Envy (17 page)

I place Lorena down and she happily skips over to the other kids. I don’t think she actually knows what’s happening, Spliff told us that he tried to explain the best he could to her. He said his words were along the lines of, Mummy isn’t coming back but she has her daddy, brothers and club family all around her. I don’t know if she’s too young to say that Marie is dead, but he maybe could have said she’s gone to heaven, every child knows what heaven is right?

I slowly rise from my seat and get myself a drink from the bar. As Duke passes me my Vodka lemonade, he also adds a Sambuca shot. I frown at him and he shrugs innocently at me with a naughty smirk.
Why the hell not!

I throw the shot back and cringe at the after taste of the liquid. In that moment I’m reminded that I don’t like Sambuca. I take sips from my drink to wash away the taste and then spot Devlin watching me.

“Babe.” He greets, holding me tight.

“Baby.” I whisper back.

The Sambuca has warmed my veins and bolt of lust wraps it way around my whole body. I lean into Devlin, he’s sexy, tall, tattooed, charming and all mine. I haven’t told him yet but I think that he should finally get a little reward for waiting for me. I don’t know if I’m ready for everything yet, but I am definitely ready for some foreplay. Actually, I’m feeling kind of desperate for it. I want to feel him up against me, to have his naked and hot skin over mine. I want to know what it feels like to have him touch me everywhere. If it leads to sex, then it happens but what I do know is that I want to test the waters.

“Is it wrong that I want you naked?” He growls into my ear.

“I don’t think Marie and the brothers would mind if we snuck away.” I laugh. Which is most likely true.

Devlin presses himself closer to me and I feel the thick hardness press into me. Fuck he’s ready for me.

“I’ve gotta talk with Grim and my dad and I’ll meet you in the bedroom.” He kisses me with a fire that leaves me lightheaded and grinning like a damn fool.

I finish my drink as I watch him walk towards Franky’s office. He looks too fucking good in his black on black clothes today. I watch his ass and I just wish I could reach out and squeeze it. The wake has now turned into a little party at the clubhouse. Yes it’s sad that four of our own have died but we want to celebrate their lives. Marie would especially hate it if she knew we were all sat around, but if she knew some were up dancing and others were talking about memories, not only would Marie be happy but so would the two prospects and Big John.

Once my glass is empty, I slide off of the stool and see Lauren heading my way.

“How you doing?” She asks glancing at the empty glass and shot glass beside me.

“Great.” I smile. “Just having a drink before I go and meet Devlin.”

Lauren looks a little confused for a second and then opens her mouth in shock standing closer to me. “You’re going all the way?”

Lauren knows everything about me, she’s seen all of my scars up and close because we were together for most of them. She knows how I feel about my body and I’ve talked with her in great lengths many times about my worries of Devlin seeing my most intimate scars.

“I don’t know, but I’m ready to at least try.” I whisper back.

“Have you told him about the scars yet?” She asks. Lauren thought that if I told him before then it might be better for both of us.

“No.” I look down to my feet. “I couldn’t do it.”

Lauren gives me a hug. “You’ll be great. You’re beautiful Tash and I can see how much Devlin loves you. I never thought I would see the day that he would settle down.” We both laugh, but then Lauren switches back to being serious. “Trust me, you will both be fine.”

Lauren’s phone alerts and when she looks down at it she breaks out into a huge smile. “I got go babe, looks like you’re not the only one getting lucky tonight.”

“Wait.” I stop her. “Is this weird? I mean, it’s a funeral.”

“I know.” She laughs. “Seriously I think all four of them would be cheering us on, especially Marie with you and Devlin.”

“Yeah.” I smile. “She would be pushing me into the room.”

Lauren gives me a hug, promises to meet me at breakfast and then leaves to join Grim. I bet Devlin’s finished with Franky too then. Just as I’m about to head in the direction of Devlin’s room, Drew saunters over. By the swaying of her hips and the heavy drop of her eyes, she’s drunk.

