Chapter Five
For five days Gunner had to leave town with several of his boys to complete a run with guns. It was a spur of the moment assignment that a business associate needed. He was always the messenger, taking goods from one place to another. He didn’t get involved in the wars. He took care of his own turf, and anyone who tried to fight him would feel his wrath. So, from time to time, he did a bit of courier work. They currently had a shipment in a van that he was handing over to the cartel. This was his only interaction with them. He didn’t do any other kind of business because getting mixed with that shit got you killed. The cartels were known for killing and taking out entire families, not just the person who did them wrong.
He’d have completely passed on the deal when he was approached, but at church all of the guys wanted the money that would come from the one-time deal. So over time they were known as good little postal boys. The cartels stayed out of their business, and that was what Gunner liked. Besides, he was friends with Carlos—who dealt as the main contact between the club and the cartels—and he had to be. The bastard had fucked his wife. Not that his son had anything to do with it. Gunner had gotten a paternity test done on both of his boys when they came out. He’d been on club business, and Cherry had already named the boy Carlos before he could do anything about it, which pissed him off.
On the way back home, he recalled the conversation he’d had with the man.
“So, rumor has it that something is going down with your boys,” Carlos said.
“Now who would think that?”
“I’ve got a lot of ears everywhere, and I thought it was best that you knew someone is planning a takeover bid. Said that you’re too old to ride, too old to fuck, and too old to see what has gone missing beneath your eyes.” Carlos pointed at his own eyes and smirked. The gold tooth shone from his smile, making Gunner want to take it out. “Word has it they want to take the club in a different direction.”
Leaning forward, he smirked. “You know the best way of catching a rat is to leave little crumbs, Carlos.”
“Ah, so you are onto it.”
“I never wasn’t. I just need to know who else is following this rat. You been approached?”
“I’ve not been approached by someone from your club, but a couple of guys have said change is coming. This is all on the rumor mill. Word on the street. You know how it is. New leadership and they want in on cartel money. I’d say the rat in your club is the one that wants more business. I don’t have no problem with the way you run your business, Gunner. I like that we keep this … separate. Bad news like this, it has a blood taste to it.”
“I have no interest in becoming runners for the cartel. I’ll deliver guns and even do the drugs, but always as a third party. I don’t want this mess. I’ve got my boys, and I know your bosses don’t ask questions until the bullets stop flying, and most of the time there’s a river of blood.”
“And I’ve got my little girls. I respect you, man. Never do no wrong. Always keep your shit locked up tight. When I heard the boys talking about this shit, I thought they were fucking trippin’. Ain’t no one got a drop on you, Gunner.” Carlos smirked. “You know, when I got into this I never thought there’d be a day that I regretted it. Becoming a father, now that shit … yeah, you realize how fucked-up your life has become. Ain’t no out for me. Just got to keep on rolling.”
“You hear anything, let me know.”
“Sure as shit sticks, my man.”
They shook hands and left it at that. Now back at the club, in church Gunner stared at all of his men. He had a couple of ideas who it could be.
Kent was certainly high on the list. As VP he’d been one of his enemies for a long time. He’d fought him time and time again on different deals, but Gunner had always won. As Prez he’d wanted the club to flourish, not to die due to bad fucking decisions. The cartel becoming permanent runners, partners; that shit was not going to stick, not with him. Lots of clubs got wiped out for doing bad deals with the cartels. He had to think of the best decision for the club, not just to line his pocket. He didn’t know who else Kent had on his side, but he’d find out. He always did. One thing the army had taught him … patience. He would sit out on an assignment for hours and days at a time. He didn’t have a problem with waiting. Sure, he fucking hated that someone wanted to overthrow his kingdom, but he wasn’t about to let them take his club from him.
Planning.
Waiting.
Maiming.
Then killing.
All of them had a place, and it wasn’t about acting fast.
Once again, his gaze landed on Kent. His VP had been noticeably absent of late. It would have been easier to cut Kent out of the club, but he’d not had a good enough reason to at the time.
