Chapter 5

You’re a woman. Use it. Bring every man you meet to his motherfucking knees.
- Anonymous

Kenna

I don’t know what the hell came over me, or how I suddenly had the courage to get a hold of Phoenix’s cell number and call him, but I did. One thing I hated the most is when people pussyfoot around shit. It irks me like no other, and there is really no time to waste. I know the situation I’m in, as I’m sure Phoenix and Ascher do as well. I’m the most afraid of meeting Phoenix, solely based on the life he leads in the MC. I’ve been down that path before, knowing it all too well and the only thing it brought me was heartache and misery; a concoction filled with pain like no other.

When I called him an hour ago, I initially thought I’d tell him to meet me somewhere downtown, but after thinking about it for a few minutes I decided that wasn’t the smartest move. If I want to see what Phoenix does, and how he runs his club then I need to show up unexpectedly, and that was exactly my plan.

I call Philip and tell him my intentions, even asking him what he knows about the Devil’s Ash MC. Philip is always within a safe distance from me. It is his job to protect me after all. He and I have an odd relationship, he respects my privacy but to a certain extent, and I understand that he needs to do whatever he does to do his job correctly. To be honest, I’m not in the least bit shocked when he rattled off the address to Phoenix’s club.

At this rate, it’s just past ten at night which tells me that the clubhouse should be popping with people. My mind drifts back to what the nightlife was like when I was with Phantom all those years ago, his club always had tons of people going in and out, which ultimately led to his death. He was too accepting, and his big heart got him killed.

I take the short drive of about fifteen minutes until I’m right around the corner from the Devil’s Ash clubhouse. I glance up into my rear-view mirror and see that Philip is in his Escalade a few cars back, parked along the street just as I am. I open the door, swinging it wide open and grab my clutch, sliding my keys safely inside the small purse before I lock my car door and slam it shut. I hear Philip’s footsteps coming from behind me and before I can even turn around here’s right on my heel.

“What’s the plan, Ken’?”

I turn around and face him, looking him up and down and then back to the clubhouse. “You know I don’t have to tell you anything, but I’ll humor you. I came here to meet Phoenix, on my terms. I didn’t want him to have the time to clean up his act or hide anything about what he does.”

“Ah, an ambush test.” I nod at Philip’s assessment, he’s always been quite the smart cookie. I guess that’s why my father has had him on the books for so long.

“Precisely.” I smile, beginning to walk towards the clubhouse. I glance down to my outfit and can’t help but snicker to myself. Phoenix won’t even know what hit him. I have my hair in a high ponytail with wispy curls around my ears, a sweet gold set of wedges and I’m in the best short-shorts a girl could ask for paired with an olive-green tank that compliments my tan skin. Philip grabs my arm, causing me to look back towards him.

“I’m coming in with you,” he states firmly.

“I can handle myself. I highly doubt Phoenix will let anything happen to me when I’m his key to Miami. Without me, he gets nothing. He’s got more reason to keep me alive than you do, Phil. You only get a measelly paycheck.” I playfully punch his arm and he smiles back at me, and then his face goes stoic.

“It’s still my job to watch over you. I made a promise to your father.”

“Alright, then. Watch over me from right here, and if you hear screaming barge in the clubhouse.” I strut off towards the clubhouse doors before he has a chance to argue with me. I find it funny that no one was posted out front. It seemed careless to me. I place my hand on the door, pulling it open and walk straight on in. What I see doesn’t shock me, everyone in the joint is having a grand old time. I see a few playing pool, a couple hanging around the bar, and the ones who are seated have girls on their laps with smirks that match their devious thoughts.

“Hey, Red! Whatcha drinking?” The man behind the bar hollers over to me, and I approach, taking a seat on a barstool.

“Chilled Corona with lime.” He nods, fetching my corona and pops the lime on the top. I bring the lime to my lips, taking a bite of the tart fruit before taking a sip of my beer.

“What in the fuck, man? He seriously is down for this shit? Phoenix is making a big fuckin’ mistake and it’s about time someone said somethin’ to him ‘bout this shit.” I overhear someone to my left speak as I take another swig of my beer. “I can’t believe he’s gonna sacrifice shit cause of some fuckin pussy. Ain’t no pussy that good, not even if it gives him Miami.”

“You new around here?” the bartender asks me, throwing his rag over his shoulder as he leans back to assess me. “Can’t say I’ve seen you in the clubhouse before, and I’d remember. We don’t have real gem’s like you come in every day.”

“First time,” I admit, looking at the photographs that line the wall behind the bar. I see different men spread out across photos. I can tell just from the photographs on the wall that this club isn’t as bad as I thought it might’ve been. The photos show me that these men have honor, and a code. I can only hope that my assumptions are right based on what I can see. The last thing I ever wanted is for a power-hungry maniac to stand by my side, but time will tell with that. I may have spoken to Phoenix, but that didn’t mean that I know him.

I take another sip of my beer just as a man sits down on the barstool next to me. “You’re lookin’ a lil’ lonely sweetheart. How about I give you some company, hmm?” I look him up and down, unable to hold back my eyeroll.

“No, I’m good, thanks.” I mutter, bringing my attention back to my beer.

“Listen up, girlie. I don’t know who you think you are, but all the sluts have one job, to keep us happy. So, if I want you on your knees sucking my cock, or ass up high on the bed while I make you beg for me, you’re going to do it. Got it, bitch?” I cock an eyebrow as I look to this piece of shit, all the while I’m glancing around in my peripheral. That is the second I notice the patch I’ve been looking for marked ‘Prez’.

