Josie

Something was happening, but I had no clue what it was. Two weeks had passed and something was amiss with my guys. They were still very attentive to me. A smile slipped onto my lips at the thought. Yes, they were very attentive. However, I was getting tired of them mollycoddling me.

I knew I had to come in strong with a plan of attack to find out what they were hiding. They’d become very clever at distracting me with their bodies, and house hunting. Two days earlier, we had finally, after looking at ten different houses and apartments, decided on an already vacant three-bedroom weatherboard house. It reminded me of Mattie and Julian’s house in Ballarat across from the compound. I even sent a photo of it to my parents. Mum loved it. Dad thought it was too old and needed some work. It was the next day, after classes I turned on my phone and found I had twenty-six messages. All were from my dad and most were pictures of certain types of tools my guys would need to fix our place up. The other pictures were of items of furniture. I’d looked through them all and then decided it was time to call my dad.

“Baby girl,” he cried cheerfully into the phone when he picked up.

“Hi, Dad. Can you—”

“No time to talk, sweetheart. I’m at Ikea. I just found the perfect couch and chair set. They’re bright green. What do you think of that?”

“Um—”

“Hmm, maybe not green, I just saw a blue set. Damn, yeah, they look better.”

“Dad,” I nearly yelled into the phone as I walked to my next class with Eli chuckling at my side.

“Yes, baby girl?”

“Why are you looking at furniture for us?”

“Well, because you’ll need new stuff for your place with your guys. Your mum and I wanted to buy you something for a house warmin’ gift. She said a microwave or a vase, but that shit won’t do for our baby girl. Don’t you worry, I’ll set something up and get it shipped to you and then...you tell those boys of yours to have their crap ready. I’m coming to stay for a while to help on the house.”

Oh, goodness.

Even though I was scared of having my dad stay while I lived with two men, a smile slipped onto my lips, because my dad, no matter where I was or what age I was, never got tired of trying to take care of me.

So I sighed and said into the phone in a loving tone, “Okay, Dad. I’ll let them know.”

“Love you, baby girl,” he said into the phone.

“Love you, Dad.” I grinned before hanging up.

As an added bonus to the house, it wasn’t far from Simone, the uni or the diner. Of course, I still had my reservations about moving in with them, especially when they were hiding something from me, something that was making them tense.

If it came down to it, I would have to decline the offer of living with them until they trusted I wasn’t the timid, little girl they still saw in me. I wanted to be with them, with everything I was, and that also meant I would do anything for them. If in some way I could help them, I would. No matter the situation. No one was coming between my men and me.

I just had to show them I was a changed woman. I was stronger and they had played the part to get me that way.

Yes, I may have been timid and a coward when it came to Cameron and his friends, but back then I felt I had nothing to care for.

I did now.

In fact, I had two.

And it was time they learned I was there for them and I’d risk everything for them.

“Darlin’, sit the fuck down or you’ll wear a hole in the carpet from all the pacin’.” Dodge smiled from the couch.

“You got any fizz-pop?” Dallas called from the kitchen. That got me to stop pacing and turn to the direction of the kitchen. Did a bad arse biker just call soda a fizz-pop?

Fizz-pop.

“Woman?” Dallas called again and then his frame filled the doorway. “Fizz-pop, you got any at all?”

The giggle was untameable and once I started, I couldn’t stop. My arm went around my stomach and I bent over laughing.

“What the fuck’s up with her?” Dallas snapped.

“Probably hearing the word fizz-pop from your mouth.”

Wiping my eyes, I looked up to see Dallas shrug and walk back into the kitchen mumbling, “I take that as a no. Bloody women are wacked.”

“Darlin’, good to see you smile and laugh. Now come sit next to Uncle Dodge and tell him what’s goin’ on in that head of yours.”

