Chapter 27
Daisy
King’s Security arrived bright and early with a small crew of three, and I was surprised to see that BK was one of them. He not only oversaw the work his two employees did, he worked right alongside of them. I knew Jimmy and Cody weren’t members of Phantom Riders because they didn’t have the bad-boy vibe going on, and they weren’t wearing cuts. That’s when I learned that some of the businesses owned by members of the club were run by what they referred to as civilians.
Before the end of the day my business and home was protected and monitored as BK had insisted in giving me an upgrade that included outside surveillance cameras. When I asked him about the price he waved me off, saying it was a special he was running, but I knew Big John had a hand in it. It made me warm inside thinking that he worried over my safety.
His possessiveness didn’t bother me as it had with Paul. Paul had made me feel like an object, something he’d acquired and didn’t intend to give up. Big John made me feel special, and protected, and even though he hadn’t said the words, I knew that he cared about me.
And I was falling in love with him.
Like a tornado, he’d entered my life and become a big part of it from the start. He knew what he wanted, and though he’d been bossy about it thinking about his rough ways now made me smile. No, there’d been no wooing with flowers and candy or dinner dates with Big John. He’d simply stated his wants and then taken them, claimed me, without apologies. Thinking about the last time he’d had his hands and mouth on me, I shivered.
“You cold?”
Jasmine’s voice pulled me from my quiet wanderings. I found myself staring blindly out the window behind the receptionist desk. We didn’t really need the desk, and I made a mental note to replace it with a small sitting area.
“Hello?” her impatient voice called.
I chuckled. “I’m sorry, I’ve been thinking.”
“Yeah, I wonder about what,” she snickered, sweeping the floor around her station. “Or who.” She shot me a knowing wink.
“Actually, I was thinking about getting rid of the desk and setting up a small waiting area there. We really don’t need a receptionist desk.”
Jasmine stood there for a moment, staring at where the desk was. “Yeah, I can totally see that. A little couch with a table and some flowers. Maybe a massage chair.”
My eyes widened. “I like the idea of the massage chair. For those guests waiting while someone gets their hair done.” I met her eyes. “Good idea.”
She shrugged. “I’m not just another pretty face.”
I laughed. “No, you’ve certainly proved that you’re not.”
She began to sweep again. “So, when are the tanning beds arriving?”
“Well, the storm set delivery back a day but they should be here by the end of the week.”
“Good. I’m pale as a Mainer.” She bent and scooped up her pile of hair into a dustpan.
“You are a Mainer now,” I said unnecessarily. The phone in my back pocket vibrated letting me know that I was getting a text. I pulled it out and glanced down, smiling. It was Big John.
“Hey, beautiful."
“You must have the wrong girl.”
“Really? This isn’t the cute little girl from the salon down the road? The one with the big tits and round ass?”
“Watch yourself. I could choose to take that as an insult.”
“You know I love your tits and ass, baby.”
“Oh, yeah? How much do you love them?”
“I could suck on your tits all day. And the next time we fuck it will be your ass I stick my dick into.”
“I think I just had a mini orgasm.”
“Don’t say shit like that when I can’t get my hands on you.”
“It’s okay. My hands are on me.”
There was a long pause.
“Are you fucking with me?”
“Kind of.”
“That’s two punishments I owe you now. Never did get you for teasing me yesterday.”
“No, you were too busy fucking the breath out of me.”
“Hell, wish I was fucking you now. But that’s not why I’m texting.”
“What’s going on?”
“I won’t be around until late tonight. Have a job for the club.”
“Okay.”
“As soon as you close up for the day I want your ass back at the clubhouse.”
“Wow. Bossy much?”
“I mean it, baby. This is serious. If I’m worrying about you while I’m on the job I could get careless.”
I sobered at the thought. Careless meant mistakes, and I didn’t want Big John getting hurt. “Okay. I’ll get my ass to the clubhouse.”
“Good. You’ll be protected there until I get back.”
“Will you be back before morning?”
“If nothing goes wrong.”
“Be safe.”
“I will. Later.”
I breathed in deeply, wondering what he’d be doing for the club, knowing that as long as he was in my life this was how it would be. Me always wondering, praying that he returned unscathed. When he’d returned from his talk with Rock the afternoon before he’d been distracted and moody, refusing to tell me what it was about because it was club business. I already understood that club business between the brothers wasn’t shared with their women, or anyone else for that matter. I accepted that, and the reasons for it. But my wanting to smooth the worry wrinkles on his brow and help in some way had overruled any caution from pressing him further.
Realizing my concern over his quiet frame of mind he’d simply released a resigned breath, taken me into his arms and held me tight, and we’d curled up on the bed and just enjoyed being together. After a while we’d filled the silence with talk about one another, until the mood shifted and we’d grown aware of each other physically. Big John had fucked me into exhaustion, until it was all I could do to catch my breath, never mind asking questions. It had been enough.
“Was that the big Viking?” Jasmine joked, cleaning out one of the sinks.
I just smiled, and began to straighten up the products on the shelves. Customers seemed to have a habit of moving things around, or not placing them back where they’d got them.
“You can keep silent all you want but your face gives it away.”
“What are your plans tonight?” I asked grinning.
She shrugged. “Clay has to work at one of the clubs so I thought I’d go home. Haven’t been there for a few days and I’m sure my plants need watering. Clay’s going to come over after his shift.”
“Why don’t you come up for dinner before you go? I could make a quick pasta dish.” I hadn’t been upstairs since the day before but I was sure I had the ingredients to make salad and a small lasagna.
