Envy (13 page)

“Excited?” Devlin makes fun of me but I don’t bother answering because I see the building.

It looks just like the photos but even better and so much bigger. The building is beautiful, like the Victorian period but in a newly updated version. It’s stunning.

The passenger door opens and Devlin lets me out. I didn’t even notice he had stopped driving or even gotten out the car! I was too busy staring outside.

“Come on babe.” Devlin laughs, holding my hand and pulling me from my seat.

“This is amazing.” I laugh to myself, how is this happening?

“Natasha!” Drew runs from inside the building. “Isn’t this fucking great!”

“I can’t find the words.” I choke out.

Franky walks out, and it’s then that I notice a few bikes scattered around. The men straddling them are wearing The King’s patch, probably just here for Franky.

“Come on girl!” Franky laughs. “You coming to look inside?”

Laughing at myself, I follow Drew inside feeling Devlin walking closely behind me. I love that he’s here with me.

For the next thirty minutes or so, I wonder around the building in awe. Drew and I run around, laughing and squealing like children on Christmas morning. I can’t help it, I’m really that much excited.

We roughly plan what could go where and which rooms could be used for what. There’s three floors altogether, the main floor where the salon will be and then a floor above and below. The one below cannot be seen from the front and is connected to the parking out back, there’s room for plenty of storage and I can see the deliveries coming through here. The vans could easily drive down the ramp and then unload the deliveries. I don’t know what we could use for above, but when we look around, Drew has a mad idea.

“I’ve been thinking, I know this sounds crazy but this top floor could be used as an apartment.” She stares at me wide eyed, waiting for my reply.

“Really?” I ask, looking around.

It’s a huge space, the same as the other two floors obviously and has a massive window looking out and bringing so much light into the room. It already has some rooms laid out and a bathroom. Looks like someone was already planning to turn this into a flat already.

“All we have to do it fit out a kitchen and it would be ready to move in!” Drew exclaims.

“We?” I ask.

Drew shuffles her feet. “Well, I know how you feel living with Grim, so I thought we could live here together. There would be no rent, and that means we would be saving on money to do this place up nice.”

Drew then shows me what she had in mind and there’s even a separate lift, so you could come from the third floor all the way to up here without imposing on the salon.

“What do you think?” Drew asks. “Are we going to be roomies?”

“How could I not? This place will look fucking incredible.” I agree.

Drew screams and we jump up and down. All of a sudden Devlin and Franky run in with panicked looks on their faces.

“We heard screaming.” Devlin explains as he walks up to me.

“We were celebrating.” Drew rolls her eyes and turns to Franky. “Dad, welcome to my new home!”

The next day we’re having self-defence lessons with Devlin, Grim and a few other members. I understand that this was a brief conversation but it’s weird that all of a sudden most of the club women are here having lessons. It makes me feel like there’s something they’re not telling us, especially after that scene Devlin and Franky made when Drew and I explained that we wanted to turn the top floor into a kick ass apartment.

I look over to Marie who is punching the living daylights out the punch bag in the corner. She said she already knows self-defence and wanted to help the girls out. So is showing Maci how to do it right. That woman is one tough bitch. I want to be just like her.

“Right ladies, let’s do some jogging around the room before we do that again!” Devlin shouts, he sounds angry and just like a fucking army sergeant and it turns me on.

“Tash, tell your boyfriend to take a chill pill.” Elise moans.

“He’s not my boyfriend.” I say as best as I can whilst running around the room.

“Well he sure is checking you out.” Nelly adds as she runs past me.

I risk a sneaking look over at Devlin and have to try my best to hide my smirk. Sure enough, Devlin is looking at me and the look in his eyes is pure lust. When he catches me looking over at him he bites down on his bottom lip and sends me a wink. I have to snap out of it and continue with his orders, I do like how he shouts orders though. I might have to tell him to try this in the bedroom when I’m ready to take things further.

When we move onto the one on one demonstrations we pick it up real fast and I’m impressed at how myself and the other girls are developing. If we keep this up, nobody will want to mess with us and considering what I’ve been through this is going to give me a serious confident boost. Towards the end, Grim begins to get a little more physical with Lauren and it’s sickeningly sweet. He makes out he’s about to pick her up and slam her down on the floor, like they were showing us earlier but instead of putting her down on the floor her turns her around and kisses her. He keeps patting her bottom and lying on top of her longer than needed when he does the floor demonstrations.