Also, he loved the motto of keeping enemies close, and this fucker certainly was that. However, he couldn’t rule out a few of the other boys that were wanting a bit of action and a large chunk of the pie.
Opening his duffel bag, Gunner dropped the money onto the table.
A round of cheers went up at the sight of the dough. It was already counted and placed in bundles for each of the men. He handed out each pile, leaving one for him, and he’d put another on the table. “This is for the club expenses. Any of you got a problem with that?”
“I don’t. It’s all right having the cash right now, but we’ve still got to keep our other investments afloat,” Billy said.
All of the boys agreed, so he made his way to the safe, keeping his back to them as he put the money inside. He always liked to make sure that the club had a backup in case any of their investments had to close quickly.
“Anyone got anything they want to say to me?” he asked, looking toward Kent.
His VP just looked bored.
“No, Prez. I’d say we have everything in order. All we want to do now is fuck pussy!” There was a loud chorus of roars.
He smiled.
Gunner wasn’t about to keep them from their urges.
“Right, that was our last run for a couple of weeks. Have fun. We’ll be back Monday for church where we’ll deal with whatever shit we need to.”
It was at church that he handed out the jobs for each of the men to do the next week. He liked to share the workload so no one got pissy.
Gunner hated dealing with pissy attitudes. Their legal businesses—from the strip club to the massage parlor, and some investments in the locals as well where they got a share of the profits— all came with responsibilities, and he made sure each of them had an equal share in dealing with it. He was the one that dealt with the cash and overall running of each investment. When people heard his name, they all cowered, and that had its advantages.
His men left, and he put his money in the inside of his jacket. He stood looking out of the window, about to call John when he got a knock on the door.
Kent was there. “Mrs. Williams is here to see you.”
“Send her in.”
The door opened wider.
“No one is to disturb us,” Gunner said.
Scarlett stuck out like a sore thumb. She wore another dress, this one blue with a flower on it.
“Do you like flowers?” he asked.
“Yes, why?”
“I just realized you always wear something with flowers.”
She glanced down at her dress and chuckled. “I find them incredibly beautiful. It’s why I’m always looking for a new variety to plant. I think I drive John insane with how much I love them.”
“That isn’t possible.”
“Driving John crazy?”
“Yes.”
She smiled, and damn he’d missed it for the past five days.
“Bennie and Carlos are fine. They’ve been staying with us, and I’ve been dropping them off at school.”
“I bet they loved that.”
Scarlett shrugged. “It’s what I’d do for my own children. There’s a parent-teacher conference next Friday. It has something to do with building careers or something like that.” She reached into her bag and pulled out some papers. “These are the letters they both had explaining it.”
He took the letters from her, grazing his fingers against hers as he did.
Gunner watched her, and through her dress he saw her nipples harden. “Does John know you’re here?”
“Yes. He was the one that told me to come here and to let you know what was going on.”
“Were my boys in any way disrespectful to you?” He asked for them to keep an eye, and it had been John who said he was to bring the boys over so that they could care for them.
“No. They were really good. They eat a lot, which was really nice.”
Gunner: I want to touch your wife.
He sent the text from his pocket. He didn’t need to look at the keyboard to know where the keys were.
“They’re constantly eating me out of home. I better stop off at the grocery store.”
“I can do that for you if you’d like.”
“We could do it together?”
“Sure. I don’t mind.”
His cell phone buzzed. “I’ve just got to see this.” He pulled his cell phone out, and there in black and white was the answer he’d been wanting.
John: Touch her.
Putting his cell phone on the table, he stared at her. “Come here.”
“What?”
“You heard.”
She took a step toward him, and he removed her bag from her shoulder, placing it on the floor beside him.
Putting a hand on her hip, he pulled her closer so that she was standing between his spread legs.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“What I want to do.” He ran his hand down her back, gripping her ass. It was so full and ripe. Fucking perfect. Her hands went to his chest but didn’t push him away. “I’ve missed you. Five days away from you after feeling you come all over my cock is too damn long.”
