Chapter 101
Grayson
“Babe, who was that?” Christine asks, propping herself up on her elbow. The cream sheet clings to her curves, but her tone is flat–disappointed. Again.
“Club business,” I answer, my voice clipped.
She nods, laying back down and turning away from me, her shoulders stiff.
I know I’ve let her down. I could get my dick up this time, but I just couldn’t finish the way she needed me to It’s not her fault. She’s beautiful, the most beautiful woman I’ve ever been with, and I couldn’t ask for a better wife. The problem’s me.
Lately, I’ve felt like I’m drowning. Trying to make the club legitimate, trying to protect Alyssa, trying to give Christine the family she deserves–k) all too fucking much.
Since I was twelve years old, I’ve been under pressure. Being groomed to take over the club. Taking care of Mom when she got sick. Raising Alyssa after I killed our father. That kind of weight on my shoulders has never gone away: I just pretended I was strong enough to carry it.
Now, without my meds, it’s all crashing down on me. My body’s punishing me for it, too. Every day, the chance of Christine and me conceiving slips further away, and it’s all on me.
Feeling the familiar churn of failure, I retreat to the living room with a pack of licorice in hand. I need to call King and reby what War told me. As much as it annoys the shit out of me, Alyssa is King’s ol‘ lady and he needs to know what’s going down.
He’ll pass my message onto Niko, since those three are always together anyway. I’m half convinced they’re all living at King’s house now, which is weird as hell, but not my business.
mn shit at showing it. Mom’s gone. I killed Dad, and it’s just me
I’ve failed her too many times, but I’m trying to make amends. I love her–even if Im s and her now. I refuse to lose her ton
The moment we had today at Mom’s grave keeps replaying in my mind. She’s given up. I saw it in her eyes, heard it in her voice. She’s convinced Isaac will win. That he’ll kill her.
Fuck. I can’t wait to get my hands on him, though there’s now a line of people wanting to fuck him up before Alyssa takes the final shot.
King picks up on the third ring “What’s up, prez?”
“You busy?” I ask, even though I can hear the muffled crying and shouting in the background
“Not really,” King replies dryly, “Just visiting our friend. Mr. Rivera.”
“King, you’re making a mess Mason grumbles in the background,
“Well, I told the stupid motherfucker to stay still. Not my fault he was wiggling like a worm on a stick,” King growls. “Anyway, you call for a reason or just to micromanage me!”
“The latter,” I say with a hint of humor. “Worried you were too pussy–whipped to actually do your job”
He chuckles, but there’s an edge to it. “Niko’s at home with her. As long as I know she’s safe, I can focus on the task at hand”
I hate to admit it, but he really loves her.
I’m starting to feel that all three of them do. Not in a brotherly way, either. If King hasn’t noticed it by now, it might be a bloodbath when he does. I’m not looking forward to dealing with that shit
I mean, the fucker was willing to kill me just for raising my voice at her.
“So, why’d you really call?” King asks, his voice nearly drowned out by muffled pleas. Damn, I thought Mr. Rivera would’ve been tougher. He sounds like a little girl.
“Hold on,” King barks. “Mace, stuff a gag in his goddamn mouth before I punch him in the throat”
“You can’t. Gray said not to kill him, Mason reminds him
I always have to tell him that before every job because he can get carried away. I swear, the night we took out Jax and all those members involved in
the sex trafficking ring was probably the best night of his life. I didn’t even think he was capable of emotions outside of rage and violence until it
was obvious he was fucking my sister. Just earlier, I saw firsthand how she can turn off that insane part of his brain with just a touch.
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Chapter 101
tomorrow. Alyssa and Zuri don’t leave our
“War just called,” I tell him, my voice turning serious. “I don’t know what, but something might pop off tomor sight.”
They weren’t going to anyway.” King replies, his voice laced with a dark possessiveness. “Alyssa’s riding with me, and Zuri’s riding with Niko and Mason
“You think maybe they shouldn’t go?” Mason chimes in.
It’s really not the best idea for them to go, but after the promise she asked me to make today, maybe she needs to.
“It’s your call. King, but I think she needs this. She needs to see the strength we have in numbers, that we’re not afraid of that motherfucker. Because she has doubts, King. She’s fucking terrified of him.”
King goes quiet. The air feels heavier, the tension bleeding through the line. When he speaks again, his voice is low and dangerous. “What’d she tell
you?
She’s not convinced.” I admit, my throat tightening. I can’t tell him everything–what she asked me to promise–but I can’t hide her fear either. “She doesn’t believe she’ll make it out of this, King, She’s already bracing for the end.”
His sharp intake of breath is followed by a string of curses. That piece of shit-“His words cut off, replaced by a loud crash. “I’m going to make him fucking beg for her to end his pathetic–ass life.”
Well…Mr. Rivera’s probably dead now.
“King, you didn’t kill him, did you?
It’s not like it would be a big deal. Mr. Rivera is a monster just like the rest of my clients, but this is his first month being late. I usually don’t let King have free reign until the third time.
“Yeah, he’s still breathing. King grumbles.
Mason snorts. “Barely. He’s too old to be thrown through tables, King”
“Look, if Isaac shows up tomorrow, we’ll deal with him I say, trying to calm my brother down. “But we also need to be careful. Lots of innocents will be there, we don’t need anyone getting hurt that doesn’t deserve it.”
Since I’ve taken over the club, the public trusts us more, and tomorrow is supposed to be a fin, charity ride for DV survivors, money we’re raising: to give to shelters. We don’t need any problems started.
“Got it,” King replies curtly before hanging up.
I sigh, leaning back against the couch. The weight on my chest feels suffocating Alyssa’s broken voice plays in my head again: Promise me you’ll keep them from coming after me. Zuri loves them. I don’t want her to lose all of us.
If there’s anything I realized about my sister since she came back to Moonshadow Creek, it’s that she’s so much stronger than I thought she was. Even preparing for her own death, she’s only thinking about her daughter. I hate myself for ever questioning her ability as a mother because she’s an amazing one.
Christine walks into the room, her bare feet brushing lightly against the hardwood. She stands there for a moment, just watching me, hcr eyes heavy with concern. “Gray?” She pulls her robe tighter around herself. “Are you okay, babe” She doesn’t wait for me to answer, and sits beside me, her warmth colder than it should be. I can feel the tension in her, the way her body leans slightly away from mine even as I wrap my arm around her waist. It’s like we’re miles apart, even though she’s right here.
To answer her question, I’m not fucking okay. But I can’t tell her that. She doesn’t need to worry about me. So Ljust nod, “Alyssa wile there tomorrow. I just need you two to get along,” I plead quietly.
They haven’t been around each other since Alyssa tried to fight her, and I really don’t need the chance of something else going wrong tomorrow, “Of course, baby,” She circles a finger on my bare chest, her voice soft and hopeful “But in exchange, do you think we can try one more time tonight?”
I sigh. I know I shouldn’t complain about having so much sex, but I’m fucking exhausted. So is my dick.
Still, I swallow one of my little blue pills, my guilt swallowing me whole as I lead my wife back to bed. I want this baby. I want her happiness–but I can’t shake the feeling that I’m somehow failing everyone around me.
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