Chapter Seventeen
Aries said little on the way home. Her mind was spinning with how friendly Lucian's family were. She didn’t understand what had made him go into the MC lifestyle. It seemed to her he could have been anything he wanted. Why he chose this lifestyle bothered her a bit, and she wondered if he’d ever leave it.
Lucifer touched her thigh lightly, startling her. “Aries, so did you like my parents? I know they liked you.”
“They’re very nice; your mother is beautiful and very kind. Your dad seems to be a no-nonsense type of guy. I had a good time, and so did Jewel. She’s sleeping already.” She kept her voice low.
“I’ll carry her upstairs, and you can put her right to bed. So Leigh is crashing with us?” He lit a cigarette and waited for her answer.
“Until she can find a place to rent. I don’t understand why Sleaze doesn’t take care of her. Where was she supposed to go? You have apartments, why don’t you rent her one?” She prayed she didn’t flip his switch into the Lucifer mode.
“Sleaze is strange about her, he loves her, but I don’t get involved with my bro’s personal life. I like Leigh; she’s stood by him always. I don’t know how he’d like her living so close to his place, though. He likes to party, and whatever you see, you can’t tell her. It would only hurt her badly, plus piss him the hell off.” He ground the cigarette out and pulled into the back lot.
A bunch of bikers were hanging out by the grill. Leigh was not among them, but there were some of the girls Aries had seen at Hot Tramps. She was aware they’d be staring at her, and she hoped Lucifer would get Jewel upstairs quickly. Thankfully, he just nodded at them and got the child out of the car and into the apartment. He put Jewel on her bed and left Aries to get her changed and washed up.
Leigh wandered in and helped her get Jewel into her pajamas. Lizzy was already fast asleep, and they had to push her over to make room for Jewel. Aries went to change into jeans and a tank top while Leigh headed into the living room. She looked out the window and saw Lucifer was outside with his boys. His hair was blowing in the breeze, and he had a girl hanging too close to him. She felt her temper rise, how dare he fuck around with her upstairs. She pulled on her boots and winced at the pain in her hand. She hurried out of the bedroom and nearly bumped into Leigh.
Leigh put her hand out, “Where are you in a rush to get too?” She looked so sad that Aries almost stopped to comfort her.
“Outside to have a word with Lucifer. Maybe with some of those bitches down there too!” She flung the words over her shoulder as she hurried out the back door. Her boots hit the steps hard, and she stopped for a moment, watching as the chick gave Lucifer the joint they were passing around. Her temples throbbed as she thought of the nice night they’d just had, and here the asshole was hanging out with some bitch. She strutted over to the partying bikers; Lucifer had his back to her. Nobody paid much attention to her. She was furious at the two of them and even more determined to put an end to his using drugs around her and her daughter. She wondered if they had any common sense, the cops were always ready to bust them, and the smell of pot smoke was heavy in the air. What the fuck did they all think? That they could break the law and she and Leigh could lose their children and be alright with that? She would try her best not to make a scene, but she didn’t plan to live like this, and he’d have to make a choice. Even she knew you didn’t shit in your own backyard; Gunner had taught her that. She pushed the girl away from Lucifer as hard as she could, and she fell to the pavement hard, before he turned to look at her. He was high as a kite, and rage built up inside of her even more.
“Babe, I didn’t know you were coming outside to party.” He smiled at her and frowned when he noticed the girl on the ground next to him.
“I came outside to tell you I’m going back to my aunt’s house. I’m sure she won’t mind if I take Leigh with me.” She looked at Sleaze with a girl on his lap and gave him a dirty look.
Lucifer looked confused. “Why would you do that? We just came from there, and you were putting the kid to bed. What the fuck crawled up your ass?”
Aries' foot kicked at the girl on the ground. “She did, I don’t share. Remember what I told you? I was serious; I’ll be back tomorrow to get my stuff.” She turned away from him, her heart hurt, and she was furious. She walked away with her head held high, but she didn’t make it to the steps before Lucifer had her by the arm.
“You don’t come downstairs and start shit, babe. Ain’t happening, you leaving, we’ve been through this before.” He was angry, and he pulled the keys to the tattoo shop out of his pocket and held her arm tighter as he opened the door. He pushed her inside and flipped on a light. His eyes ran up and down her body, as he pushed her through the shop to the couch. He pushed her down and sat next to her, still grasping her arm tightly.
“I’m not Leigh; you don’t make a fool out of me. I’m sick of the drugs around my daughter, and you’re going to disrespect me in our backyard? No. I’ve lived like this before, and you’re just like Gunner. Fuck you, and let go of my arm, Lucifer. We’re all done, and I’d say it was nice, but it was a learning experience for me. Reminded me of why I need to stay away from men like you.” She tried to twist away from him.
