Chapter Twenty-Two
Beth
The moment she walked into the clubhouse, a sense of home filled her. This place had become her sanctuary, her real home. Her house had never made her feel a true sense of welcome. It was amazing what a few days in another place could do to the soul. But, Beth was worried about building a solid connection to this place. What if Sledge didn’t want something permanent? He had called her his woman several times, but Beth had no idea what that actually meant. Maybe she could ask Amber. Heading for Derek’s bedroom, the two of them decided some popcorn and TV was in order. A perfect way to spend the evening. But no matter how involved she got with the latest show, her mind would wander back to Devin. She really needed to talk to Amber. Beth knew her friend could help her shine some light on things she didn’t understand.
A knock pulled her out of her thoughts, and the very woman she was thinking about walked through the door. “I was just thinking about you,” Beth told her.
“Oh really? Good thoughts I hope,” Amber replied.
“Of course, silly!” Beth laughed.
Amber rushed over to her and gave her a tight hug. “You scared the shit out of me.” Hitting Beth on the shoulder, Amber crossed her arms, “Never do that again!” she demanded.
Beth watched as tears started to fall from Amber’s eyes. “Oh no, please don’t cry.”
“I’m not crying. You’re crying,” Amber said sarcastically, wiping her face.
Beth hugged her friend again, “I am so sorry, Amber. I never meant to scare you, or anyone. I just thought that if I left, maybe my father would follow and all the people I love wouldn’t be in danger.”
“I understand that. I really do. But Beth, you have to know that being here, in the clubhouse, is the safest place for you,” Amber explained. “Nobody would let anything happen to you here. Think of it like this...,” Amber paused searching for the right words. “Here, Devin is the King. That makes you the Queen. Everyone protects the Queen.”
“That’s the thing, Amber. I don’t know if I am the Queen. I don’t know what I am to Devin,” Beth told her, looking to see that Derek wasn’t paying any attention to them. “I don’t know if I am just the mother of his son, the woman he sleeps with.”
“Bitch, please!” Amber laughed. “You’re his woman.”
“But what does that even mean?” Beth said in irritation. She had been called that more times than she could count, but had no idea what that even meant.
“It means, you are his in every way that counts,” Amber told her. “It means that you are above everyone else. You are his Queen.”
Beth flopped down on Derek’s bed, letting out an exhausted breath. She really didn’t know much of anything about the motorcycle club world.
“Beth, my brother loves you. Mind, body, heart, and soul. There is nothing he wouldn’t do for you. Let him handle your dad. Devin is built for that shit. You are not.” Beth could see the sincerity in Amber’s eyes. She knew she was telling the truth.
“I love him too, more than anything. But how could I let him live with the knowledge that he killed my father just to protect me?” Beth honestly didn’t know how he would handle that.
“Honey, your father isn’t the first person my brother has had in his sights. And I promise, he will not be the last. The important question is, can you live with him knowing what he would be willing to do to keep you safe?” Amber questioned in return.
“Yes,” Beth answered without hesitation. She lost the love she had for her father a long time ago. Eight years ago, to be exact, when he forced her to walk away from the only man she ever loved. Then add to it all the things she had learned recently. There was no love left between them.
“Then that is all that matters. Devin won’t allow you to take care of this. You are not cut out to kill someone. That image would live with you for the rest of your days. Let Devin and the Henchmen handle this. Please, Beth,” Amber begged.
“Okay.” A knock on the door stopped any further conversation. “Come in,” Amber called.
Candy peeked her head around the door, surprising both women. “What do you want?” Amber asked.
“Us girls heard that Beth was back, I wanted to come and make sure she was okay,” Candy replied.
“Thank you, Candy. I am perfectly fine. You can let the girls know there is no reason to worry about my safety.” Beth knew the bitch was full of shit. Something about her put Beth on edge, and judging from Amber’s reaction, she wasn’t the only one.
“Is there anything I can get you? Water? Something to eat?” Candy asked.
“No, thank you though,” Beth declined.
“Oh, Okay. Well see you around,” Candy stammered before leaving the room and closing the door behind her.
“Okay that was weird,” Amber said once they were alone.
“Yeah it was. I don’t like that woman. Something about her makes my skin crawl.”
“Mine too!” Amber responded.
“As Queen, can I banish her to the dungeon?” Beth asked, her voice completely serious.
“I wish! But unfortunately, we don’t have a dungeon,” Amber laughed.
“First act as Queen - have a dungeon built,” Beth laughed. Both women fell back on the bed giggling like school girls.
This was exactly what Beth needed to calm her nerves. Good laughs with a good friend. The only thing missing was Devin, but she knew he was busy.
“I’m hungry,” Amber said suddenly.
“Let’s go find something to eat. I’m starving too,” Beth agreed. “Derek, let’s go find something for dinner.”
Pausing his movie, Derek joined the ladies and walked to the kitchen. “Go take a seat. I’ll make you a sandwich,” Beth told her son.
“What do you want? Ham or turkey?” Amber called from the fridge.
“Black forest ham. Oh and don’t forget the cheese,” Beth said as she grabbed the bread and pulled out enough slices for everyone.
“Chips,” called Derek from his dad’s chair.
After making sandwiches for all of them, and grabbing the chips, Beth and Amber sat on either side of Derek and ate their lunch.
“So, when your dad is ready to retire, are you going to take over the club Derek?” Amber asked.
“Is that really how it works?” Beth asked.
“I think so. Zander and I talked about it a little bit. He said that by rights, now that Derek is here, he would inherit the club.”
“But what if he doesn’t want it?” Beth asked. She had so much to learn about MC life.
“Then it would go to Zander again. But, honestly, we both are hoping that one of your kids will want it,” Amber confessed.
“Kids?” Beth questioned. “I only have one.”
“For now,” Amber replied with a grin. Beth had confided in her that she and Devin had never used protection. As of today, she was three days late. She was on birth control though, so Beth was thinking maybe the stress of everything was messing up her cycle.
“I could do it. I could be just like my dad,” Derek said in a deep voice, trying to mimic his father.
He had them laughing so hard. They spent the next hour sitting in the kitchen, listening to Derek’s horrible imitations of Devin. So lost in the fun they were having, they never noticed the shadow that lurked by the doorway. Or the pictures that were snapped silently.