DECLAN

 

Michelle looked as gorgeous as she always did. All of the curves of her body were on display. That trim waist of hers that I just loved to grab. That ass that she stuck out and made so inviting. Milky soft tits that I loved to suck on. Legs that I loved to have wrapped around me. And then her face. She was beautiful and strong. Delicate but defiant. She was everything a president could ask for.

She rested peacefully on the bed, breathing softly as she laid on her side. I watched her for a moment before turning my attention back out the window.

The sounds from inside the clubhouse continued to vibrate through the walls. It was a loud night at The Grindhouse. With the club around and so many friends there, too, it was the only place in Ivory that truly felt like home to me.

I sat next to the window and stared out into the city. The view wasn’t much to look at. Just a few other buildings with bikes going up and down the roads. Another uneventful night in Ivory. But I knew this was just the calm before the storm.

I took a long drag of my cig and held the smoke in my lungs. I closed my eyes for a second to think about everything I was planning on doing. To think that it all came down to this… Shit was serious. The last thing I needed to do though was panic. Things would work out, even if I had to force them.

The smoke blew out of my lungs and filled the air.

“You shouldn’t be smoking.”

Michelle’s sudden voice surprised me. I turned my head up and saw her standing next to me, a blanket wrapped around her and a soft smile on her lips.

“That’s the first time I’ve heard you say that,” I said.

“This is the first time you’ve ever tried to knock me up.”

I gave her a nod then ground the rest of my cig in the ashtray.

“Not the first time,” I said.

Her eyes widened in surprise. I couldn’t help but smirk at her reaction.

“What the fuck does that mean?”

“It means exactly what I said.”

“…You’re joking.”

That dumbfounded look stayed on her face when I shook my head.

“I remember the first time I laid eyes on you,” I said. “I wanted to fuck you so bad.”

“I remember. You pulled your dick out right when we met.”

“I’m an honest man. I’ve always been too old to be playing games. When I saw a broad that I wanted, I let her know. I let you know.”

The memory came back to me in an instant.

Ha…

“When I finally got you in bed, that shit was like a dream. Having your mouth wrapped around my cock. Bending you over and shoving my dick into you. Hearing you yelp. It wasn’t like any other sex I’d ever had.”

“What was the difference?”

“I don’t know. It was just a feeling. It consumed me. It took over my body. It took over my mind. It was like I was someone else. I just wanted to come inside of you and fill you up. We were younger back then but I remember thinking I didn’t care what happened if you got pregnant. I wanted it.”

“It’s a wonder you didn’t.”

“Not really. You wanted to show how much you liked me and insisted on swallowing. Remember?”

“Oh, now I’m the one who insisted on swallowing…”

She giggled softly to herself. I’d been with Michelle long enough to know that nothing would offend her.

She wasn’t the type of girl to sleep around. Not like all of the other women in Ivory who were so desperate to get in bed with a patch. No, Michelle was different.

I think that’s why she liked me so much. I could make her feel like a slut without her actually being one. She got to explore another side of her while being faithful to me.

Over time, I only got more attached to her.

“What happened in there?” she asked.

I looked at her then turned back out toward the city.

“I know it’s not my place to ask about club business,” she said. “But it’d be nice to know what’s gonna happen with Tony.”

“I know. You’ll worry about it either way. Just rest assured that business will be handled.”

“Good. I can’t wait until he’s gone. The sooner the better.”

Michelle had a look on her face like something was weighing heavy on her mind. She was distant and she wasn’t trying to hide it.

“What is it about Tony?” I asked. “Why are you so afraid of him?”

“I already told you. I know what he’s capable of. I’ve seen him kill without remorse. The way he lives his life, I’m surprised he’s still alive. He puts everybody around him in danger just the same.”

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “That’s not it. We’ve seen dangerous men in Ivory before but this guy…”

I narrowed my gaze at her but she didn’t look back at me.

“…What are you not telling me?”

I clenched my jaw. My eyes locked on her, I waited for her response.

Michelle just kept staring out the window. She didn’t say anything. I was prepared to wait all night for a response if that’s what it took. She knew it, too.

Her stare shifted down but her eyes remained lost in whatever it was she was thinking about.

“I don’t know what happened,” she said. “I remember the night though. He was drunk or high or both. I had something to drink but I remember how wild he looked. It’s like something snapped inside of me. I had a moment of clarity.

“I realized it was a mistake spending time around a man like him. The young, stupid me finally figured it out. When I told Tony that I didn’t want to be around him, he said okay. I couldn’t simply walk away though. Things were never simple with him.”

Her throat shifted with a swallow. She kept staring off into the distance. I was barely breathing, hanging on every word she said.

“He said he wanted to have some fun. One last time before I walked away. I refused. He didn’t care though. So he did what he had to do. And I just…”

She swallowed again.

“…I just took it.”

She closed her eyes and a tear leaked down the corner of her eye.

In all my time knowing her, I’d never seen Michelle so vulnerable. It was like a bad joke. But Michelle wasn’t that good of an actor, so I knew she was telling the truth.

“He hurt you.”

“Sometimes when I’m alone… I think about it. I remember it like it was yesterday.”

Seeing her like that… Something snapped inside of me. I started breathing harder. My heart was thumping in my chest. I clenched my jaw so tight that my teeth were hurting. Frankly, I was surprised I was keeping my composure.

She opened her eyes and stared at me. Her eyes glazed and red, she looked like someone I didn’t recognize.

“When we were in the chapel, Ghost left the vote to me. I had the final decision on what to do with Cross.”

“And what have you decided?”

“I need you to do something for me.”

“Of course. Anything.”

“Talk to Sheriff Sutton.”

“What?”

“Talk to Sheriff Sutton. Tell him you need protection. Just a place to keep you safe.”

Michelle blinked her eyes in confusion.

“What are you saying?” she said. “Are you telling me to go to the police?”

“Michelle, just do what I’m telling you to do.”

“Declan—”

I put my hands up to her face and held her softly. I looked her right in the eyes.

“Do you trust me?” I said.

“Of course I do.”

“Then do what I tell you to do. I promise I’ll explain everything to you when this is all over.”

I pulled my hands away from her.

Michelle was the defiant woman I always knew she was. The angry look on her face was one I’d seen before but not very often.

“Why won’t you tell me what you’re doing?”

“Just do it! All right?”

She was taken aback when I raised my voice at her. I couldn’t remember the last time I did it. I kept staring at her though, trying to get my point across.

“Okay,” she whispered. “If that’s what you want me to do.”

“Do it.”

All of the shit Michelle was going through… She wasn’t gonna have to go through it much longer. Looking into her eyes was the only thing keeping me calm at this point.

I wouldn’t have to stay calm for much longer. This would all come to an end tomorrow night.