I look up to Devlin to see him looking right back at me and I have to look away. Those fucking eyes, I love them but hate them at the same time.

“Want me to show you the move too?” Devlin suddenly whispers into my ear. I thought he was across the room? How the fuck did he get over here so fast? I don’t get a chance to reply because he’s leading me over to a free mat anyway.

“Ok, so I’m going to try and get you on the floor.” Devlin begins. “You’ve gotta try and stop me.”

Devlin rushes towards me and I try with all my strength to make sure I don’t get taken down, but it’s no use. Even if I did have a little more strength behind me it still wouldn’t work out because Devlin is a big guy. Within seconds I’m lying under him and my breathing speeds. Devlin looks down at me, his eyes burning into mine and I forget everyone else in the room.

“Anyone would think you wanted me to do this.” Devlin smiles smugly and damn him if I don’t love that smile.

“You’re too strong.” I point out, sounding a little breathless.

“Now you need to get me off you.” Devlin adds and I try, I really do but Devlin puts all his weight into it and I can’t budge him even a little bit.

“That’s not fair.” I laugh.

When I open my eyes, I’m shocked at the lust I see reflection in Delvin’s dark pupils. I then hear Lauren screaming and look across to see Grim carrying her away in a fireman’s lift.

“Same time tomorrow ladies!” Grim shouts as he leaves with a screaming Lauren draped over him. The last thing I see is Grim slapping Laurens arse before the door closes behind them. Devlin helps me up and holds me against him for a few seconds. When he lets me go I miss his arms, I want to be wrapped in them all day.

“How are you two getting on?” Marie asks, looking between me and Devlin.

“We’re doing great.” Devlin answers as he passes them, making his way over to Scrappy.

“You two were looking pretty cosy.” Marie smiles.

“Yeah, you sure he’s not going to carry you out of here like Grim did with Lauren?” Elise giggles. The little madam knows so much more than what everyone thinks.

Everyone then starts to leave and Devlin confirms that they will be here again same time tomorrow if anyone is interested. I’m just curious as to why they seem so insistent on it, why not a weekly thing? When I’m left alone with Devlin, I ask him that exact question.

“I thought you girls wanted this?” He points out, grabbing the mat from the floor and tidying the away.

“We do, but daily? Isn’t that a bit too much?” I ask. “Are you sure there’s something you’re not telling me?”

Devlin doesn’t turn to face me right away, but when he does I know there’s something he’s keeping from me.

“Babe, trust me when I say you don’t need to know and unless I think it’s really necessary, then you will know.” He plants a kiss on my forehead.

“Ok, I trust you.” I honestly do. I will leave to Devlin to decide when I should know. I just hope he’s right and this won’t blow up in all of our faces because I get the feeling this isn’t just about me and Devlin.

After just two days of self-defence lessons my body is so sore! Lauren and I complained to Grim when we go home last night so he decided to cancel today’s lesson and have a chilled afternoon at his. Lauren and I invited a few people and I was shocked when Grim didn’t look too pleased but I put it all down to him wanting some time with Lauren.

Marie and Nelly brought their kids along and I’m really enjoying myself. Devlin was late but as soon as he entered the house I felt his presence. The last two nights we have slept in either my bed or his back at the clubhouse. He seems a little agitated lately but I’m always glad to see him get some sleep and relax. It’s odd though because I know he’s getting the sleep he needs but he still always manages to look tired. Like right now for instance, he looks like he’s about to pass out on at floor but I know he had a great sleep last night!

“Hey babe.” He sit beside me and sighs a huge sigh of relief.

“Are you ok?” I ask, seriously concerned about him.

He looks up to me with wide eyes. “Yeah sure I am.”

He doesn’t fool me, but I let it slide because I have whatever he’s stressing about is the same thing that’s been bugging me for a couple of days now. Devlin told me if he thought I needed to know that he would tell me and I trust him on that. Doesn’t mean I don’t like it though.

I get up and grab him a beer and a cheeseburger. I slide down next to him and he seems grateful, in fact the burger vanishes pretty quickly. I snuggle in next to him and Devlin grabs me close. I could stay like this for the rest of the day.

Grim and Lauren sit on the sofa opposite us, smiling at the sight of us.

“Awww.” Lauren smiles.

“Shut up.” I snap at her.

“You can’t blame her,” Grim joins in. “You do look adorable.”