Sighing, I went over to the couch and sat next to him. I was getting to know Dodge and Dallas more, after reuniting with them the morning after my first time with my men. Eli and Caden were sweet the next morning, hugging me and kissing me every chance they got. Though, while I was having breakfast, there had been a knock on the front door. After Caden answered it, he came back in with Dallas and Dodge. I hadn’t been expecting to see them and when they said they were my men for the day, because mine had shit to do for the club, I accepted it without any drama. It had happened two more times since then and, even though I enjoyed Dodge’s humour and Dallas’s surliness, it still put me on edge, because, again, my men were keeping something from me.

“Dodge?” I started, wringing my hands together on my lap.

“Yeah?” he asked wearily.

“I know my guys are up to something, but it’s something they’re keeping from me and I’m starting to feel that it’s something big. Also, I’m pretty sure it has nothing to do with club business else you and Dallas would also be there and I’d be with a prospect here instead. So, my question to you is, do I need to be worried about my men?”

“Josie, you know I can’t say shit. It’s the brothers’ code.” Stupid bloody code. “Don’t worry, darlin’. Don’t get your panties in a twist about anything.”

“Why’re you talkin’ about our girl’s panties?” Eli glared from the front door.

I stood quickly and looked from Eli to behind him. “Where’s Caden?”

Eli walked in and closed the door. I was in his arms after he took two strides my way. “Babe.” He smiled before his lips touched mine. “He’ll be up in a second. He’s just on the phone with the realtor. They rang.”

My eyes widened. My hands went to his chest and I pushed, stepping out of his arms.

Lie.

Eli had just lied to me.

“Big fuck up, brother.” Dodge sighed.

“Josie?”

“Is it another woman? Do you both have some pieces on the side? I know I’m still learning, but I didn’t think I was so bad for you both to seek it out somewhere else.”

Wasn’t that why lies started? The men were cheating? I’d heard stories about it happening all the time.

“Sweetheart, what are you fuckin’ talkin’ about?” He reached out.

I moved back again and then spun, walking even further behind the couch where I stood with my hands on my hips.

“Y-you just lied to me, Eli.”

“What? No—”

“Brother, give it up,” Dallas barked from the kitchen doorway. “Josie has spoken to the realtor. They just rang here.”

“Fuck,” Eli hissed. He turned his back on me and swore again. His hands ran through his messy hair on top.

Suddenly, the front door opened and in walked Caden. He looked from Eli to me and his already frowning face deepened. “What’s goin’ on?” he asked in an annoyed tone.

Eli sighed. “Our girl thinks we’re steppin’ out on her.”

“What?” Caden barked.

“You’ve both been hiding something from me and Eli just lied to me. Who were you talking to downstairs, Caden?”

“The real—”

“Brother.” Eli winced, shaking his head.

A snort left me. “Really, you as well? Fine. Just fucking fine,” I yelled and stormed down to the bedroom, slamming the door behind me.

Swearing was something I never did, but at that time, it felt relevant and also very good. It matched my mood. Tears no longer threatened; instead, I was angry. Why would they choose to lie to me? I thought they wanted it all to work between the three of us. Had I been wrong?

Stupid men. They made my mind overreact on the cheating part. No, knowing them, they were probably trying to protect me from something. Didn’t they see, with them at my side, I didn’t need to be protected? If it had anything to do with them, I’d want to know, to help. I would want to be there for them.

But why were they not letting me?

Goddamn it. Why did it hurt so much when they lied?

If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t care. I didn’t trust many people like I did Caden and Eli, which was probably why having them lie to me hurt so much. It shredded my heart and put a dent in my trust for them. It made me want to scream and yet vomit. My insides were in turmoil.

––––––––

Pick

Fucking hell, I’d gone from one nightmare to another. Only, the second one was worse because we’d hurt Josie. I never wanted that to happen, but I didn’t want to involve her with what I’d learned.

The lunch date, two weeks earlier, went to plan...now it’d gone to shit.

We’d turned up on time to find Cameron and his fucked-up father already there, sitting in some crap pansy restaurant. They’d probably expected us not to make a scene. Little did they know that it would be Cameron making a scene.

Eli was in front when we walked in. We were both about the same size so his view blocked me from the tables as the maître-d’ quickly and quietly, after a disapproving look at both of us, led us to a table at the back.

