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Zero
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IM AWOKEN BY BEGGAR screaming, my head pounding. The bed dips as I turn to grab her by the waist, she obviously fights me but I easily pull her to my chest. "Stay still." I snap. She listens and then whimpers.
"Sleep Beauty,” and she does. It's the first night I sleep with Beggar in my arms. And though I feel her closeness, I know she's safe, there's nothing but a painful ache in my chest at the thought of her going back to that man.
He did this to her, yet she’s prepared to relive his torture to protect two girls who would never do the same for her. She hasn't said it, but her eyes say more. I know she's going to leave. I feel it.
She might've been a beggar when she walked into this clubhouse but now she's a beggar stealing pieces of me that I'd never knew existed. She's stealing my heart and I want her to take it. Take it all. The rest will come later.
It's hours later when I get up. Beggar is still fast asleep and I have tons of shit to do besides going to tell the entire club that my woman is the reason Falon and Jade are missing. I should get out of bed and get on the road. Instead I just watch her sleep. And I notice things I've never noticed before, like the faint dust of freckles on her nose, the tiny scar on her temple from an old wound, the light crinkles under her eyes. Her hair fanned out on the pillow. The downward tilt of her lips. She's beautiful, and so strong.
When she told me about the pregnancy, it was too much. I couldn't fucking deal, I couldn't do it. I told her I was going to take a piss, but I fuckin’ hurled my guts out.
How did she survive a life like hers? Living on the streets had to be hard, but being subjected to some sick bastard with a fetish of raping women? Getting raped by numerous men on top of that. Then getting left in a ditch while you're pregnant. It's almost impossible to believe. Yet, She has the scars, brands and these gut wrenching, mind fucking nightmares to prove it. Lord knows what other fucked up shit happened to her. At least she's safe now, in my clutches. I won't let her go now, no way.
“Then he called yesterday sayin’ she's his, the guy is a sick fuck and that girl has already gone through more shit than all of us put together. There's no way I'm letting her near that fucker.” Storm’s grim eyes dare any fucker to challenge him.
All the brothers are sitting around the table eating breakfast.
Rounder is at the head of the table, not much better than yesterday, and now his girl is gone. It was my job to protect her and I failed. I know I should've taken her to Barfa but fuck, I can't regret that time I spent with Beggar. And the fact that I'm not losing my shit just confirms what I already knew, that my nameless Beggar is it for me. When I took her again last night, fuck. I feel a hard on coming just from the thought of her rolled back eyes and parted lips as her body convulsed in the pleasure I fed her. A real fucking siren, shit.
I was reluctant to leave her with the women and prospects who were all ordered to eat in the lounge, so the brothers can discuss the situation. Venus already agreed to stay with the women and catch up during church later. The two other full members, After and Mercy are on the way with the rest of the women and children from Houston.
Storm just about finishes with a quick rundown of his plan when Den rushes in.
“Sorry, Prez but you guys gotta come see this.” His bug eyes tell me I'm not going to like whatever this is.
I’m the first one out my chair, slipping my cut on as I follow the prospect to the front door. The sun hits me full in the face. I step out onto the porch spotting the black Bentley and three Mercedes parked outside the gates.
The first person comes to mind is Lucca, he has come for my woman but that thought is squashed when I see an unmistakable face.
All the brothers come join me outside on the porch. Our eyes all trained on the cages. So I don't spot Beggar until I see her ass climbing down the stairs.
I naturally go after her. My arm snaps open and I grab her around the waist, “Where the fuck do you think you going? That's Deno Catelli.” I growl into her ear.
“They here for me, I won't be long.” She says matter of factly.
“That's the future head of the Marfia..” I remind her, in case she thinks it's Lucca.
“She already knows that, Deno is her family.” Killer says from beside her.