I’m about to give him a piece of my mind, but his phone starts to loudly ring and he stands to answer it. Lauren watches him walk away, a puzzled look on her face. I know she shares the same concerns as I do because Lauren asked me about it last night. At least I’m not the only one who feels like something’s off.

On the good side of things, Drew is making progress with the apartment in our salon building. Franky has ordered the list of things that we need in order to have a fully working salon and we decided that we would fix up the top floor because it was Drew’s idea in the first place. Through Franky’s connections, he has managed to find us a plumber who can do the kitchen we want. He’s oddly cheap and I have a feeling Franky sneakily has something to do with it. I’ve told Lauren about the apartment and I felt awful when I did. She looked so let down and sad. After I explained that it was for me to get on my own two feet she understood and was happy for me, I do understand how she feels though. Since she was thrown into the grotty basement, naked and scared, we’ve hardly spent a day apart from each other.

Devlin shifts under me. “I’ll go see what that call was about.”

“No you won’t.” I push him back down. “I’m too comfy.”

“He’s coming back now anyway.” Lauren adds, after watching after Grim.

“That was dad,” Grim looks down to Devlin. “He wants to talk to me.”

“Just you?” Baby asks as he sits on the arm of the sofa.

“Yeah, he said it’s about Bomber.” Grim frowns.

I see Elise turn at hearing Bomber’s name and she races to her cousin. “Bomber?” She asks Grim.

“It’s club business Lissy.” Grim pats her shoulder. With promises to call Devlin if he needs him, he orders the men to stay where they need to be. Which sounds a bit odd, but they all agree and he leaves to meet Franky at his office at home.

“Why couldn’t he tell me about Bomber?” Elise sulks.

“I don’t know why you’re so bothered about him.” Scrappy scowls.

“Oh shut up!” Elise snaps at her older brother and storms away.

Wow! I’ve never seen her act like that. Scrappy falls down into a chair not looking very happy either.

“Fucking hate that guy.” He grumbles.

“What’s so wrong with Bomber? He helped us.” I point out.

Scrappy looks to with me sympathy. “I get that and I’m happy he did but I don’t like the man and I want him kept away from my sister.”

“He’s in America anyway.” Lauren reassures him.

“Yeah well it better stay that way.” Scrappy looks to where Elise stormed off and shakes his head. “I’d better go after her.”

I ride my bike to my parents’ house and walk straight in. My Mum runs right over to me and fusses.

“Brandon!” She smiles. “What are you doing here?”

Apart from Lauren, my mum is the only one to call me Brandon, even Dad hardly calls me that anymore. It’s either Grim or VP to him.

“I’m here to see Dad.” I answer, and as soon as I do her back stiffens. She can tell this isn’t a family drop in, this is club business.

“He’s in his office.” She walks off and leaves me to it. Years of being married to the Kings of Rebellion President has made my mum sensitive as to when it’s family or club time.

I give his office door one knock and let myself in. My dad is sat on his chair, his feet up on his desk and looking up to the ceiling. He looks stressed.

Fuck, this isn’t going to be good.

“Having a family get together is a pretty dumb idea son.” He points out without even looking at me.

“It was Lauren’s idea and what was I supposed to tell her when you thought it wasn’t any of the women’s business, even those who have dealt with The Devils.” I snap.

“Calm down VP.” He groans. “I haven’t asked you to come here about that.”

“Yeah I know, you mentioned Bomber.” I remind him.

He sighs, letting down his boots from the desk and sits up straight to look at me.

“You might want to take a seat.” I really don’t want to sit down, I want to hear what he has to say and get back to Lauren. Not knowing where Strike is puts her in danger and I’m constantly on edge. Strike has a weird obsession with my woman and I will not let him have his grubby hands on her again.

Being the obedient VP, listening to my Prez, I take a seat on the sofa in the corner and wait to hear what he has to say.

“Bomber just gave me a call.” He begins. “He says we have a rodent problem.”

“You fucking with me?” I freeze.

My dad’s face turns harsh. “Do you think I would fucking joke about this?”

My head drops, I look at the floor in anger. “Shit!”

“My thoughts exactly.” Prez stands and walks over to me. “We need to find this fucker.”

“Damn straight.” I quickly stand, shaking with anger. “He won’t have her again.”

Dad places his hand on my shoulder. “And he won’t.”

“Time to find us a rat.” I growl.

“Oh, I already know who it is son.”

I look up at him in shock. “Tell me who it is and I’ll kill him.”