“Gunner … what?”
“John wants this, baby. He wants you to be mine just as you’re his.” He grabbed his cell phone. She wasn’t a woman to stray, and as she took it from his hands, he saw her shake just a little.
“Do you like my husband?” she asked.
“You know I do. He’s my best friend.” Taking the cell phone from her hands, he placed it on the table beside him. Cupping her cheek, he sank his fingers into her hair, tilting her head back up. “I wished you’d been mine.” He wasn’t going to hold anything back.
Gripping the back of her neck with his other hand, he slammed his lips down on hers, taking the kiss he’d been wanting to take for some time, and he didn’t want to let her go, not for a fucking second did he want to.
Fire consumed him, as did raging need. He wanted her more than anything else.
She opened her mouth, and he plunged his tongue inside, wanting whatever she’d fucking give him. It was like a drug he couldn’t escape from, nor did he want to. His cock swelled, and the moan that escaped her just sent his need for her up another notch.
“Fuck, baby, you have no idea what I want to do to you,” he said.
“What do you want to do?”
“How about I show you?”
Spinning her around, he lifted her up and placed her on the edge of the desk, pushing the dress up her thighs. Drawing her back to the edge of the table, he pushed the dress all the way up to her waist. Gripping the edge of her lace panties, he tore them off, putting them in his pocket as he did.
“Tell me what you want,” he said.
“I want you to touch me.”
He slid a finger between her folds, finding how soaking wet she was. “Oh, baby, is this all for me?” He slid a finger inside her, then another. She was so tight, and he couldn’t believe how fucking lucky his friend was.
Now it’s your luck as well.
You’ve finally got Scarlett beneath you. She’s wet, take her.
He sat down in his chair, very much aware that this was where he gave church. Every time he sat in this spot, he’d remember what he was about to do.
Spreading her thighs wide, he opened her pussy and licked across her slit. She cried out his name as he took her nub between his teeth, sucking it hard.
The pleasure echoed off the walls as he licked and sucked her clit, driving his fingers in deep. Over and over again, he fucked her, feeling her cunt tighten around him. He didn’t want to stop, and only when she came, screaming his name, did he release her clit.
Not for long though.
Pulling his cock out of his pants, he winced at the jolt of pain from rushing. He stood up, placed the tip at her entrance, and slammed deep within her.
This time she cried out and sat up on the table.
He grabbed her hands, wrapping them around his neck as he filled her.
“Look at my cock, Scarlett. It’s my dick inside you, fucking you, claiming you.”
She glanced down, and her pussy tightened, making them both groan.
“Fuck, you have no idea how much I’ve imagined you being here, on this table, taking my cock. Do you like it?”
“Yes.”
He pressed her down to the table, lifting her legs up so they were against his chest. With his hands on her hips, he fucked her harder, going deeper than before. He couldn’t help but watch as his cock filled her. The way her pussy opened up around his cock made it difficult for him to concentrate.
Over and over, he fucked her.
Five days without her didn’t have him lasting very long, and with a few short thrusts, he filled her to the hilt, pumping his cum deep inside her.
She could be pregnant now.
The moment he had that thought, he was overcome by guilt.
She took each pulse, each wave of his cum, and afterward, she smiled at him. “I guess that answers my other question.”
“Which is?”
“If things would be awkward. John asked me to come over. He said I needed to see you.”
He didn’t want to pull out of her.
Gunner liked the way she felt around his cock.
After a few seconds had passed, and he couldn’t have a reason, he placed his hand against her stomach, wondering. He’d never be able to step back if she got pregnant. That shit would be impossible.
“What is it?” she asked, placing a hand over his.
“It’s nothing.”