“Thought you had to get back to the club after we close?” Jasmine reminded me what I’d told her earlier, before Big John’s text.
“I think the idea is for me not to be alone. I’m sure if I head there after we eat it’ll be fine. Plus, I have the alarm now, we can activate it after we lock up for the day.”
“Okay. You know I love your pasta.”
“Let’s finish up and head upstairs.”
We worked in silence, doing the end of the day cleaning so that the salon would be ready for our first customer in the morning. Thelma and Cora Waterstone was our first customer in the morning and they could be counted on arriving at exactly eight o’clock. Thelma always looked the place over with a critical eye, too, and wasn’t shy about voicing a complaint when she saw a full trash can or dirt in the corner. I humored her. The woman was ninety years old, lived with her seventy-year-old daughter, and they were both so pathetically lonely that I felt sorry for them.
After about fifteen minutes we ceased what we were doing and gave each other a look. “We done?” Jasmine asked with a smile.
I looked around the place. Thankfully Betty and Jackie had cleaned their stations as usual before they’d left. “Think so.” I glanced up at the clock, it was ten till five. “Close enough.” I went to the door and was about to lock it when I noticed a truck parked next to Jasmine’s car. I recognized one of the bikers from the club, but couldn’t recall his name. I opened the door and he rolled down the window on his passenger side at the same time. “Can I help you with something?”
“No, ma’am. Just waiting to escort you to the clubhouse.”
Really? I shook my head realizing he’d been assigned to protect me. “I’m afraid you’re going to have a little wait. Jasmine and I are going to eat dinner before we leave. Would you like to come in and join us?”
“Thanks, but no thanks. I was told to sit here until you leave.”
His stubbornness made me smile. I closed the door and was about to lock it when I decided against it in case he had to come inside or changed his mind about dinner.
“What about the alarm?” Jasmine asked when I passed the keypad next to the door.
“There’s a biker sitting guard duty right outside,” I explained, walking her way. “Come on, you can make the salad while I make the lasagna.”
“Oh, I love your lasagna.”
We made our way upstairs and into my apartment. As was her habit Jasmine slipped off her shoes right inside the door and left them on the small carpet there. I’d told her that it wasn’t necessary but she’d said it was out of habit because her carpets were white, so I stopped arguing with her. I continued toward the kitchen.
“Ouch! Damn it!”
I swung back to Jasmine. She was hopping around on one foot and was pulling the other one up to examine it.
“I stepped on something,” she complained, looking closely at her injured foot. “Damn that hurt.”
I automatically looked down at the floor to see what it might have been. There was something there. I narrowed my eyes and studied it for a second, my blood turning cold when I realized what it was. Half of a pistachio shell was lying on the floor. I froze with fear at what that meant. I didn’t eat pistachios, but Paul did, and he had a habit of carrying around a handful in his pocket for whenever he wanted one.
“What’s wrong, honey?” My stricken expression must have alerted Jasmine that something was wrong. She laughed lightly. “I’m the one that hurt my foot.” My gaze finally rose to meet hers, and her smile disappeared instantly. “What is it?” She almost whispered the question, which revealed that she sensed something wasn’t right.
“Jasmine, get out!” She at least had a chance because she was still close to the door. I knew it was too late for me. Paul was already stepping into the room from the left of us, slightly out of Jasmine’s sight. “Run!” I screamed with panic.
She didn’t question me, or hesitate, turning to open the door we’d just closed. But that was as far as she got. Paul was on her in an instant, yanking her back by the back of her collar and then slamming and locking the door. In the same movement, he brought Jasmine forward and slammed her head into the door, knocking her out.
“Jasmine!” I cried out with fear, watching as Paul release her to drop to the floor. I rushed to where she’d fallen, my fear for her condition outweighing any fear for Paul’s unexpected appearance. “Jasmine!” I pulled her over onto her back.
An evil laugh, followed by a hand twisting in my hair and yanking my head up, brought my tearful gaze to his.
“Hello, darling.”
“Please don’t hurt her,” I begged, bringing a hand up to lessen the pressure of his hurtful hold.
“Then do as I say and she might live,” he said in a cold voice. “But you, well, I’m afraid your fucking that biker scum out in broad daylight sealed your fate.”
“So, it was you who shot at us!” I gasped.
“Not me, I wouldn’t have missed,” he confirmed, his tone indifferent. “But some worthless piece of shit I’d hired. Idiot rented a Cadillac. But I took care of him after he failed his assignment. I guess if you want something done right you do it yourself.”
I shook my head, tears falling down my cheeks. Because I knew then and there that he was going to kill me, and probably Jasmine, too. Pure evil was reflected in Paul’s cold, dead eyes, and the hate was a toxic cloud surrounding him. I knew that he was going to make me suffer. There was little humor in his eyes when he smiled the smile I’d come to hate and fear over the years.
“You know, don’t you. You know you screwed up. I wanted you back until I was shown a video of you screwing that filthy biker in his truck.” Without warning Paul backhanded me viciously across the mouth. “You had his dirty hands on you, his dirty cock inside you.” He backhanded me again. “I’m going to make you pay for that. By the time I’m done you’ll be begging me to kill you. And then when I’m done with you, I’m going after him.”
The next time Paul decided to hit me he did it with his fist. So, hard that I felt my jaw crack, and blood spewed from my mouth onto the wall and floor. Dizziness made me wobble on my knees and I fought to remain awake, but another fist to the face had me seeing stars and the next thing I knew I was falling into blackness.