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Beast
Wiping the sweat from his forehead Beast stood back and critically looked over the last piece for the fucking gazebo Ice had asked him to design and build. He’d been working since very early this morning to get the final piece done and wanted to kick his own ass for designing such a fucking airy fairy damned thing. Now that it was finished he could call the prospects in to help him carry the pieces to the selected spot and then he could start putting it together.
But not today. Today was the day the dogs were arriving and he and Rider had arranged to have their ladies and kids ready to greet their new family member. A beautiful black and tan German Shepard female named Sassy. He and Rider had both trained with her and she had bonded with both of them. Their trainer had been wary at first but when it became clear that Sassy was fine with having two handlers he gave them the go-ahead. It was perfect for the living situation they had. Penny had readied the alcove next to the stairs for Sassy’s bed, giving her the perfect location from which to watch over her family.
His girls had been asking for a dog ever since visiting Bulldog’s place where they had several dogs running around the property. Bulldog loved the Rottweiler breed and had always had several dogs guarding his property and his family. It’s no wonder that Ice and Spider had both chosen Rotties as their guard dogs.
That was the great thing about the company Jagger had found. They trained several different breeds as guard dogs, service dogs and companion dogs. And some of those dogs were rescues they took in and trained then placed with the right person for them. They did not sign off on a dog if the dog wasn’t happy. The dogs came first, every single time and they checked up on their dogs after they had been placed and would keep checking even years after the placement.
Packing his tools away and shutting down the machines Beast cleaned his workshop then headed back out to the clubhouse. He fucking needed something cold to drink.
There was no one behind the bar as he walked in and Beast walked around and helped himself to a bottle of water then sank down into a chair in the back corner of the semi-dark common room to relax for a minute. He quietly sipped his water and enjoyed the coolness after the heat in his workshop. He was sweaty and was contemplating going up to his room and grabbing a quick shower when he heard a bike pulling in. Tipping his head to the side he tried to place where the bike was parking and frowned when it sounded as if whoever it was hadn’t parked with the other brothers.
He sat without moving and waited. Soon after the door swung open and a tall man stood silhouetted in the doorway. He paused as he allowed his eyes to get used to the gloom then stepped inside and let the door close behind him. Beast recognised him immediately and rose to greet him dropping the bottle of water on the small table next to his chair.
What he hadn’t expected was the bleakness in the eyes of a man who despite his road name used to smile and laugh all the time. There was none of it left in the cold green eyes. He gave a small smile when he recognised Beast but it didn’t reach his eyes.
Fuck. This was going to be a problem. Their brother was lost in that dark wasteland Beast knew only too well. He was going to recommend that Scar shadow him along with Wolf. They would make a good team.
“Welcome home, brother.” Beast grabbed Scar and pulled him close then slapped his back, hard, twice.
“Thanks, brother. Don’t know if I’ll be staying though.” Scar said as he stepped back after delivering two hard slaps to Beast’s back as well.
“Make no mistake, Scar, you’re home, brother. We need your skills.”
Scar frowned and glanced around the empty room. “What’s going on?”
“Not talking about it out here, brother. You never know if you have fucking ears flapping in the breeze out here.” Beast growled. “Let’s go see the boss and then we’ll get you settled in.”
Beast led the way down the passage to Hawk’s office and after a knock opened the door to walk inside. He knew the minute he stepped one foot inside that Hawk was fucking his old lady. In his office. With the door unlocked. Again.
“For fuck’s sake, Boss. Lock the fucking door if you’re going to fuck your old lady. Now I’ve got that shit burned into my fucking retinas.” Beast growled as he backed out the door.
Hawk’s voice was deep and breathless as he answered. “My fucking office. Can fuck my old lady...anywhere I want.” The sounds of flesh connecting with flesh rang through the air along with his old lady’s moans.
“Close the damn door.” DC gasped out between moans.
Beast and Scar retreated, and he closed the door then beckoned Scar to follow him back to the bar. He now needed a fucking beer. Grabbing two out of the fridges behind the bar he gave one to his brother and sank down on a couch on the far side of the room.
Scar grinned. “Does that shit happen often?”
“All the fucking time, brother. The boss couldn’t give a shit who’s watching when he fucks but his old lady changed that shit. She’s never going to allow him to fuck her in public, so the bastard gets his jollies by not locking his door and having us poor unsuspecting sods walking in on him giving it to her on his desk, or the couch or the floor, any fucking surface would do for those two.” Beast took a deep draught of his beer.
