Envy (14 page)

I’m still sitting beside Devlin when he gets a phone call. I turn enough to see that it’s Grim, so I’m not surprised when he stands to take the call. God forbid I overhear anything club related. I watch him as he walks away and I notice the change in his as he answers. He becomes very tense and serious. I sit up straight, just knowing that something is up. Whatever Franky has told Grim is bad, I can see that written all over Devlin’s face.

Devlin hangs up and ushers some of the men around him, quietly mumbling whatever he has been told. The women watch, thinking the same as I do. We’re all close and related to the club in some way and know them enough to know shit is going down. I can feel the nervousness in the air.

The circle of member’s breaks up and they walk to their women, explaining they have to go. Within seconds, everyone is leaving the house and I look to Lauren seeing that she’s as confused as I am.

“What the fuck?” Drew asks as Baby guides her out the door.

“Don’t bust my balls Drew, I just gotta get you home.” He explains to her and to her credit, she just and does as he says.

“Alright!” Elise shouts. “You don’t have to pull me so hard!”

Scrappy is literally pulling Elise out the door. “Come on! I gotta get you to dads!”

She quickly sends us a wave before being dragged out the door. None of us like this, but we know they’re doing it for our own good. I’ve known for a few days that’s something’s not been right and this crap just proves I was right. It’s all very odd and Devlin hasn’t even approached me yet. No, he’s too busy making sure all the doors and windows are shut and locked tight.

Lauren comes to sit beside me as we watch Devlin, knowing that something serious has definitely happened. There’s a knock and Lauren gets up to answer but Devlin stops her is a stern quiet voice. “Go and sit down.”

Shocked, Lauren does as he says and returns to her seat next to me. “What the fuck.” She whispers.

Devlin walks up to the door. “Who is it?”

As he looks through the peep hole we hear Grim. “It’s me.”

Devlin lets him in and Grim shakes his head, not looking happy. They make sure the security cameras are on and the gates are locked at the bottom of the garden.

“This is ridiculous.” I watch as they make their way back inside the house.

“I’m guessing Franky didn’t have good news.” Lauren adds quietly as the men walk towards us.

“Right girls, I think you two should get some sleep.” Grim suggests and I almost laugh.

“Sleep?” Lauren asks and Grim nods. “I’m not a child.”

“I wasn’t saying that but considering what is happening I need you to go to bed.” Grim is on edge, I can tell. His senses are alive just looking for anything out of place.

Lauren sighs, giving in. “Fine.”

“You too.” Devlin looks at me.

“Oh, you’re ready to talk now?” I cross my arms and glare up at him.

“No, not really so you need to get upstairs.” Devlin answers.

“What?” I shout.

“I didn’t mean it like that. I need to see to business but you two have to be upstairs.” He insists.

“Come on Tash!” Lauren calls as she frowns at Grim. “Let’s just go.”

I don’t even look at Devlin as I stand and pass him. When we begin to walk up the steps, we look behind us to see that Devlin and Grim are following us up! So first they tell us to go to bed and now they’re escorting us! What the fuck is up?

“What aren’t you telling me Grim?” Lauren asks him as we walk ahead of them.

Grim decides to stay silent, and I don’t know if that’s a good thing or bad.

After Lauren asks him a couple more times, she snaps at him. “Fine! Don’t fucking answer but I’m not going to our room, I’m going with Tasha.”

“Fine by me.” Is all he says as we get to my door.

Lauren screams at Grim. “What the fuck is wrong with you!”

I turn to Devlin and he’s not even looking back at me. What’s so interesting about a wall?

“Why are you keeping this to yourself?” I ask him, but just like Grim he doesn’t answer.

Grim and Devlin check my room for god knows what make sure the windows are locked before making sure we’re inside.

“Oh don’t worry, we will be safe.” Lauren frowns and Grim has had enough.

“I’m doing this to keep you safe.” He says before giving her a kiss.

“Just stay put.” Devlin whispers, kissing me too.

“Get some sleep.” Grim lastly says before shutting the door behind him and Devlin.

“Unbelievable.” Lauren sits on the floor, obviously mad. I lean against the door and signal for her to be quiet.

“What?” She whispers.

I listen for a few more seconds. “I’m sure they’re checking the other rooms.”

Lauren shakes her head. “Probably are.”