“That’s them, Father,” Cameron said in a snotty tone.

I stepped around Eli and looked down at Nigel. I’d hoped he’d recognise me and freak the fuck out, but even after he looked at me from head to toe it didn’t register who I was. Though, it had been fifteen years and I’d been just a boy when he violated me. The sick fuck took what he shouldn’t have from me.

I was about to ruin his relationship with his prick of a son and I couldn’t have been happier.

“Please take a seat and tell me why you have been harassing my son,” he said with his nose turned up.

Shaking my head, I smirked and placed my hands on the table, leaning in. “We won’t be staying, fuckhead. There is no way I would ever sit down with you.”

His eyes widened. “Do I know you?”

A humourless chuckle left me. “I don’t suppose you’d recognise me. It’s been a very long time. First, I want you to listen and then do as I say or your life will be fucked up, even more than what it already is.”

“You can’t threaten me. I will call the police right now and have you arrested,” Nigel demanded. His son sat back in his chair and smiled smugly up at us.

Eli widened his stance and crossed his arms over his chest. Nigel flicked his gaze to Eli, narrowed his eyes on Eli’s vest, and then looked back to me.

Smiling I asked, “You see that now, don’t you? We belong to Hawks and your son here has been giving shit to one of ours.”

Cameron snorted. “She’s not one of yours. She’s a club whore.”

I felt Eli move. I glanced over my shoulder to see his hand going to his knife. I shook my head.

“Fuck,” he hissed. “Make this quick then before I stab the fucker in the eye.”

“Josie is not a club whore. She’s our woman, and family to others in the club,” I said to Cameron. He rolled his eyes. Looking to his dad, I added, “You get your son and his friends to stay the fuck away from Josie or we’ll share some secrets of your past.”

Nigel chuckled. “I have no secrets, so you don’t have anything.”

“You remember Rosemary and her kid?”

Fuck yes. I smiled.

Nigel paled and it was magnificent to see. He looked at me in new light, studied my face. “Y-your—”

“Yeah, cockhead. I’m the kid you sexually abused when I was only twelve.”

He blanched and abruptly stood from the table. “What? I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. I would never—”

It was then I took a photo from my back pocket and slammed it on the table. Cameron was fast. I’d give him that. He snatched it up before his father got a hand on it. Watching Cameron studying the photo was fun. First, he screwed his nose up, then he gagged. His hand went to his upset stomach and then he stood just as fast as his father had and threw the photo at him.

“What, you didn’t know your daddy was into little boys?” Eli taunted. “Did he leave his hands off you, Cammy?”

Cameron’s eyes widened. Something triggered in his mind and I wondered what it was. His face turned glacial as he spat at his father’s feet. “You disgust me. I never want anything to do with you again.” He went to round the table.

Eli grabbed his arm. “Hold up there.”

“You do as we say,” I started. “Leave Josie alone and have your friends forget about her...or your father will have his past exploited in the newspaper. I’m sure you don’t want everyone to know what your dad used to get up to when you were just a boy yourself. Everyone will think the same happened to you. You’ve always been supportive of your dad here. How would that look to all your friends?”

Cameron’s hands fisted tightly. He wanted to punch me and all I could think was bring it. His face contorted with rage as he looked back at me.

“Cameron,” Nigel started and placed his hand on his son’s arm.

“Don’t you ever fucking touch me,” Cameron snarled before shaking off Eli’s hold, after my nod to Eli, and stalking out of the restaurant.

“You better go after your son, Nigel. Don’t want him to back out of the deal now.” Eli smirked. Nigel quickly threw some money on the table and went after his son.

At the time we’d thought we’d won.

We were wrong.

It wasn’t until two weeks later, early in the morning, when Eli got a call from Memphis telling him I had a delivery at the compound. Memphis was the president of Hawks in Caroline Springs, so we took orders from him. When he rang, we listened. He’d also said he’d sent Dodge and Dallas over to stay with Josie while Eli and I went to see what I’d received.