“I heard talk about that shit and I’ve seen him with the club whores in Durban. But it was usually just him getting a blow job not full on fucking.” Scar replied with a faint frown. “Is he still fucking those whores he has at all the clubs around the country?”
Beast shook his head. “His old lady will cut off his dick and feed it to him if he so much as looked at one of those bitches. You weren’t in Durban at the time all that shit went down, but you must have heard how she laid out that club whore and told her old man to piss off.”
Scar shrugged. “Heard it, just didn’t believe she would stand up against him.”
Beast gave his new brother a knowing little smile. “You’re in for an education, brother. The prez’s old lady is a force to be reckoned with and he’s only too glad to give her what she wants. She wanted his whores gone, and boom, they are.”
“Sounds good. I have no fucking time for fucking whores. I don’t talk to them, I don’t fuck them and as far as I’m concerned they don’t exist.” Scar snapped then took a deep drink of his beer.
“I hear you, brother. I’ve finally claimed an old lady and we’ve had some fucked up situations with the club whores. My girl almost walked out on me because of that shit.” Beast growled as he shook his head. “It’s the one piece of advice I’m going to give every single fucking prospect that walks in that door from now on. Don’t shit where you eat. You bring an old lady home and the club sluts you used to fuck are going to make her life fucking unbearable.”
Scar leant forward and clinked his bottle against Beast’s in a silent toast. “Best advice ever, brother, but those little fuckers aren’t going to listen. They’ve been watching the brothers fucking those bitches while they were prospecting and weren’t allowed a taste. Those bastards are salivating for a piece by the time they’re patched in.” Scar frowned heavily. “The night of my patching in party the first opportunity I got I called my girl and she rushed her tail to the fucking clubhouse. She stayed by my side and took care of me. Should have given her my patch but shit went down and I let my dick choose for me.”
Beast nodded. “I know all about that, brother. Have a fucked up ex myself. Got sole custody of my girls a little while ago but I’m not letting my guard down. I don’t trust the silence from her and her piece of shit new man.”
“Ja, but at least the piece of shit new man isn’t your own fucking brother. That shit fucking blows chunks.” Scar said quietly.
Setting his empty bottle down Beast tapped the table to draw Scar’s attention. “There are a few things you should think about, my brother. He’s no longer your brother, Scar. Not by blood or by club. A real brother will let you know he’s attracted to your woman and seek a transfer away from temptation. A real brother will send that woman on her way when she approaches him. A real brother will go to his brother and lay that shit out for him. A real brother will never stick his dick in a brother’s woman, no matter what.” Beast looked deep in to those cold green eyes and felt the connection between them. “He’s not your blood anymore, Scar. He doesn’t deserve that honour.”
Scar looked down and picked at the label on his bottle. “The bitch said she fucked my brother because I didn’t know what to do with my dick and that I’m shooting fucking blanks. We’ve been trying to have a kid for two years and nothing. She got inside my fucking head, brother.”
Beast was so fucking angry at first he couldn’t say a word, then taking a deep breath he laid it out for his brother.
“I bet if you went and had your spunk tested you’ll find your swimmers are perfectly normal. She was never going to have your kid, Scar. She played you, brother. Bitches like her, they like to break men down, it’s the only way they get to feel powerful. And comparing two brothers in bed is just totally fucked up. Physically you guys look almost exactly the same. That bitch took your lookalike to her bed then tried to make you feel like shit. I’m calling bullshit. She’s going to do the same thing to that little fucker, just you wait and see. And just so we know you’re covered, when was the last time you fucked her?”
“Six maybe seven months ago, brother. She always made excuses.” Scar slowly shook his head. “They cost me my club, my brothers and my place at the table. I worked my fucking ass off for my club and had goals to sit at the table and supporting my president. Now I have nothing. I’ll be going out as a nomad with only the road in front of me, nothing else.” Scar ground out bitterly.
Beast snorted. “Bullshit. I don’t want to talk out of turn but you have some surprises coming for you, brother. Keep your head up. We’ve got your back.”
Beast looked up as he spoke and into his presidents yellow eyes. The man had heard the shit their brother had been through and he was pissed off.
“Scar, brother, come to my office. Beast, you as well.” He ordered before turning and stomping back down the passage.
“You would think after fucking his old lady he would be in a mellow mood.” Scar said softly as they followed.
“He has a lot of shit on his mind at the moment. Let’s hear what he has to say.” Beast said quietly.