I hear the men behind me swear and curse. My woman just keeps bringing on the surprises, but it answers one question. Why did she choose to be a beggar when she got older. It has been nagging me since last night. She's protecting her family, like she's protecting us. Everybody knows the New Orleans Outfit is the biggest enemy of the Famiglia.
One of the brothers open the gates for the cars to drive inside.
They park in a straight line, not too close to the porch. They lucky we got a big yard.
The sleek two hundred grand cars are completely out of place with the amount of bikes lined up to the sides.
First the driver and the soldiers step out of the cars. Three from the back Mercedes and four from the front. All the men are wearing black from the sun glasses, to the suits that they are straightening. It's the men that step out from the two cars in the middle that got my attention.
The blonde headed guy with the light beige suit and white shirt is a familiar. Vincent Stone. He is Killers half brother from his father's short marriage to Vincent's Italian mother.
Beggar struggles to leave my warmth. And I don't want to let her go as I release her from the safety of my arms. I follow behind her, but not too close. No way am I letting her get near them alone, family or not.
Killer goes straight to the man in the beige suit and punches him solid in the stomach. The guy barely flinches.
It's those seconds when I take my eyes off Beggar does she run into Deno's arms. I walk closer to the Marfia sizing him up.
He has on a dark charcoal suit with a light blue shirt. Out of all the guys in his circle he is the most under dressed. The most deadliest too.
Deno has a reputation that's simple, no one fucks with him and lives to speak his name. I watch his hazel eyes crinkle as he tugs on Beggars hair and she swats him away like a naughty child.
Why is she so care free with him?!
Jealousy has many ugly heads, men fought wars, lost their lives, killed their brothers because of that one feeling, the fucked up part about is , you just can't fucking help it.
I tell myself he is her damn family, I shouldn't be getting pissed off. But I can't help it as I feel myself losing control.
I hardly had anytime with Beggar, we’ve barely spoken. Normally people get to know each other before things progress, with us it's the opposite. We jumped right into the sack, before we learnt the comfort of holding hands. But since I've met Beggar nothing about her is normal, easy. Nothing about this deep need I feel for her is normal either.
Then this guy comes and she's smiling at him like he holds the keys to the moon, and she looks so fucking beautiful. I wish she smiled at me like that. I clench my fist to my side, grinding my teeth together.
Killer must sense the tension because his eyes find mine and he gives me a chin lift. Letting me know he has her back. I get the fuck out of there.
My boots cover the distance to the porch, where my brothers are waiting with grim faces. I don't keep eye contact with any of them. The few pats on my back does help calm me somewhat. It ain't easy when a brother has a new woman. It's a hell of a lot less when you don't even know her name.
Most of these guys know how it is. Me- I've never had a relationship before Falon. Growing up as a biker then joining the navy didn't allow me the time to have one. My dad made me prospect for a full year before I got patched in. By then I was too busy going to fucking war than to have time for dating. So it isn't a surprise when I say that I never dated a non-biker girl before Beggar.
Texas taps his hat as I pass him to go into the clubhouse. I don't need to look at the brother to know he’s keeping his eye on Killer and Beggar.
A few minutes later I'm in the kitchen preparing food for Aron. It's my day to cook, but Venus and Chadley handled the breakfast this morning.
Good thing too, Chadley is an excellent cook, she runs The Pritz Corner, the clubs restaurant here in Kanla and will work in the club once we opened doors next month. She's also an emotional person, so when she's in a mood, no food, no baking nothing. And Chadley is going to be a wreck once we tell the women later today.
We’ll have to be stupid to think we can keep this tight lipped. Wisp will figure shit out soon enough, she always does and she won't be quiet about it. After and Mercy are already in the know but they've known all along.
I watch the omelet simmer. The vibration from my pocket accompanied by the mute tone puts a smile to my face. I switch off the stove and slip my iPhone out.
“What happened? Nurse MacDicksy ain't doing it for you anymore? Or did you just fuck the dick outa her.”