“What the fuck is happening? And why wouldn’t they tell us?” I ask out loud.

“They think they’re protecting us, but they’re really not.” Lauren answers.

After calling Devlin and Grim every name under the sun, we soon become bored sat in my room.

“Let’s sneak out.” I suggest and Lauren’s face lights up.

“Fuck yes.” She jumps.

I slowly pull down the door handle, careful not to make it squeak because if you pull it so far down, it makes this high pitched squeaking noise and we don’t want that. Lauren watches me with wide eyes as I do, encouraging me quietly and trying not to laugh too much.

“It’s like we’re kids and sneaking out late to a party.” She giggles.

I manage to successfully open my bedroom door without alerting the guys. As we tip toe across the hall, we begin to hear their deep voices from downstairs. At least we know where they are.

We crawl to the top of the stairs, and are able to sneakily see Devlin and Grim in the hall. I look to Lauren and she has wide eyes, placing my finger in front of my lips I warn her to be quiet. It’s not long until our suspicions are confirmed.

“I fucking hate lying to them.” Grim admits. I look to Lauren and she rolls her eyes at his confession.

“I know, I do too but dad said it was for the best.” Devlin answers him and now it’s my turn to roll my eyes.

“Do you really believe that?” Grim asks. “Looks what’s happening right now.”

“I get you brother.” Devlin replies and a second later he sounds even angrier. “I just can’t believe that mother fucker.”

“Is he talking about Franky?” Lauren whispers and I shrug my shoulders. Could he really be talking about his dad like that?

“I know, as soon as dad told me I was shocked.” Grim adds, sounding just as angry. “I don’t think dad’s taking too well, he’s know this guy for a long fucking time.”

So no, Devlin wasn’t calling his dad a mother fucker, but they’re all pissed at someone.

“I even trusted the prick!” Grim growls.

“Who are they talking about?” Lauren asks.

“Why didn’t we just go on lockdown?” Devlin makes sense. If this was a serious matter, the club would be put on lockdown and this does seem very serious. So why was everyone sent home and we’re locked in my bedroom?

“Dad thought that would be predictable, he didn’t want them to come to the clubhouse and have us all for easy pickings.” Grims answers, but he doesn’t sound so sure himself.

The men go silent and we decide to creep back in my bedroom. Funnily enough, I don’t feel as angry with them anymore.

“Shit.” Lauren whispers. I nod, thinking over everything we just overheard.

“I think it’s Strike.” I look up to Lauren and see her pale at his name. “You notice that Grim said ‘they’ when he spoke about being on lockdown?”

“You really think he’s come back?” Lauren asks, sounding petrified.

I hold her in my arms. “Don’t worry, I won’t let him get near you.”

I continue to hold Lauren in my arms and she eventually falls asleep. If it is Strike that has come back and threatening mine and the rest of the girls’ safety then I will not be happy with Devlin. He said he thought it was best that I didn’t know and if he was talking about Strike then I call bullshit, because when it comes to those fuckers I have every right to know.

I jump awake the next morning and find that Lauren isn’t here. Something woke me and I immediately feel tension in the air. Lauren runs back into the room, panic written all over her face.

“Oh thank god you’re awake.” She whispers. “Get dressed.”

“What?” I rub my eyes.

“Tash, hurry and get dressed.” I hear the worry in her voice, so I jump up and strip out of yesterday’s clothes and put on some jeans and a basic top.

“What’s going on?” I ask her. Lauren’s looking out the doorway, biting on her finger nails and looking nervous as hell.

“I don’t know, but something’s happened.” She hugs herself. “I heard banging on the front door, Baby rushed in with news and they were on the phone to someone. Something has happened, I can tell.”

I start to hear the mens’ voices coming closer before they appear in the doorway. They seem shocked that we’re awake because it’s so early. Who are they kidding? Something is obviously happening and they expect us to be sleeping peacefully. Not happening.

“Something is happening and don’t bother lying.” Lauren points to Grim.

“We just heard news that there’s been shots fired at Spliff and Marie’s.” Grim announces and I almost fall if it wasn’t for Devlin catching me I’d be down.

The news come as a huge shock. “Oh god, the kids!” I panic.

“We’re on it babe.” Devlin reassures me. “We’re waiting for some prospects to come here to watch over you so we can go over and check it out.”

“No!” I shout. “Go now!”