Hawk was already behind his desk when they walked in and focused on something on the laptop on the desk in front of him. He waved one hand at the chairs without looking up and Beast and Scar sat down and waited.
Their president was pissed at something he was reading and Beast knew they would have to wait until whatever had pissed him off had been handled.
And what do you know. Hawk slammed the laptop shut and shoved it away from him.
“Right, let’s do this. Scar, brother, welcome to my house. I’ve spoken to Hotdog and I’ve informed him that I would be offering you a position as a Lieutenant at this chapter. We run things differently up here, you will be shadowing one of the officers and become part of his team. Hotdog had hopes that you would return to Durban after spending a bit of time away.”
Scar immediately shook his head. “Never going back, Prez.”
Hawk nodded. “Good. Have you given thought to staying here instead of going Nomad?”
“Beast has been talking to me and it looks like you run a very different type of set up here. Don’t get me wrong, Hotdog is a very good president but he inherited a lot of rotten apples when he took over the gavel. We were slowly working them out.” Scar shrugged. “I was disliked because I never hid my opinion regarding the rot in the club from my brothers. I suppose not telling me what was happening behind my back and allowing me to walk in on Pesto fucking my wife was their revenge.”
Resting his forearms on the desk Hawk leant forward, his eyes intent on Scar. “What did Hotdog do about the situation?”
Scar snorted. “Hotdog did what he could but when it came down to a vote the little fucker survived, he didn’t lose his patch. He won’t be eligible for promotion for the next five years and that’s all, which is fucking ridiculous. It’s a fucking insult to me, to the club, to the bylaws we have in place. I couldn’t stay and watch him swaggering around the club one more day. So I packed up my shit, and what I didn’t throw out I sold. The bitch is trying to grab the house in the divorce settlement but she won’t get it. I wasn’t alone the day that shit went down. Claw was with me and he recorded the entire sordid mess. My lawyer now has the recording and is using it in the divorce. Because of my spoilt little brother I lost my club, my friends, and my family. My parents chose to believe their version, that I had been abusing her for years and denying her the children she so badly wanted.”
Shaking his head Hawk tapped his fingers on the desk and Beast knew his president would be following up on the shit at the Durban club. He wasn’t the National President for nothing. He would be sending the Nomads in to clean house if he wasn’t satisfied with the explanations coming from Hotdog and his officers. Fuck, he might still send them even if he believed their explanations. You never knew with Hawk Walker.
“You didn’t lose your club, brother. What you did lose was dead weight. I’m hoping you’ll decide to stay here with us because we need your skills. I run a different kind of table than most other presidents. I want my men to have opinions of their own and to share them openly with the rest of us. I value those opinions. You can ask any of the brothers at this table, we’ve had some huge differences of opinion but in the end we work them out because we all put the club first.” Hawk grinned. “And sometimes we climb in the ring and sort our problems out the old fashioned way.”
Beast nodded when Scar glanced at him then back at Hawk.
“Give me a day or two, Prez. Let me look around and get a feel for the brothers. I’ll give you my answer by next week.” Scar agreed.
Beast hid a smile. The brother wouldn’t be going Nomad.
A sharp knock sounded and Ice and Kid followed by Sin came strolling in. “Dogs are almost here, Boss. Jagger and the brothers are waiting for you outside.” Ice grinned. “And your old lady is sitting on the front steps, waiting for her dog. No one wants to piss her off so they sent us to come and get you.”
Hawk laughed and stood. “Brothers, meet Scar, our brother from the Durban chapter.”
After shaking hands we followed out president out of the office. Every single man there excited to go and check out the dogs.
Beast joined his president and brothers on the front veranda. All of them standing in a row, arms crossed over their chests, waiting.
Must have looked like some fucking photo from the days of the Wild West, Beast thought.
Tori
All morning the clubhouse had been thrumming with excitement because the guard dogs the men had been training with was arriving. DC was anxious to get our therapy session over with. She rushed out of the studio as soon as we were done and I sat on the floor and laughed softly as I watched her leave. From where I was sitting I could see part of the front of the club but it was at an angle and all that was actually visible was part of the steps and veranda. I grinned as I watched DC sink down on the steps to wait for the dogs.
It was hot today and the studio doors were open all the way to allow some air to move through as the air conditioning hadn’t been installed yet. I had found that the studio became very hot as the day progressed so we were getting air-conditioning.