The deep laugh on the other end is enough to make my entire fuckin’ week, “Ha, ha. How's my baby bro doin’, still fucking old Prez’s daughter.”
Thorn, my only blood brother has busted my balls from the time I told him about Falon. He thought me dating her was the funniest thing I've ever done. I didn't bust his nuts only because he was paralyzed after some pussy stabbed him in the back a few years ago. He wasn't sure who pushed the metal in his spine. Just that it was in Washington and he was there for a pick up. It was hard to get revenge or find anything. I looked for the first year, the whole club did but even with contacts I kept ending up with nothing.
The blue bloods just wanted the case closed and made a dead kid the prime suspect. The evidence was reclusive.
I believe it was a professional job and I always suspected my brother new more than he shared. Which was what motivated him to get better, and the only reason why I never called him on it. It's a no brainer that he will seek revenge.
Unlike my dad and I who live and breathe the club my bro decided to venture on his own after he left the Air Force. He started off as a bounty hunter and after a few short years, a fuckload of money, he opened an A-list Personal Investigation company. I'm fucking proud to have him as my brother. I’ve always looked up to him growing up, he was my hero. He practically raised me after mom left, not one day did he complain.
He asked me to join him years ago, but I always knew that I’ll end up with the club. My brother knew it too, because he never asked me again.
“Nah man, I gotta new woman, she's definitely the one, her names Beauty, can't wait for you to hurry your ass up and meet her.” I say.
He’s so silent I look at my screen to make sure he hasn't cut the call.
“Serious? You shitting me,” He laughs, and I know it's real, it's always real when Thorn laughs, “Jesus, she must be a fucking nun to have you dumping Falon’s ass, I bet she isn't too happy about that.”
I flinch, and I'm glad he can't see me do it, “I haven't told her yet, was waiting for her to get back from Barfa and break things down gently, but there's some shit happening with the club and Beauty is in the middle of it.” I don't elaborate because he isn't a member so I can't tell him shit, and he doesn’t ask.
“And your woman's okay with this?”
“Haven't really gotten down to tell her.”
He groans, “Damnit Logan, that shit got doomsday disaster all over it. Dad know?”
“He will, come sunset.”
I hear the female voice in the background and I know he’s talk time is up, “Don't worry about it, you’ll be out before you know it.”
He grumbles, “That's why I called asshole, not to listen to you dig your own grave, Doc is releasing me a week early. I’ll be home soon, was thinking of coming to Kanla. Marcel is running the company for me. I need you to get me a place.”
“Why don't you stay in the clubhouse?”
“I'm not cleaning no toilets.” We both laugh as we say our goodbyes and I'm a whole lot better with his news.
It's not much time later that I hear Beggar come into the kitchen. Her legs are making up the distance in a slow perusal toward me. She's nervous. I've never seen her nervous before. It's a first and shoot me if I'm not turned the hell on.
I'm standing by the oven making extra eggs for Aron and Venus but my eyes are trained on Beggar.
“You done with your family?” My question comes out casual but we both know it's not.
“Yes, he's my cousin, harmless if you family..” She shrugs, like its no big deal.
Beggar is clueless of how sexy she looks when she lifts her shoulder.
Her finger nails form an invisible trail as she steps closer to me. Her jeans shape her ass, hinting at her curves. I've never known a pair of baggy jeans could be so sexy on a woman until I saw Beggar in one. Her black eyes capture all my restraint. Draining me of logical sense at just one stare.
I drop the spatula, put the stove off. My feet take up the remaining distance in four long strides. I grab her ass and I'm tongue deep in her fucking throat. Her tits rub my t-shirt covered chest as I grind my cock close to her heat. And I'm glad I took my cut off before cooking. I love how tall she is. I love how my cock rubs her abdomen. She's sensitive there.
I stop the kiss and place my forehead to hers, my breathing harsh, “Tell me your name.” I'm not sure why I ask it, I'm not certain why I even say what I say next either.