“Babe, stop. I wasn’t doing shit with that chick. Smoking a joint is doing drugs? What the fuck is wrong with you?” He looked at her like she was crazy. He pulled her closer to him and let go of her arm to grab her chin. His lips quieted her words as he kissed her, forcing her mouth open as his tongue slipped inside seeking hers. It was a brutally rough kiss, and he meant it to be. He felt her going limp against him, and his lips traveled down her neck. He knew how to stop her bull shit, and he mentally cursed himself for letting Sandy get so close to him. Aries was a jealous woman, and he liked that about her. She wasn’t allowed to leave him, and she needed to stop thinking he’d let her go.
Aries tried pushing at his chest, but he was too strong for her. He had her pinned to the couch, and she couldn’t move. She slipped back to doing what she’d done with Gunner. She let her body go still, and she started to count in her head. If she could block out his words, maybe he’d leave her alone. She kept her eyes closed and hoped he’d do as Gunner used to do, give up and walk away if he didn’t slap the shit out of her.
Lucifer looked at her and saw she had her eyes closed and seemed to be out of it. He got up and went to get her some water. The front door was locked, and she couldn’t escape him. What the hell had gotten into her, he wondered. He felt around in his pocket for pills. He found a Quaalude, looked at it and figured it would calm her ass down the fastest. He brought it to her with the paper cup of water.
“Aries, take this and calm the fuck down. I wasn’t disrespecting you. I love you. I was just smoking a joint. You belong to me, and you’re not leaving me so get that shit outta your head. I get you don’t want the speed and coke around Jewel. I’ll work on that. Now open your mouth and take this pill or I'll shove it down your throat.” His voice was harsh, and she opened her eyes finally.
“I don’t want it. I want to go home to my aunt’s house. I can’t do this again. I’m getting my baby, and we’re going. I don’t want you anymore. This life isn’t for me. I’m not fighting over a man, ever. You’re not worth the effort, Lucian. You’re full of broken promises and a bunch of twisted lies; all wrapped up in a hot package. I know just what you are and that girl warned me. I got into you too fast with your smooth talking bullshit, and I should have known better.” She didn’t yell; her voice was full of sadness.
Lucifer took the opportunity to pop the pill in her mouth and kept his hand firmly on it so she couldn’t spit it out. She had to swallow it, or the damn thing would melt on her tongue. He handed her the water, and she took a sip before tossing the rest into his face.
He looked at her in shock and then laughed at her. She glared at him, waiting for the expected slap to come. Instead, he sat down and pulled her on his lap.
He rubbed the water off his face and buried his nose into her sweet smelling hair.
“Did you think I’d melt like the wicked witch? I’m more like the devil, and the water trick doesn’t work on me. Let the pill do its magic. You’ll like this one, fucking hard to get, though. Gotta get it from Mexico now.” He sounded calmer and more in control.
“What the hell did you give me?” Aries wanted to get up, but he was still holding her.
“A Quaalude, you might know it as a 714. It’s not easy to get them now but it will calm you down, and you’ll stop the nonsense about leaving. I told you, you’ll never be with any man but me. Now get your ass up, and we’ll go up the back stairs to the apartment.” He pushed her off his lap to the side of the couch and got up.
Aries stared at him standing before her and felt lightheaded. She’d never done one of these, had only heard of them and she let him pull her up and off the couch. He guided her upstairs and into the bedroom. She stood still as he undressed her and put one of his big tee shirts over her head. He pulled the covers down, and she slipped between the satin sheets. She felt him kiss her lips before he left the room. She closed her eyes and let herself fall into whatever the hell drug he’d given her.
***
Lucifer brushed past Leigh and went back outside to party. He thought about Aries in bed and chuckled to himself. She had been like a spitting cat insisting she was going to leave him. He admired that in her but she was going to learn to respect his word, or things would be changing for her until she understood she no longer had any say in her life. She might think she did, but his word was law, and she’d obey him. Occasionally he’d give in to her demands but only if he felt it was needed. He walked over to his brothers who were grinning at him.
Sleaze shot him a sour expression, “She tell Leigh, I was with Carrie? This isn’t gonna work with Leigh staying upstairs and me partying. She’ll be nagging at me, and we’ll start fighting.”
“Where did you expect Leigh to go Sleazy? Her mom tossed her and your daughter out.” Lucifer took the bottle of whiskey handed to him and chugged from it.
“I don’t know. After Aries kicked Sandy, the bitches all left, so it doesn’t look like we’re partying much tonight unless we go to a bar. I hope you straightened your ol lady out Pres.” He rubbed his hand across his chin, thinking of where they could go.
Charlie scowled, “Don’t talk about Aries like that. You’ve been leading Leigh on for years, and she’s a good girl. If you aren’t gonna make her an ol lady, let her go or better yet, let one of us have a chance with her.” He folded his arms across his chest and stared belligerently at Sleaze.