The thought they could be with Spliff and protecting him family rather than here destroys me.

“We’ll be fine.” Lauren agrees, pushing Grim out the room. “Go and help them!”

We follow then running down the stairs and see Baby waiting by the door. He gives us both a hug while Devlin and Grim demand we stay here and wait for the prospects.

“Of course.” I agree. “Now please, go and save that family.”

Devlin hugs me tight and then kisses me with more passion than he ever has before.

“I love you.” He says between kisses.

“I love you too.” I hold onto him for just a little bit longer.

When all three men leave, we listen to their bikes getting further and further away. As Lauren shuts the door, I march over to the keys and hold out mine. “Let’s go.”

Lauren stops me from opening the front door. “Are you sure about this? We don’t know what we’re walking in to.”

“If it’s dangerous then I’ll drive straight back but I’m tired of being lied to. He’s keeping things from me that I know I have a right to know. If this is about Strike, we should have been told all about this!” I insist and I can tell by her face that she agrees.

“Let’s do this.” Lauren nods and we race outside to the care before the prospects get here and stop us.

We slowly drive towards Marie’s house, careful to not catch up with the guys. The drive is quiet as we fear what we will find when we get there. Lauren reaches over and squeezes my shoulder as I focus on the road that Marie’s house sits on. I fucking hope her children are safe.

Lauren gasps and my eyes widen when we see the house. There are so many bikers here and all of them are with The Kings. When we park up I see some of the men hang their heads at the sight of us. I ignore them and get out the car, Baby is immediately in my face.

“Natasha, what are you doing here?” He asks sounding urgent. “You need to go home.”

“What’s happened?” Lauren asks, slowly rounding the car and taking in the scary scene in front of us.

I can’t see Devlin or Grim anywhere.

“Girls!” Come a shouting Scrappy. “What the fuck are you doing?”

“I wanted to know what’s happening.” I defend myself.

“We wanted to be here for Marie, she’s our friend.” Lauren steps up to Scrappy. “Where’s Grim?”

“Come on.” I take Lauren’s hand and we push pass the guys.

“Wait!” Baby shouts, trying to stop us.

“No.” I growl, fighting him off me. “I want to see Marie!”

“Oh god, something bad has happened hasn’t it?” Lauren tears up.

None of them answer and the men surrounding us turn quiet and look at their boots. A chill spreads over me, something has happened.

“Oh god.” I cry into my hands.

“You might want to go home and wait for Dev to come back.” Baby places his arm on my shoulder, bringing me into his body for comfort.

“Tasha?” I hear Devlin and look up to see him storming towards me. “What are you doing?”

“I had to come.” I step closer to him. “I know this has something to do with Strike, that’s why you’re not telling me, right?”

His eyes close in frustration and when he opens them I’m shocked to see tears. “I just wanted to protect you.” His kisses me sweetly and his hands feel me as if he’s grateful I’m here, even though he told me to stay at home.

“Devlin, what’s happened?” I dare to ask and by the look on his face I just know I’m going to hate what he has to say. Devlin takes both mine and Lauren’s hands and turns to Scrappy.

“Ring the prospects and explain where these two are and tell them to go and watch over Drew and Elise.” Scrappy nods, getting his phone out and doing as he asks. Devlin then leads us into the house and the first thing I see is Grim comforting a sobbing Spliff.

Oh no.

When Grim sees us he shakes his head in annoyance but rushes up to Lauren and scoops her up in his arms. I continue to look at Spliff as he cries, I didn’t even know that I was walking towards him until I’m stood right in front of him and he looks down at me.

At seeing me he sobs and wraps his arms around me. “Natasha.”

I embrace him, terrified at seeing this big strong man fall apart like this. “What’s happened?”

Spliff look up at Devlin in shock, “She doesn’t know?”

Devlin shakes his head in answer and Spliff opens his mouth to tells but, but then a gut wrenching cry erupts from the back garden.

“Mummm!” A child’s cry erupts and my heart squeezes in hurt.

“Karl.” Spliff gasps, running outside and I follow. What greets me has me frozen to the spot.

Blood is everywhere! It decorates the grass, pathway and patio. I don’t miss the two dead men in the corner, a few Kings members are stood by them. Another cry roars and I look back to where Spliff had ran too and that’s when my cries begin. Lauren runs out to join me, Grim quickly following and she too begins to cry.

