Chelsea (The Club Girl Diaries Book 2) (24 page)

“Sit down, Chelsea,” he murmured, his posture now completely beginning to sag as he hung his head.

“I don’t—”

His hand slammed on the table. I flinched and stepped back. Even though the kitchen table was between us. Deacon wasn’t the man I thought he was. I wasn’t sure what he was capable of.

“Sit down...please.” I swallowed and pulled one of the chairs out from the table and shuffled into it. He did the same, keeping his eyes on me the whole time. “Gav, head back outside will you.”

“Sure!” I heard the door open and close and the lock flick closed again

“Talk,” I said sternly, trying to muster up some sort of strength.

He clasped his hands together in front of him. “Do you remember much about your parents?”

I felt the familiar turning in my gut, dredging up old memories is not something I enjoyed doing. Sure there were a few things, little snippets of what my life had been like before they died, but never enough to really put anything together. “I remember some things. My mom in the kitchen cooking, them racing in the backyard, the night they were killed. Other than that, no not really.”

“I knew them.” He cleared his throat. “I knew you.”

I frowned. “That’s not even possible.”

“Our dad’s worked together. They were friends.” He rolled his shoulders like he was trying to release some sort of tension. “We met a couple of times, but my parents were separated so I was more with my mom than my dad.”

“Why are you telling me this, Deacon? I don’t understand where you are going with this crazy talk.” My legs jiggled underneath the table. Hearing him speak of my parents was strange. I’d never met anyone who knew them. My mom was an only child and both her parents had passed away. My dad’s family, from what I gathered, didn’t have a great relationship with him and didn’t want me.

He didn’t say anything until I looked up again and our eyes met. “Your dad was with the DEA. Just like mine was. Just like I am now.”

My mouth went completely dry. “He was...I don’t...I don’t remember.” Tears started to well in my eyes. Talking about my parents was hard enough, but having someone sit here and tell me things about them that I didn’t even know, was sending my mind into a tailspin.

Was this real? Was he telling the truth?

“Our dads were very much alike. They chose not to bring their work home. Their jobs were dangerous and they tried their best not to let it affect us.”

I wanted so desperately to remember. Just something, a tiny flash that told me that he was telling the truth. I gripped the edge of the table. “How do I know? How do I know you’re telling me the truth, and this isn’t just some ploy to take the club down?”

I saw anger flash in his face and his fists clench. “My dad had to live through one of his best friends being murdered. Your father and your mother died because of that fucking club.” He slammed his fist on the table. “The same club that you’ve been whoring yourself out to for the past few years!”

I pushed back from the table and stood sharply. “It’s not true! I know them! You have no idea who they are or what they stand for. They wouldn’t do that!”

He laughed, but it wasn't filled with amusement. It was dark. “You’re so fucking wrapped up in their president you can’t see past the fact that they
are
criminals—fucking murderers! How would your parents feel, knowing you’re sleeping with the men who took them away from you?”

“Shut up! Just shut up! You have no fucking right to speak for them,” I screamed.

“Whether you’re with me or not, the evidence doesn’t lie. I’ll fucking prove it and I’ll destroy them,” he sneered, his lip curled in disgust. “You’ll thank me when you know the truth.”

The rumble of motorcycles coming down the street filled the apartment. My body filled with relief and I didn’t care what he had to say. I gripped my hair in my hands.

I knew these men.

I knew this wasn’t them.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

I knew it wouldn’t have taken long for word to get back to Optimus about gunshots at the gym. I glanced over at Deacon, who stood, arms folded in the middle of our little kitchen. I sighed and rubbed at my temples as I walked to the door.

I’d barely even flicked the lock when the door came swinging open, almost knocking me off my feet. My feet were off the floor before I had time to speak. One arm around my waist and a hand pressed against the back of my head.

“I got you, Blackbird,” he said quietly in my ear. “I got you.”

I clung to his leather, my body craving his smell, his touch, and his voice.

“Op, I’m okay,” I mumbled into his chest but at the same time I attempted to pull him even closer.

He lifted me off my feet, my legs unconsciously wrapping around his waist and my arms around his neck as he carried me further into the apartment. The heavy sound of boots followed us and I peeked over Op’s shoulder to see Leo, Blizzard, Slider and Ham fill the small space. The room was silent for a few minutes until Optimus slowly began to lower me to my feet.