I didn’t stay sitting there long. I wanted to dance and today I was going to try a classic piece. I wanted to see how my leg would hold up. I was cautiously confident I could do it.
Today was the day.
But first I’d have to warm up. Selecting the appropriate music I started and very soon the sounds outside the studio faded away and I concentrated on my movements. Breathing rapidly I finished the last movement and stepped away from the barre. Walking over to the small table with my towel and water I took a few sips, put the bottle down and took the towel to wipe the sweat from my face.
I was ready. I stripped off my sweat pants and fleece, checked that the brace was firmly in place, and quickly wiped my arms and legs before reaching for the tiny remote for the music.
I stood thinking about my choices for a minute before I made a decision.
Les Sylphides by Frédéric Chopin. It was a short romantic piece usually danced with other dancers but today I would dance the solo and if I felt strong enough improvise one of the duets.
Getting into position I clicked the remote, bent and slid it towards the mirrors. I straightened and waited. Peace settled over me as soon as the music started. This was my home away from home. This was my life.
I became lost in my craft, concentrating on getting it right. It wasn’t perfect and I had to improvise to make up for the weakness of my leg but I was dancing. I was dancing.
I didn’t want to stop but the ache in my leg and the almost wobble in my pirouette made it necessary. I set my feet and stood with my hands on my hips, panting as I tried to settle my breathing.
That’s when the whistling and clapping started and grown men were howling like dogs. Huh?
Turning to the doors I gasped. It was filled with men and a few women who were doing the clapping, whistling and howling. And right at the front was Beast, his burning eyes on me. I didn’t recognise the man next to him, a man who had his head thrown back howling and clapping along with the others.
Wow. This was just, wow. I smiled shyly and gave a little wave. Beast burst out laughing, bent over, ripped off his boots and came striding towards me in his black socks. There was shocked silence and I knew everyone was stunned by Beast’s laughter. He hardly ever smiled, almost never laughed. Even I knew that, and I had only been here a few weeks. When he reached me he grabbed me by my hips and lifted me into the air and spun me around. Slapping my hands down on his shoulders I held on and laughed down at him. It was amazing to see that sparkle in his dark eyes.
He slowly slid me down his body and carefully set me down. I stood in front of him and looked up at the man towering over me and smiled.
“You are fucking amazing, Ladybug.” He said softly. “How’s the leg?”
“Aching like a son of a bitch.” I replied with a grin. A happy grin.
“You need a hot shower and to get off your fucking leg, baby.”
“I will. I just need to sort things out here then I’ll head upstairs. Did you get your dog?”
I got another beautiful smile. “Yes, baby, she’s with Rider and the rest of the family. They’re waiting for me to bring you over so we can introduce you to Sassy.”
“Let me pull on my fleece then we can go.”
“Not happening, baby. You’re not walking out of here in those tiny fucking shorts. My brothers have seen enough of your body as it is.” He gave an annoyed look at the doors.
I snorted out a laugh. “Babe, my body is nothing compared to the bodies of those women hanging out in your common room. No way are your brothers having horny thoughts about me.”
Beast rubbed his hands over his face and sighed. “You’re going to drive me crazy, woman. Every fucking man who watched you dance was wondering how limber you are in bed and how bendable you are.”
Oh my word this was priceless. I didn’t stop to think, I just went with it. I looked at him innocently and stepped two steps away from him.
“You mean like this?” I asked and bent forward placing my hands flat on the floor next to my feet. “Or were you thinking about this?” I stepped into him went en pointe and did a full arabesque resting my foot against the top of his shoulder. His hands snapped to my waist and heat boiled in his eyes.
I laughed when his brothers whistled and shouted encouragement to him.
“Going to fucking tan your ass, Ladybug, don’t think I’m not.” He growled at me then pulled me into his body and whispered a sexy threat that had me shivering. “Going to fuck you just like this and then we’ll see how much more you can bend.”
I gave a full body shiver and my man winked . I removed my leg from his chest and lost the inches my en pointe position had given me. Looking up at him I pointed to the small dressing room at the back. “Let me have a quick shower and get dressed and I’ll come and find you. Okay?”
He squeezed my waist, leant over and kissed me softly. “Don’t take too long, baby.”
I watched him walk to his boots, slip them on and leave without a backward glance. The guy who had been standing beside him following after giving me one of those very alpha male badass chin lifts. Boy, these guys, they were something else.