Pulling out of her, he took a seat, and then told her to wait. Placing her feet on his knees, he wanted to be the one to fill her with a child. Not IVF. Not some fucking doctor. Him. He wanted to do what John couldn’t, and in doing so, create a place in both of their worlds for himself. To know that the baby they were pretending was John’s, would be his.
He watched as his cum came to her entrance, and reaching out, he pushed it back inside, wanting her to keep it all.
When it came to Scarlett and to John, he was a selfish bastard who wanted a lot more from them both.
****
“Did you like it?” John asked.
He sipped at his wine, watching as his wife walked around the kitchen, putting her groceries away.
“Yes, I did.” She paused with a cauliflower in her hands and turned toward him. “Do you like it? Knowing that he touched me? That he fucked me?”
“That he made you come, screaming his name?” he asked.
She nodded.
“Yes, it does. Especially the end when you told me that he pushed his cum back inside you, and then made you wear the panties again.” They’d also gone shopping, but he knew what Gunner had been trying to do. He was trying to get her pregnant. It was part of their plan.
She put the last of the vegetables away and moved toward him. “You’re way too kinky.” She kissed his lips.
“You’re worried about something.”
He felt it in her kiss.
“This is all just a little scary, okay? You, me, Gunner. It’s not something I was ever prepared for.”
“And it has you scared?”
“Yes, of course it does. I don’t … I don’t want to lose you. I love you, John.”
He put his wineglass down and cupped her cheek. “I love you too. I’m not going to let this ruin us. It’s what we both want. I know you got off on Gunner, that you loved his face between your thighs.”
She sighed. “Fine.”
“Do you trust me?” he asked.
“Yes. You know I do.”
“Strip naked.”
“What?”
“You heard me, strip. I want to see.”
He sipped at his wine and watched as she removed the dress and clothes that he’d given her. Taking her hand, he led her out onto the dining room table. It wasn’t set yet, as they planned to eat dinner in the kitchen. Gunner wasn’t coming tonight because he was spending some time with his kids.
Lifting her up onto the edge of the table, he smiled at her. “He did this?”
“Yes.”
Opening her thighs, he sat down on his chair. She tilted her head to watch him. “And this?”
“Yes.”
He ran his fingers through the fine hairs of her pussy, knowing that Gunner had come deep inside her, that some of that was him.
His cock threatened to burst through the seams.
Secrets were much easier to keep and deny when they weren’t facing you. Unable to resist, he spread the lips of her pussy open and leaned forward, touching her clit with his tongue. She tasted incredible, and his own arousal mounted, knowing that Gunner had been inside her, tasted her, and his cum was also mixed with hers.
Maybe he was a sick bastard wanting to suck Gunner’s cock, to taste him as his cock was covered in Scarlett’s taste. There were a lot of things he wanted, but right now, he wanted to prove to his wife that he didn’t feel jealous, that he was aroused, and he wanted her to be the same.
He slid his tongue across her clit, stroking her. He felt her shake, and he pressed a finger inside her, thrusting in deep. She was so wet, and he knew it was because of a mixture of their cums.
With his other hand, he ran it up her thighs, gripping the flesh of her hip, feeling her moan and shake against him as he bit down on her clit.
She arched up, crying out his name as he fucked her pussy with his fingers. He wanted his cock inside her.
Pulling away, he quickly opened his pants, pulling out his cock, and in one quick thrust, he was deep inside her. Closing his eyes, he felt her pussy clench around him. He knew what Gunner loved, and what he’d always loved about his wife.
She never held herself back. Even when they argued, she never made him work to please her. She wanted to be fucked just as he wanted to fuck her. This was where they could always come together, and their passion matched each other.
“You’re so fucking beautiful, and I wished I could have been there, baby.” He pulled out only to slam back inside. With each thrust she moaned his name. the sounds echoing off the wall, driving his desire for her even higher. He didn’t want to let her go.
In and out, he pounded her pussy. Her cunt tightened around him as he felt her orgasm near.