“Oh no!” She screams.

I run over to Spliff as he holds a sobbing and screaming Carl in arms. Spliff is doing his best to calm his son but Carl won’t stop crying and I don’t blame the poor boy. As I look around the garden, the men who are out here lower their heads in sympathy and respect.

“Mummy!” He scrambles back to the floor, wrapping his arms around his mother’s lifeless body. “Please, I love you!”

“Travis!” Spliff calls and I see a crying teenage Travis walk out and tries to drag his brother away with his father. Travis has tears streaming down his face as he helps Spliff take Carl back inside and away from the sight of his mother dead on the floor. When they finally get him inside I fall down to where little Carl had just been, and look down at my friend. Marie was a tough chick. I fucking looked up to her and now she’s been killed in her family home. Who would do such a terrible thing? And in front of her children too.

I see a gun beside her, fallen from her hands maybe when she dropped to the floor. I look across the garden and see the two dead men on the floor are straight opposite. I hope to God that Marie is the one who killed them! Serves them right for invading a family home. It’s disgusting!

Devlin helps me up, burying me in his arms. “Who did this?” I cry.

“Natasha.” He sooths but I shake my head and point down to Marie.

“Who did this to her and don’t lie to me.” I cry.

“Devils.” Is all he says and I cry some more. Lauren begins behind me and we somehow end up holding each other as we cry beside our friend.

“Oh god Tash.” She sobs. “This is all my fault.”

“No.” I cry, totally understanding why she’s blaming herself because I’m doing the same. If The Kings hadn’t have brought us back to their home then Marie wouldn’t be dead.

The ambulance soon appears and we stand and watch as they load her onto the bed, I say a silent good bye to Marie as she passes. The strongest bitch I ever met.

“I think Spliff could use some help with the kids.” Devlin kisses me.

“Did Marie kill those men?” I ask him.

Frowning, he nods. “We think so.”

“Good.” I look over to Spliff as he stands with Travis, both crying. I walk up to him, cautious as to what I’m about to say.

“Spliff?” He turn to look at me and he looks torn on what he should do. “We can take the kids back to ours, if you wanted to go with Marie?”

Instantly his face relaxes and he grabs me in a hold. “Thank you.”

Travis goes to follow his dad but Spliff stops him. “No, you go with Natasha.”

“Dad.” Travis complains, looking at him mum going into the back of the ambulance.

“I need you to watch over your brother and sister, can you do that for me?” He asks his oldest son and without thinking, Travis nods in return.

Spliff crushes Travis against his chest and I have to look away. It’s their private moment. I follow Spliff and Travis into the house as he says bye to Carl and Lorena, but again I stay back enough that they have their own privacy.

On his way out, he quickly stops beside me and gives me a small smile. It’s sad look, but I appreciate it for what it is. He’s just thankful we’re here to help him in his terrible time. I still can’t believe what’s happened.

After the ambulance has gone, Devlin tells us to take the kids in my car and Scrappy and Baby will follow and help us out until him and Grim return. As I get into the car with Carl and Lorena, Lauren returns with Travis. He had helped pack a few things for them all, just in case.

The drive is silent as expected, even Lauren and I don’t talk. What is there to say?

When we get to the house, Lorena seems pretty attached to Lauren, so she’s carries her in while Travis and Carl trail behind. Lauren shows them around, but they’re not very talkative, hardly surprising. Lorena decides that she wants to watch a film in the front room so Lauren sees to her. I look to Travis and Carl, “What do you wanna do guys? Chill?”

“Yeah, I’m gonna go and sit in the front room with Lorena.” Travis smiles and joins Lauren and Lorena.

“What about you?” I ask Carl and he shrugs his shoulders. “You want something to eat?”

“No.” He frowns.

“How about some fresh air?” I suggest and his eyes widen.

“I don’t feel like going outside.” Oh shit, how insensitive am I?

“I’m sorry.” God I feel like crap, why can’t I just care for the boy?

“Where’s mummy?” I hear Lorena from the front room.

Carl looks down at the floor. I can’t imagine what’s going through his little head. Carl then looks back up to me and the expression on his face has a sob catching in my throat. “Why did those men do that?”

How can I possibly answer any of his questions? I take Carl’s hand and lead him into the kitchen. I sit him at the table and make him a hot chocolate. Baby walks in and joins us.