I’d left Josie warm in bed when Eli woke me quietly and gestured for me to follow him. After he told me what Memphis said, we were out the front in seconds, dressed and ready. Dodge and Dallas pulled up and went straight inside with a chin lift to us. Once we saw them through the door, we rode off.

Thankfully, the ride was only ten minutes because my mind was fuckin’ with me on what it was and why in the fuck I would get a package sent to the compound.

Whatever it was, I knew it wasn’t gonna be good and I’d been right.

Eli told me Memphis would be waiting in the lunch room in the mechanical area. Brothers-in-arms were milling around working or talking shit. As soon as we were through the door to the lunch room, it closed behind us.

We turned and Eli had his gun pulled and aimed.

“Cool it, Billy,” Memphis grumbled from his seat at the table.

“Dive, what in the fuck you doin’ here, brother?”

Dive, a brother from Ballarat, grinned wide and came forward for a handshake and a slap on the back.

“Talon thought it’d be good for me to come. Apparently, the shit goin’ down is worse.”

Turning to Memphis, I glared. “What the fuck?”

Memphis rolled his eyes and sighed. “You got your own shit to handle. When it’s over, you’ll be in the full fold. For now, you got this to deal with.” He slid a small rectangle box over the table and my stomach dropped when I saw the red trailing the box behind it.

Motherfuckin’ Christ.

Whatever was in that box had bled.

“What the fuck?” Eli hissed.

“That’s what we want to know,” Dive said. “If this has anything to do with Josie, Talon’s gonna—”

“We’re protecting her,” Eli snapped.

“How?” Memphis demanded.

Eli looked to me and I nodded, he explained, “We already told you we dealt with the fuckheads hassling Josie. What we didn’t tell you was how. The father of the main guy givin’ shit to Jose was a man of Pick’s past.”

“What past?” Dive asked.

“Caden?” Eli uttered and fuck it to hell, it touched my heart. I nodded again as I kept my gaze on the box.

“His mother used to sell his body to men and women. She also used to get him to do illegal shit so she could stay high or drunk. One of the guys who bought time with Caden is this Cameron’s father. We approached them, told Cameron to leave Josie alone or else his father’s past would surface and everyone would know.”

“Did you have proof?” Memphis asked.

“Yeah,” I said. Because I did. I had proof on them all. It was in the final week I’d decided enough was enough and I took footage of them all. Their faces were caught on camera when they...did things to me. I had that printed out into pictures, which was what Cameron had seen of his father.

“The dad’s name, was it Nigel?” Dive asked.

My head snapped to him when he held out a note. “It was attached to the parcel.”

“Jesus,” I hissed before opening it to read.

Caden, or as your biker people call you, Pick.

You may have grown up to be a fine young man, but you will never be as cunning as I.

I have someone you may want alive. In the box is a piece of that someone and if you don’t do as I SAY, then you will find more pieces of her turning up each day until you listen.

I want the whore.

You have forty-eight hours to say goodbye to the slut and hand her over to Cameron where she works at 10 A.M. on Friday.

Nigel.

“Pick?” Memphis said. Tearing my eyes from the paper, I looked to him. He gestured with his head to the box. Fury, deep, unsettled fury burned inside of me. That fucker thought he could play with me again.

“No,” I snarled. “I won’t let the fucker have the satisfaction.”

Whoever was in the box was gonna have to stay there. I had no one worth worrying about except for Josie, Eli and my brothers. Fuck.

Jesus motherfuckin’ Christ.

Had he taken a brother?

How?

No, it couldn’t be. We would have heard.

“You need to know,” Eli said gently. He picked up the box with a gloved hand and opened it.

Hell. Fuckin’ hell.

“Do you know who...?”

Yeah, I fuckin’ did.

I knew whose finger lay inside the small box.

My mother’s. The ring her dealer gave her was still sitting on her dead finger.

Turning my back to them all, my hands ran again and again over my shaved head as I lifted my head and bellowed to the roof, “Fuck!”