He slid his fingers across her clit, watching and waiting for her to come apart. When her orgasm came, he held her close as she shook in his arms. Driving his dick inside her, he felt every inch of her milking him.
When it was over, he picked her up, pulling her into his arms as he sat down in his chair. Stroking her hair, kissing her neck, he breathed in her vanilla scent. This woman, the love of his life, meant the world to him.
“I’m scared,” she said.
“What about?”
“That you’re going to leave me. I know I should be hard about it and not care, but I do.” She pulled back and stared at him. “I love you more than anything in the world.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Scarlett. You’re mine. You belong to me. Most men would let you go, to find what you needed, who could give you what you wanted, but I’m not a gentleman. With you I’m going to be so fucking selfish because I don’t want to lose you.”
Her lip wobbled. “I like you selfish.”
“Seeing you with Gunner, knowing you’re with him, I’m not jealous and I’m not afraid. I like it. It makes me hot for you. You do trust me?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I know I can trust him above everything else. He’s my best friend.”
“Why didn’t you join the club?” she asked.
“It’s not really my scene. I’ve got other commitments.”
“You don’t want it?”
“Gunner was away for five nights. I couldn’t be away that long from you, baby. Never.”
She cupped his face, kissing his lips. “Do you love Gunner?”
He stared into her eyes, knowing she was searching for something. “Yes.”
“Have you and Gunner ever … done anything?”
“No, we haven’t.”
“Do you want to?”
He cupped her face and kissed her lips. Sliding his tongue into her mouth, he felt her body respond to his. “I’ve got a few things to do. Why don’t you head upstairs, get ready for bed? I’ll join you in a minute.”
“Okay.”
She pressed her head to his. “I don’t know if I’ll ever look at this dining room table the same way again.”
He laughed. “I’ve fucked you on it enough times.”
“I know. This felt different.”
John eased her off his lap and kissed her one last time, watching her go. He and Gunner had never fucked each other. There had been touches, but nothing like that. Running fingers through his hair, he knew without a doubt that Scarlett would continue to ask questions. He also knew keeping stuff from her like getting Gunner to make her pregnant would hurt her.
He was doing the right thing.
He truly believed that.
Glancing down at his cock, he tucked himself back into his pants before cleaning the table.
He had to be careful with how he dealt with Scarlett and Gunner. The last thing he wanted to do was ruin what he hoped to build.
****
“Thank you, Mrs. Williams,” Daniel said, taking the toy out of her hand.
Scarlett smiled at the little boy and stood up. She’d just fixed the toy car for the seventh time that day, but she didn’t mind. Providing all the kids were happy then she was more than happy.
Moving across the play area, she straightened the books, picking up two that had been thrown on the floor. Next, she straightened up the chairs, and finally sat down to watch as one of the girls put together a puzzle. She handed each piece to Fiona, being careful not to interfere or to show her where the piece went. The children had to learn to do the basics themselves.
She loved her job, watching kids, taking care of them, being mindful of what they needed while also being firm when they pushed too far.
“Scarlett, phone call.”
Glancing over at Mary, the woman who owned and ran the day care, she got to her feet and smiled. “Did they say who it was?”
“No.”
From the snooty way she responded Scarlett knew it was Gunner. Mary had made her opinions known about the MC. Scarlett didn’t agree with them, but like she pointed out, her husband was friends with Gunner and they’d been in the service together. She was sure Mary was waiting for any opportunity to fire her.
“Hello,” she said.
“Scarlett, so sorry to do this to you. I just got a call from the principal. Bennie’s been suspended, and I need you to go and pick him up. I’ve already spoken to the principal, and I’ll deal with him later. John’s in a bind, and the boys are busy. Do you mind?”
“No, I don’t mind. What about Carlos?”
“He’s not been suspended.”
“You want me to pick him up as well?” she asked.
“If you don’t mind. I know it’s asking a lot.”
She chuckled. “It’s not asking much of anything. I can get them. Don’t worry. I’ll feed them as well.”