It wasn’t long before he spun on Deacon. “What the fuck kind of shit are you into that you have people shooting up the front of your store?” he roared.

Obviously, he had no idea who had shot up the store and that they were actually there for me. “Op, that’s not it—”

“That’s rich considering they were after her, not me,” Deacon shot back. “Want to let me in on why the Italian Mafia has it out for Chelsea?”

Optimus stormed to him, but Deacon held his ground. I tried to get to them, but Leo held me back with two hands on my shoulders.

“And how the fuck would you know anything about the Italian Mafia,” Optimus growled, pointing at Deacon accusingly.

Deacon looked over Op’s shoulder with a smart ass smirk on his face. “He really hasn’t figured it out.”

Optimus gripped the front of Deacon’s shirt in his fists, lifted him off the ground and slammed him back against the door of my fridge. “I’m about five seconds away from putting a bullet in you myself if you don’t start talking—”

“Optimus, stop!” I yelled, trying to get away from Leo unsuccessfully.

“Five.”

I saw Deacon’s smug smirk as Op lowered him to the ground and reached into the waistband at the back of his jeans to pull out his piece. Deacon was just looking for an excuse to lock Optimus and the boys away. I wasn’t sure what his vendetta was, but he was about to get his wish.

“Four.”

“Optimus, don’t…please!” I pleaded.

“Three.”

“He’s a cop,” I yelled and Optimus froze instantly, turning his attention from the man in front of him back to me. My body sagged, but the relief was short-lived. “He’s a Goddamn cop.”

Deacon looked a little disappointed.

“Why the fuck are you hanging out with a cop, Chelsea?” he growled.

“I didn’t know until just before at the gym,” I said, my body completely exhausted and ready to crumble.

Optimus moved away from Deacon but kept his gun tucked in his hand. He watched him with only his eyes, even as his body moved into different angles.

“Get out,” he growled, gesturing for Deacon to use the door.

“No.” Deacon stood his ground, seemingly undisturbed by Optimus’ air of authority that filled the room.

“This has nothing to do with you,” Optimus told him, no longer letting his emotions control the situation. He was back to stern, and straight-faced. “You need to leave.”

“Chelsea works for me, and whether you like it or not, she’s my friend.” Deacon moved to walk around the table, but I threw myself in between them, pushing against his chest until he was back in the kitchen.

I heard a loud snort behind me. “Yeah sure,” Blizzard scoffed. “You’ve had a hard-on for Chelsea since well before she left the club. And you just conveniently had a job become available practically the day that she walked out on the club.”

“I knew there was something going down. She needed to be somewhere I could keep an eye on her since you all just seemed to let her go, knowing she was in trouble.”

Optimus stared him down, but Deacon didn’t waver. The room was silent for a long time until Optimus finally broke the tension, his words for me but his eyes still on Deacon.

“Chelsea. Bike. Now.”

I swallowed tightly but nodded. I knew I needed to go with him. As I took a step forward, I felt a hand tighten around my elbow. I sighed. “Deacon, it’s okay. I have to go with them.”

“No, you don’t. There’s other options, I can put you in protection until we figure out what’s going on.” His face was full of concern, concern for me and my safety.

I shook my head. “This isn’t your problem. It’s mine. They’re going to protect me, keep me safe.”

He coughed out a laugh. “Yeah, just like they did for the past week when you walked out and they left you, alone and with a target on your head.”

“She was never alone,” Optimus growled. “Chelsea,
now.
”

I disconnected myself from Deacon’s hold. I saw the pain in his face, but I wasn’t sure if it was because he was worried about my safety or whether it was because there were feelings there that ran deeper than just friendship and I had just cut the ties. I didn’t even care that I was leaving him inside my empty house. God only knows where Rose was.

I grabbed my purse and pulled my shoes on at the door. Leo and Ham walked out in front of us and Optimus guided me out with a hand pressed to my lower back. Any other time the gesture would have seemed romantic or sweet, but I knew that his wasn’t either of those. It was a forceful push of someone who was no longer a friend, but possibly a threat.

Talking to cops was very much against the club's bylaws, even for club girls. And although I was no longer classed as a part of the club, there were things I knew about the club that if given to the police could lead to a shitstorm of epic proportions.

