talked to Scarlet the other day. He pushed her down a couple of pegs and then some.” She closed the book, rolling closer to her husband, seeing how troubled he was. “What is it?”

“I don’t know.”

“You can tell me.”

“I know.”

“If you’re worried about scaring me, don’t be. I’m here. I’m by your side for whatever it is you need.” She cupped his cheek, drawing him closer to kiss him. They’d been through so much together, and she couldn’t imagine her life without him. “What is it?”

“Maya, the drug problem. Ned Walker.”

“I thought you decided against Ned.” She knew Ned Walker was connected to The Skulls and Chaos Bleeds MCs through family, but in the last decade, they no longer ran drugs or guns. From what she knew, they helped another MC with witness protection, and were on the right side of the law. Again, she didn’t know everything because her love was of the Trojans, and they didn’t accept an alliance with any other club.

“I had.”

“Now you’re doubting yourself. You think Ned has found another way to get into Vale Valley?”

“I don’t know.” He ran a hand down his face, reaching out to push her hair off her shoulder. “It seems to be too much of a coincidence, doesn’t it, that Maya ends up becoming a druggie, and Ned’s looking for a new distribution chain.”

“I thought he had the Vegas chapter of The Skulls,” she said.

“I don’t doubt it for a second he has everything. I’m going to organize a meeting with Lash.”

“You are?”

“Yes. I want to know if he’s got anything to do with the drugs.”

“What has Danny said?”

“He’s asking around, but again, he’s playing it low key. We don’t want his cover blown, and this way, he can find us the link.”

“He’ll find it.” Danny was one of Duke’s old friends. He’d been doing a lot of traveling around the country and Europe before finally taking a chance to settle in Vale Valley. He didn’t want to be part of the club, and Duke respected that. Their friendship wasn’t known, so it made for the perfect cover for him to check out any drug sources while also being the town’s ink man.

“I know. We’ve got to wait. Be patient.”

“Why don’t you wait for Danny to come through and then reach out to Lash? I doubt The Skulls will have any idea about the problem. They’re all clean now,” she said.

“I won’t do anything to make The Skulls believe I don’t have control of my town, but I’m not going to risk your or anyone else’s safety. You mean too much to me to give up.”

“I know.” She pressed a kiss to his lips. “I love you so much.”

He held her close, kissing the top of her head. “I love you too. Always have and I always will.”