“Thanks, Scarlett.”
“No problem. I better go.” She didn’t like the way Mary was shooting daggers toward her.
Hanging up the phone, she made her way over to Mary. “I’ve got to go and do a favor. Can I take the rest of the day off? I can work all day Saturday.”
“You shouldn’t be mingling with the likes of them. Bad news, the lot of them.”
Scarlett gritted her teeth, not wanting to get into this argument today. She just wanted to leave so she could pick up Bennie.
Staring at Mary, she waited for the other woman to finish before she let her go. Mary had a bad streak inside her when it came to the Satan’s Demons MC. Scarlett didn’t know why it was there, or even what the cause was.
There were times she did expect Mary to fire her, but each time she waited for it, it never came. She didn’t even know if Mary could fire her for an association with a club outside of work.
Either way, she didn’t want to risk it, just in case she was in some way able to fire her. This wasn’t about trying to piss Mary off.
Once outside, she went straight to her car. Climbing inside, she made her way to the high school without any detours. She wondered why Cherry hadn’t been called. There was no reason for her to double check. The school may have already called her and then Gunner. Whatever the reason, it wasn’t up to her. She just hoped Bennie didn’t mind her picking him up.
She parked her car, getting as close to the main doors as she could. Making her way inside, she went straight toward reception, and as she rounded the corner, she spotted Bennie, and she gasped at what she saw. His face was a mess. There was no other word for it. His eye was already swollen, and he had a busted-up lip.
She went to her knees before him. “Bennie, honey, are you okay?”
“Hey, Mrs. Williams,” he said, not looking surprised to see her.
“Did your dad tell you I was coming?”
“Yeah, he did.”
“You need to sign him out.” The receptionist cleared her throat, and Scarlett glared at the other woman.
“I expect whoever did that to him has already left?” she asked.
The woman paled.
“That’s okay. Gunner, you know, the President of the local MC, said he’d be coming to talk with you all.” She didn’t care that the woman now had a tinge of green. She was so angry at the woman behind the desk that she could fucking spit. Bennie was just a boy. Admittedly, he looked more like a man, but still. They all had a responsibility to those in their care, and this was what happened. Oh, if Bennie was her son, they wouldn’t hear the end of it.
A twinge of pain struck her, as she couldn’t say anything. Bennie wasn’t her son.
“I’m sure the principal will be waiting.”
“Good. I cannot believe you wouldn’t even offer him a trip to the nurse or something like that. He’s an eighteen-year-old boy.”
“Who started a fight,” the receptionist said.
“Last time I checked that didn’t stop anyone from being taken care of in this country. You should be ashamed of yourself.” She signed her name, glared at the woman, and then waited for Bennie to stand.
He tried to hide the wince, but she caught it, and it only served to piss her off.
“You look like you’re going to go all ninja on her ass.”
“I should. I cannot believe this. No one saw you.”
“I turned it down, Mrs. Williams. I didn’t want that nurse poking me or shit.” He glanced at her. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine. I’m not some delicate girl made out of china, Bennie. I’ve been around grown men who swore worse than damn sailors.”
He chuckled and gasped.
“Are you in a lot of pain?” she asked.
“It’ll be fine. It’s only because I had to sit out there, and I’ve tensed up. Dad told me not to move until you arrived.”
She opened the car door for him. “I came as soon as I got the call.”
“I appreciate it. I called Dad because Mom never picks up. Even when we lived with her, she never did.”
“I’m so sorry, honey.”
“Why are you sorry?” he asked.
“Your parents?”
“They’ve been divorced a long time. I don’t have any problem with it. You shouldn’t worry either. I don’t. Mom’s a first-class bitch, and from what my classmates like to gossip about, she’s also a whore. It’s like she treats her body like it’s a room their dads can use for a price.”
She winced, hearing the pain in his voice as he climbed into the car. She didn’t think this was about the fight either.
Climbing behind the wheel, she started up the car, driving carefully to his father’s place. She’d been there several times with John over the years.