I felt Optimus’ hand leave my back. “Blizzard, take her.”

I spun, but Blizz quickly caught me with an arm around my shoulders and continued to walk me toward his bike. I caught a glimpse of Optimus heading back into the house.

“No!” I tried to wiggle out of Blizzard’s hold, but his other arm came around my chest and held me tight.

“Calm down, princess,” he whispered in my ear.

“He’s going to do something stupid, you have to stop him,” I argued as he pulled me backward.

Blizz tsked in my ear. “I thought you knew him so much better than that.” I heard the other bikes start just as a helmet was jammed on my head. “You’ve got other shit to worry about. Optimus is our president for a reason, have a little faith in him.”

I fought the urge to run.

But this time, I wasn’t running away from the problem, I wanted to run toward it.

“Get on,” Blizzard prompted me with a pat on my ass.

I stared at the house for a minute. There was nothing I could do now. I quickly buckled the helmet underneath my chin and gripped his shoulder as I threw my leg over the bike.

I hoped Blizzard was right.

I shut the door behind me but waited until I heard all of my brothers bikes start and take off down the street before I stepped further into the small apartment.

The cop sat at Chelsea’s small table in the center of her kitchen, tapping his fingers impatiently on the wooden surface. “I figured you weren’t done yet.”

“Stay away from her and we won’t have any problems,” I said sternly.

The corner of his mouth turned up, even at my warning. “She’s one of a kind isn’t she?”

“She’s mine, is what she is.”

He finally looked up at me. “That’s funny because I didn’t see
you
throwing yourself over her as a hail of bullets shattered the windows of the gym.”

“Are you trying to protect her or get in her fucking pants?” His fists clenched and I knew I’d hit a nerve. I smirked. “That’s it isn’t it? You’re pissed she didn’t pick you.”

“She’s obviously not as smart as I thought if she’d rather run with some biker brats than have proper protection,” he spat.

“Why are you here?” I asked, folding my arms across my chest, sick of fucking dancing around the issue. “What do you want?

“I want to know what your ties are with the Italian Mafia.” He stood from his seat, the chair under him scraping across the floor. “I’ve been following the DePalma family for a long time. Never have they even thought about leaving the east coast. Now suddenly, Anthony DePalma has decided to pay a little visit to Alabama, showing up at your clubhouse and hanging around well-known Brothers by Blood establishments.”

I frowned. “You’re not just a cop.”

He laughed. “No, no, I’m not. I’m with the DEA.”

I tried not to act surprised. It was one thing for some small time cop to be sniffing around asking questions, but it was another thing to have a federal law enforcement agency throwing their weight around where it wasn’t wanted.

“Your buddies know about you having a hard-on for one of your focuses?” I taunted, enjoying watching him squirm. “The Brothers don’t have anything to do with your little investigation, so leave it alone before you find more trouble than you can handle.”

“It’s not that simple,
Bryce.
” I ground my teeth at the use of my real name, something no one but the bank, the taxman, and my father had called me in years. “Like I said, word out there is that Chelsea has a hit on her head. So if you aren’t working with them, what the hell have you done to piss them off?”

I shrugged and held my hands out to the side. “People just seem to not like me. I’m not sure why. I can be a pretty nice guy when you’re on my good side.”

“This is the only warning you’ll get,” he said as he walked around the table and headed for the front door. “If I find her alone, I’ll take her in, and trust me when I say I’ll put her so far into protective custody, you will
never
find her.” He twisted the door handle and pulled it open.

“Cop,” he didn’t turn to face me, but he stopped. “This is my warning. You try to take her from me and I’ll kill you.”

“Threats don’t go down well with law enforcement.”

“Just a fair warning.”

He didn’t answer but pulled the door closed behind him. As soon as I heard his car pull away from the apartment, I pulled my cell phone from my pocket and dialed.

Wrench answered after the first ring. “Yo!”

“I need you to get to Chelsea and Rose’s place ASAP. The place needs an exterminator. Get rid of any bugs you can find,” I told him.

The bastard had had a good few minutes to plant something, and I knew for a fact that he had been there before.

Not that Chelsea would be coming back here.

I was done.

Hearing that the front of her work had been shot up, and not knowing whether she was dead or alive, it was like the reality check of the century. No matter what I did, the only way to make sure she was safe was to have her with me. The one thing I should have just seen in the first place.

