Chapter 8
Declan
I pull the gun from my jeans and point it at the asshole. “You know how much I can’t stand a liar?” He shakes his head, but he holds a strength in him that reminds me a lot of myself.
“Fuck you, Declan. I don’t care what you think about me,” he spits back. He should care. He should care deeply what I think of him since he wants to be a prospect for the Soulless Bastards.
“We don’t let just anyone in here.” I push the gun closer to his head. This is all a game. It’s a scare tactic to see which one is worth our fucking time. If they cower in fear, they don’t step foot anywhere near this clubhouse again.
“Say it again, boy,” I growl. Nuts. That’s the name I’m giving him if he says it again.
“Fuck you!” he says, blood dripping down his chin. Yeah, I may have fucked him up a little more than the others, but shit, he was the one testing my patience.
“Stand up, boy.” I nudge him with the barrel of my gun. The kid hops up and stands in front of me when I wave Blu over.
“Looks like Nuts here needs a patch, brother,” I say. Blu runs his eyes over the mess I made of the kid’s face before he crosses his arms, glaring at him.
“You think you have what it takes to handle this life?” Blu asks. He watches the kid for a reaction. This isn’t much different than the shit we used to go through. I may be a little tougher on them now than they were on me. I wasn’t just a prospect, though. I was blood; I was born into this. Of course, I had to prove I was good enough. Maybe more than the others.
Nuts stands there stoically before he says, “I know I do.” Blu nods his head before giving me that final glance. He gets the nod he wanted from me.
“Alright then. Nuts it is. Get one of the club girls to sew you a patch on that cut. You’re the fuckin’ runt. Don’t forget it. A patched member tells you to fuckin’ jump, you damn well better ask how high.” The kid stiffens his back and nods when Blu passes him the prospect cut.
“The rest of you, you ain’t shit. You won’t ever be shit. Get the fuck up and drag your sorry asses outta my clubhouse!” As soon as the words leave Blu’s lips, the boys are on their feet.
“Way to get ‘em, Blu.” Cherry’s voice echoes through the room. I don’t turn to look at her, but Blu does.
“Thanks, Cherry Bear. You got a new girlfriend?” Blu asks.
That catches my attention. I turn and see her. My jaw clenches. What the hell is she doing here? I told her not to come back.
“Yeah. Mouse and Reggie sent me to find her, but I thought about keeping her for myself,” Cherry says, running her finger along Brooke’s neck. Brooke doesn’t make eye contact, but she smiles nonetheless.
“She looks like she’s your speed. I’m Blu,” he says, stepping toward her with his hand out. She steps up and takes it. “Brooke.”
Blu’s eyes linger on her a little longer than they need to.
“Watch out for these guys. They don’t play by the rules, and I sure as hell won’t make them,” he warns her.
She nods her head once before stepping back next to Cherry. Where the hell did Cherry pick her up at? What the hell is she doing bringing her back here?
Blu turns on his heel and walks away when Cherry says, “Hey, Dec. You seen Mouse? I want to show off my toy.” She wraps her arm around Brooke’s body. I don’t know what the fuck to say, so I stand there like a goddamn fool. She’s with Cherry, of all fucking people.
“Should be cleanin’ shit up and settin’ up for the party. Why don’t you go find him?” I suggest. Cherry starts to move, taking Brooke with her. Oh, like fuck she is!
“Leave this one.” I put my hand up as Brooke tries to walk past, coming to rest on her stomach, stopping her from going anywhere. Yeah, I’m going to be that kind of asshole.
“She’s mine, Declan,” Cherry tries to protest. She better watch who the fuck she’s talking to like that.
“This your clubhouse, Cherry?” I ask her, my anger rising higher and higher.
She doesn’t look up at me, but I snap, “You better learn your place, Cherry. You been here a long time to act like you don’t know the fuckin’ rules.”
She nods her head slowly before looking up at me, “Sorry, Declan.” I nod once as her eyes slide to Brooke’s. “Sorry, Brooke. I’ll find the guys and come right back.” Cherry turns on her heel and walks away.
“What the hell are you being a dick to her for?” Brooke’s dark eyes quickly meet mine. Look at that. She has a whole lot of balls for a little thing.
I raise my hand and run my fingers over the butterfly that hangs from her neck. “I’m not being a dick. She knows the rules around here, butterfly. What are you doin’ here? I thought I told you never to come back here.” It wasn’t much of a question, more of a statement. She doesn’t belong here. My tone is daring. I’m daring her to respond to me. To tell me why she really came here and I have a feeling it wasn’t for Cherry. No, she wanted to see me.
“She stopped by to see me and invited me to a party. I came. It was that was simple.” She moves to take a step back, but I don’t let her. I invade her space. My fingers drift around from the necklace to the back of her neck, pulling her face close to mine.
“You stepped foot into my clubhouse, my world. Do you have any idea what I could do to you?” I ask in a loud whisper. Her breathing has kicked up, and her heart is beating wildly. I can practically feel it.
“I didn’t come here for you, so I’m going with nothing.”
“They won’t speak to you if I say the words.” Her eyes burn with a fire that I want. I don’t know if she wants to punch me or fuck me on the spot, but goddamn that tension is there.
“Will you say the words though, Declan?” Holy fuck! The way she says my name. I want to take her against this wall and show her who the fucking boss is around here but not now.
No, I’ll save that for later.