“I’m sorry.”
He chuckled. “You don’t have to be. It’s not your fault my mom’s a bitch.”
“It’s just that … it must hurt not having your mom come and pick you up and you have to have me. I know I’m not always great company.”
“I like you, Mrs. Williams. You’ve always got a smile on your face, and you’re the first person who stuck up for me today.”
“Please, call me Scarlett. I feel really old with Mrs. Williams,” she said. “I’m the only one who stuck up for you?”
“I should tell you that I fought Finn Goldman today.”
She glanced over at him. She knew who the Goldman family was. One of the richest families in town. “What about?”
“He was talking shit about my mom. How he’d taken her out for a test drive. That shit didn’t bother me. I’ve been dealing with that most of my life. I’ve seen the men come and go from her home more times than I could count. I’m not an idiot, I know what she’s doing. It was the moment he started talking shit about the club and about my dad. I don’t like that kind of shit.”
“Oh, what an asshole.”
Bennie chuckled. “I think that’s the first time I’ve heard you cuss, Mrs. Wil—Scarlett.”
She smiled along with him. “Well, I’m glad you did what you did. You stood up for what you believe in.”
“Shouldn’t you be telling me that fighting is bad?”
“Oh, it is. I know the Goldmans though, and they have sticks so far up their asses they’ve forgotten they’re normal people.” She didn’t like the Goldmans one bit. She’d seen them around town, and they always looked down their nose at anyone less fortunate than them. It was like they were personally offended by poverty or lack of wealth of any kind.
They made it to Gunner’s house, and she climbed out, waiting for Bennie before locking the car. Bennie had his keys, and he let them inside the house.
When he made to move toward the stairs, she stopped him.
“Don’t even think about it, boyo. Just because the school didn’t care doesn’t mean that I don’t. Kitchen, now, and I’ll grab the first aid kit.”
Once she had her stuff, she made her way into the kitchen, and Bennie had removed his shirt.
She saw the bruises on his chest.
“This all from the fight?”
“Yep.”
“Damn, that looks like it hurt.” She slapped a hand across her mouth.
“It really did,” he said, laughing.
Opening the first aid kit, she grabbed what she needed and looked back at him, seeing him waiting.
Stepping up toward him, she began to clean some of the dried blood from his face. He didn’t moan or flinch once.
“Your dad will be real proud that you stood up for yourself.”
“He’s going to be pissed that I’m suspended for two weeks.”
“Let him deal with that. I still don’t like that this Finn guy got to go back to class. Did he look as bad as you?”
“Worse.”
“And they let him go back to class?”
“He went to the hospital. I imagine they’re doing surgery to repair that pretty face of his.”
“So … just out of … curiosity … was saving your father’s reputation the only reason you delivered him a smackdown or was there another reason?”
She saw the look in his eyes and knew it had something else to do with it. “It’s fine if it is protecting your dad and the club. I’ve known you some time, Bennie, and I know for a fact that you’ve not gotten into a fight like this over the club before. What was different?”
“He was bullying a girl.”
Scarlett looked at him.
“Okay.”
“She’s a really pretty girl, but she’s on the chunky side and … I didn’t like the way he acted. I saw tears in her eyes as he pushed her, making her drop her books and stomping her favorite into the mud. I lost it. Like, totally lost it, and I was on him. I don’t even think I gave him a warning. I just saw fucking red. He was hurting someone, and I had to do something.”
“You’re a good kid, Bennie.” She smiled at him. “There, all better. Right, you will be doing homework. I will be downloading worksheets so that you don’t miss class, and then I’ll be making dinner before we have to go and get Carlos. How does that sound?”
“You don’t have to stay.”
“How does it sound?” she asked, hands on hips, giving him the best “stern voice” she could muster.
“It sounds awesome.”
“Good. Go and get cleaned up.”
She allowed him to leave as she got ahead with the laundry and the few odd chores around the house.