It didn’t matter if she was at the club or fucking in China, we still had a connection and killing her would fucking destroy me.

I was stupid to think that my enemies didn’t already know that, and that I was fooling them by pushing her away. The only person I was fooling was myself.

And that ended now.

Just as I parked my bike next to the clubhouse and sat my helmet on the seat, Blizzard came storming out the patio doors, looking like he was ready to murder.

“Where you going?” I asked as he stomped to me.

“Bitch won’t fucking listen.”

I frowned. “Chelsea?”

He whipped his helmet onto his head angrily. “No, her fucking friend.”

I had to laugh, Chelsea’s friend Rose had Blizzard all kinds of twisted up ever since he’d dropped her off home from the club that night. “You going to bring her in?”

“If they know where Chel works, they’re gonna know where she lives.” He mounted his bike and kicked up the stand. “Stupid woman is going to get herself killed by staying there.”

I nodded in agreement. “Bring her in, but she’s staying with you.”

He just glared at me silently as he started his bike. I laughed as I watched him take off out the gates, his back end sliding out as he took the corner and nearly running one of the prospects over in the process.

The main room was filled with my brothers when I returned, many welcoming Chelsea back with open arms. I stood to the side and watched as both my brothers and the club girls showed her how much she’d been missed. I gave them all a moment before I banged my fist loudly on the nearest table, gaining everyone's attention. I needed them all to hear what I was about to say.

“I want you all to listen very carefully,” I thundered across the room, but my eyes were only for Chelsea as I spoke. I pointed at her and her eyes widened. “That woman there … she’s mine. Should’ve done this a long time ago, but I guess I’m a fucking idiot. So now you all know, I’m putting my claim on her, so all you fuckers better treat her with the respect an Old Lady deserves.”

I scanned the room, making sure everyone of them got what I was saying. There were no surprised or shocked faces, just smiles—all except one.

My gaze finally landed back on Chelsea, who stood still and quiet. I thought for a second I’d have to chase her, that she was going to run. But I guess my girl finally got it.

She started walking toward me, quick steps which soon turned into a run as she leaped straight into my arms, our mouths connecting like they were pulled together by a magnet. My hands found her ass and her legs wrapped tightly around my hips.

It was a moment I never wanted to end, finally having her completely. She pulled back but quickly tucked her head into my neck.

“Take me to your room,” I heard her whisper softly.

I ignored the cheers and hoots as I carried her out and up the stairs to my bedroom—our fucking bedroom. I wasn’t even in the door before she reached for the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head. I growled, pressing my hips against her as I stepped inside and kicked the door shut with my foot. I launched her at the bed and she landed with a bounce. She quickly leaned forward and reached for my belt, but I grabbed her hand. She looked up at me curiously.

“Wait,” I said softly.

“I don’t want to wait, I want you,” she said impatiently, her other hand reaching out for me. I grabbed that too and pulled her off the bed so she was standing in front of me.

I clasped both her hands in mine and held them captive. “I said wait.”

She looked up at me, her head tilted to the side in curiosity. I cleared my throat. I wasn’t even sure of what I wanted to say, so I stopped thinking and just let the words fall. “I’m sorry. I was fucking stupid to think that I could push you away and that would fix all our problems. That cop was right, if he hadn’t been there looking out for you, I could have lost you. All because I was too stubborn to see my mistakes.” I shook my head, trying to clear out all the noise. “I sent Sugar and Harlyn away and they stayed safe. I thought that by doing the same thing...never mind. It was a mistake. One I’m trying to make right now.”

Her eyes began to sparkle and I groaned. “I’m trying to make it right and you’re crying.”

A soft giggle escaped her lips. “You’ve made it so much better than right, Op. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll probably bring this up later down the track, just to keep you humble—it’s what women do. But I’m here now, with you. That’s all that matters.”

I released her hands and pushed my fingers through her hair. “Fuck! What the hell was I thinking before?”

“There’s one thing you could do for me,” she said daintily, looking up at me through those beautiful long lashes.

“Name it, it’s fucking yours.” I was determined to make this woman happy, no matter what the cost.

“Fuck me.” I watched her lips move and form the words and fuck if it wasn’t the sexiest thing I’d ever seen.

“Fuck yeah, baby.”