 

“Phoenix, you really gonna let this boy talk to your girlfriend like that?” I twirl around on the barstool and look at him, and I mean I look at him. He’s shirtless only wearing his cut, god knows why. but fuck, I’m not complaining. Skulls and roses mark his body in beautiful tattoo work, a huge skull covering his stomach with roses on the side and on his left arm it’s the same. He has the lightest blue eyes I’ve ever seen, the kind of eyes that when they look in your direction, you feel like they’re staring into your soul.

“Kenna,” he breathes, eyes raking over my body up and down in the same way I’ve been doing to him the last few moments. “What the fuck did you say to her?” He snaps to the biker to my side.

His target doesn’t say a word.

“I believe he told me I was a slut and that my job was to be his little fuck toy. I’m paraphrasing a bit, but it sums it up.”

“I didn’t know who she was, Prez.” He tries to defend himself, and I can’t help but allow my blood to boil. Phoenix starts to open his mouth, but I beat him to it, smacking his guy on the forehead.

“It doesn’t matter who the fuck I am, you idiot. No one should speak to a woman that way. I don’t give a fuck if she’s a club whore or not. It’s unacceptable. You respect women. You don’t tear us down like we’re fucking dogs. Scram,” I grumble, and he looks to his Prez.

“You heard the lady, beat it.” Phoenix smiles at me and the second he does, it makes me feel like we’re going to get along just fine.

 

***

Phoenix takes a hold of my hand and drags me along with him deep into the back of the club, opening the door, where an office is revealed to me. We both walk inside, and he shuts the door firmly behind him. As we were walking down the corridor I did notice drugs. I can’t say that I’m pleased with finding out he dabbles in them. He starts to speak, but again, I don’t allow him to.

“You guys run drugs?” I ask, looking him dead in the eye as I cross my hands over my chest and sit up on the desk against the wall.

“It’s better that we control what’s going on the streets versus these punks who don’t know jack shit.” I nod, not disagreeing with him. One of the biggest problems we have is the fact that the drugs are tainted. They’re killing tons of people, and no, it’s not because they’re overdosing. It’s because some idiot who watched Breaking Bad suddenly thinks that he knows jack shit and then starts putting product out on my streets, only it isn’t product - it’s a death sentence.

“What are you putting out?” I ask, needing to know what I’m dealing with, and what I’m signing up for. I’m no angel, and my father is no innocent. We both dabble in the very shady, and sometimes morally unacceptable businesses. Phoenix is thinking the right way. If drugs are going to be on the streets, it needs to be something that we’re controlling. We need to be able to monitor it.

“I respect you, Kenna Vernon. Instead of comin’ in here and getting’ to know me, you’re lookin’ at what I’m doin’ and how it benefits Miami. I have to admit, I seriously underestimated you.”

“Don’t make that mistake again. You’ll learn to never underestimate me. I’m just full of surprises,” I inform him, sliding from his desk and looking around the room. Still, I find photograph after photograph until one photo shocks me. In it I find a man who I knew all too well and standing next to him are two men who look identical and an older man. Hmm...that must be Phoenix’s father, and I knew he had a brother, but I had no idea that Ascher and Phoenix were twins.

“How did you know Phantom?” I ask, turning around to gauge his reaction.

“Our Pops were good friends back in the day. Grew up alongside him. Why, you know him?” Phoenix glances over to me and I tear my eyes from his own.

Did I know him?

I was supposed to marry him.

“I was his ol’ lady,” I comment lowly, looking back to the photo, staring into that cheesy grin that I miss so much.

“Fuck. I didn’t put two and two together. I knew he had a girl named Kenna….but never thought you and her would be the same woman.”

“Of course, you wouldn’t. Why would you? People have the same names all the time. In this case though, I am the Kenna.”

“It was a shame, losin’ him. He was one of the good ones.”

“Yep. A diamond in the rough,” I laugh. Phoenix walks over to his desk and pulls out a bottle of whiskey, unscrews the top and takes a swig for himself before handing the bottle over to me. We go at it a few times before I’m feeling warm and fuzzy all over, having a nice buzz.

“I’ll admit” I murmur in my alcohol induced hazed “I was a liiiitle bit nervous coming here. I kind of have a little PTSD when it comes to MCs, everyone kind of dies.”

“I’m not gonna die,” he states, his tone oh so serious. I can’t help but laugh at him.

“Puhlease, Phoenix. Everyone dies. I’ll die. You’ll die. My father will die. Your club will die. We all die, no matter how we try to escape it, our bodies will be rotting underground at some point.” I take another swig of the warm whiskey, allowing the alcohol to settle comfortably in my stomach. I’m starting to feel really good right now. I haven’t felt this relaxed in ages.

He takes the bottle from my hands and sets it on the table to his left, right as he grabs me with his opposite hand and pins me against the wall. “No, Kenna. You’re not catchin’ my drift. I’m tellin’ your pretty little head that I will not get myself killed. I’m not gonna die on ya’. I’ll be the one doin’ all the fuckin’ killin’. You got me?”

Wowza.

I don’t answer him. How am I supposed to after he just went all alpha male on my ass? I do the only thing I can, the only thing that I want to do to show him that I heard him. I slide my arms around his shoulders and bring my lips to his, kissing him with a hunger that I didn’t know I had.