Climbing into the tiny shower in the changing room I quickly washed the sweat out of my hair and from my body. I didn’t have time to wash my hair properly but it didn’t matter, I would give my hair a proper wash later. Drying off I quickly dressed in a pair of soft worn out jeans that had been in my ballet bag and a tank top, which DC had given me, with the Iron Dogz MC logo across my boobs.
Busy twirling my damp hair up and sticking a pair of chop sticks through the bun I didn’t see the woman waiting for me until the last minute. Coming to a sharp stop I warily watched as Chris stepped out of her shoes and came towards me.
What now?
“I know you would rather see anyone but me, but I want to apologise for my behaviour the other night. I was rude and abusive and none of my anger should have been aimed at you. I misread the situation between Beast and I and humiliated not only myself but you as well. I am so very sorry. I will make every effort to stay out of your way and I won’t cause you anymore embarrassment.”
She gave a small nod and was about to leave but I couldn’t let her go without telling her what I was feeling.
“Thank you for coming to me and apologising. I have some idea of how difficult that must have been for you. Yes, you were abusive and you humiliated all of us but on some level I do understand.” She frowned and I shrugged. “Let me try to explain. I met Beast when I was sixteen years old and he was a vastly different man then. He laughed, he joked, he smiled all the time, but during the time we were together he slowly started changing, becoming harder. He humiliated and scared me when he dumped me and I ran away to hide. But instead of hiding I grabbed onto the only dream I had left and followed it until it came to an abrupt end. Both events shattered me, completely.” I felt the tears in my eyes and swiped them away. Chris reached a hand out to me and I took it, held on to it as I looked up at her. “I didn’t come back here for him. I came home to lick my wounds and to try to start a new life and then I ended up here. He’s nothing like the man I knew. But we have history, so much history, both good and bad. He’s dark and dangerous and so very cold inside but he loves his girls and he loves me. I know you are hurting, I do. But if you ever pull shit like that again I will end you.”
I was totally serious until Chris grinned and then started laughing. I couldn’t help it, it was infectious and I laughed with her until she suddenly stopped and looked at me with a very serious expression.
“I’m sorry I was such a bitch and spoiled your first club dinner. I promise it will never happen again. Under different circumstances we would have become good friends.”
“I know, and who knows, we still might, once this whole loving the same man thing is done. One thing, Chris, don’t give up on finding him. I know it’s a freaking cliché, but there’s a man out there made especially for you, and when you least expect it he’s going to sweep you off your feet and carry you off.”
She grinned. “From your lips to God’s ears.”
I grinned, kissed my fingers and flung them up high.
“Done.”
Turning quickly she left but not before I saw the tears in her eyes. Shit. She was in love with him. Pushing my feet into my plakkies (flip flops) I quickly made my way across the compound to where my man and his family were waiting for me on the lawn.
Thank the virgin queen he hadn’t seen Chris talking to me. That would have been a disaster.
Meeting them on the lawn at the side of the club I fell in love with the beautiful Sassy, just like his girls and Penny and her baby girl had. She was a gorgeous black and tan German Shepard with a constant smile on her face. A smile that became wider every time the girls stroked her or leant against her. Little Delene kept reaching for Sassy and giggled when she nuzzled her feet.
Sassy was absolutely perfect for this family. She fitted right in with them.
A little hand tugged on my jeans and I bent down to the little face looking up at me. Ellie was such a sweetie.
“Toree, dis is our Sassee. She gots a bed and ewie ting by de steps. Daddy says no sleeping on de bed wif me. Can she, Toree, peease?” She asked with a brilliant smile.
Oh. My. Freaking. God. Freaking heart palpitations and stuff happening in my clenching chest.
I crouched down before Beast could move and took her little face in my hands. “If Daddy says no then it’s no, baby girl. Sassy has her own bed and I think maybe her bed is where it is so she can look after all of you while you’re sleeping.”
Jossy came and stood next to me with her little hand resting on my shoulder. “Sassy is a guard dog and our friend. Daddy says we can play with her but we have to be gentle. Always gentle.” And then she changed the subject. And oh shit.
“Are you going to stay with us, Tori?” Two sets of dark brown eyes looked up at me and I looked up at the originator of those dark eyes. The bastard was grinning.
“Let’s ask Daddy.” I passed the buck. I didn’t know if I was allowed off the premises yet.
Beast crouched down with us and wrapped his big arms around all of us and Sassy stuck her nose into the little circle as well.
“Yes, baby, Tori’s coming home with us.”
And just like that I was moved into their home and became partly responsible for two beautiful little girls.
Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.