Sensing a fight coming on, Lucifer tried to nip it before he had bros fighting. “Charlie has a point if you don’t plan to put your property patch on her, let another brother have a chance or set her free. She can’t live with us forever, so Aries wants her to rent an apartment here.” He waited for the blowback, that was sure to come.
“An apartment in this building?” Sleaze couldn’t believe his president was considering renting to Leigh.
Lucifer watched Sleaze carefully. “Yeah, here. I need Aries happy, and you’re always worried about Leigh’s safety, so if I rent her one at the other end of the building, she wouldn’t be right up your ass. Why don’t you bite the bullet and step up? You love her.” He ran his hand through his hair.
Sleaze stomped off without another word, and Charlie roared with laughter.
***
“Aries, wake up, you’ve gotta call your friend Melissa. Your aunt has called here three times. Said it's very important and you’ve got to call, Melissa has been calling her nonstop all morning.” Lucifer shook her awake.
“Go away; I was having the best dreams. I don’t want to call anyone. I want to go back to sleep.” Aries whined. She rubbed her eyes and looked at Lucifer and saw his face was concerned. “Whatever pill you forced down my throat gave me the best sleep I’ve had in years.” She sat up and saw the paper in his hand. “Is that Missy’s number?”
“You aunt said it was very important. Use the phone in here, so you get privacy.” He handed her the paper and sat on the edge of the bed.
Aries sat up and thought he wasn’t giving her any privacy but decided fighting with him would cause more problems. She reached for the phone and pushed in her friend’s number.
Melissa picked up on the first ring. “Hello?”
“Missy, what is going on? I was sleeping, are you okay?” Aries wondered what could be going on with her friend.
“Ara, I’ve got some bad news for you although it might be good news. I don’t know. There was a prison fight and Gunner was killed. I heard his throat was slit.” Her voice sounded shaky and scared.
Aries turned white and didn’t say anything for a few moments.
“Arabella, listen I’ve got to get out of here. Every bar I’m dancing at, the Devil’s Grime MC is showing up. They’re asking about you and Jewel. Can I come to stay with you? I’m scared to death.” Missy was frantic sounding.
“Of course, you can come here, just hold on a second okay?” She covered the phone with her hand and looked at Lucifer. “Gunner got himself killed in a prison fight; his club is going after my best friend, she wants to come here. She is a great dancer, taught me how to dance. Lucifer please, we’ve got to help her. I promise I’ll stop trying to leave you if you let her come here. They’re asking her about Jewel and me.” She pleaded, looking at him with those beautiful green eyes.
Lucifer turned away so she couldn’t see the smile of satisfaction on his face. Gunner was dead, and his dad had come through as promised. Aries wanted a favor and was promising to behave if he gave her this. He’d get a new dancer out of the deal and make Aries work in the tattoo shop. He turned and gave her a nod.
“Sure babe, have your friend head on down. Let me know when she’s leaving, and I’ll make sure she gets an escort out of PA, and I'll send a few of my boys to meet her, so she gets here safely.” He reached over and ruffled her hair before leaving her to talk to her friend.
What great news for him and a way to control his ol lady without her catching on. There was just one problem, Leigh, and Lizzy. He didn’t want Aries going across town to visit them. Sleaze was going to have to suck it up when he found out he was going to rent Leigh a two bedroom apartment. He stood looking at the wall in the living room. On the other side of the wall was a small one bedroom apartment, he’d originally planned to offer to Charlie. If he had a door put in Charlie would have his own place if he wanted to bring a slut home and still have access to Aries and Jewel. Missy could have his room and Aries would be happy. His eyes sparkled, and his grin was wicked.
***
Aries sighed in thanks as she watched Lucifer close the door behind him. He was good to her, why she doubted him and thought about leaving him was stupid on her part.
“Missy, pack up and call me when you’re almost ready to leave. My ol man, Lucifer is going to get you an escort out of there, and his club will meet you and bring you here to us. Jewel is going to be so happy to have her Aunt Missy back. I think you’ll love Glidden, I do.”
“Ara, you call Juliette, Jewel now?” Missy wondered how much her friend had changed since she’d seen her last.
“Lucifer calls her his jewel, he likes it better, and I use Aries all the time. I started dancing under that name, and everyone calls me that now except my aunt. You’re going to love it here. Lucifer will let you work in his club, Hot Tramps. I made so much in tips; I bet you’ll be rolling in money. Get packing and call me when you’re ready to leave.” She rattled off the telephone number before hanging up.
She stretched lazily thinking about how much fun it would be to have Missy here and how Leigh and Ria would like her. Suddenly, it occurred to her that she had nowhere to put her friend. She got up quickly and tossed on shorts, leaving Lucifer’s tee shirt on and went to find him.