I’m not surprised, before the funeral I was given a short brief of what MC funerals were all about. Unlike the standard funeral, where everyone cries and sits around in sadness, a club version is drinking, dancing and just being happy. It’s to celebrate the life of those who have passed and I must say, I much prefer this kind of funeral than any others I’ve been to in the past. Of course people have cried, I was sobbing not long ago but then you have a drink and dance and it feels as if Marie is here, watching us all have a good night in honour of her.

“Hey baby girl.” Drew smiles and gives me a hug. Yes, she’s drunk.

“How many have you had?” I laugh.

“Enough for the both of us.” She giggles.

“Let’s get you some fresh air.” I lead her out the doors and into the garden. Leading her over to the nearest bench, we sit close together. Nobody else is out here, I can’t hear anything either which confirms, there’s no club whores at work in the shadows.

“I wanted to drink for Marie.” Drew whispers, I turn back to face her and my own grieving for a new friend envelopes me. “She loved everyone getting together.”

“Yeah I know.” I wipe at my tears.

“I was thinking we should call the salon after her.” Drew admits.

“That’s a great idea.” I agree.

“But not just the word Marie, because that’s boring and she would agree.” We both burst out in laughter. This is true, Marie wouldn’t want her name as the salon’s name, so we need to honour her in another way.

“Then what do you suggest?” I ask, trying to keep the tears at a steady stream rather than pouring down my face.

“She always called us her darlings whenever we were together.” Drew smiles as she thinks through the number of times.

“Yeah she did.” I laugh as I recall the many times she would greet us by shouting ‘darlings!’ loudly from the other side of the clubhouse, or out in the open and even in a small room. The men would roll their eyes at her, but we would all laugh.

“Darling Rebels.” Drew tests. “What do you think?”

“I think it’s perfect.” I cry.

“Are you still on for moving in together?” She asks when we’ve both stopped crying.

“Of course. As soon as lockdown is lifted we will get it done.” I answer in excitement.

“Dad told me the workers managed to finish the kitchen area before all the shit happened. So the hard part is done, now we just decorate.” She grins.

“That should be easy.” I laugh.

I can’t believe this is all happening. My dreams are coming true, I’ve found a family and I have Devlin. I’m so ready to commit to him, be his old lady and let see the parts of me I’ve kept hidden. He deserves that and I trust him completely. For the first time in a very long time, my veins warm and heat gathers between my thighs. I want Devlin.

Drew grabs two empty bottles from the bench that have been left by the brothers.

“Let’s toast to our new beginning.” She holds the bottle high, smiling.

“Absolutely.” I hold mine and as we clink Drew’s happy smile fades. “Drew?”

I see movement from behind her and my body tenses.

“Tash, we need to get inside.” Drew whispers in urgency.

I grab onto her hand and we quickly stand. This isn’t good. I can feel it deep in my bones.

“I wouldn’t move if I were you Silver.” My body shakes as soon as I hear his voice.

“Drew, run.” I whisper quietly. I don’t want her anywhere near Strike and his men. She doesn’t move an inch though. “Run!”

I push her away towards the doors of the clubhouse. However I don’t see the hidden Devil member in her way and I push her right into his arms. Drew shrieks but he covers her mouth just in time, I doubt she would have been heard anyway because of the music inside the clubhouse. I do know there are members surrounding the area though. Where the fuck are they?

“Don’t worry about your friend Silver.” Strike says from right behind me, making me jump. “We don’t want her.”

Drew wiggles in her captor’s arms, but that only makes him laugh at her and probably enjoy it even more. These men are sick fucks.

“What do you want Strike?” I turn to face him and can’t help but smirk. He’s not looking too well at all. He’s lost weight, needs a wash and a shave and doesn’t look as good looking as the last time I saw him. Yes he’s an evil bastard but I’m honest enough to admit that Strike is a good looking man, well he was.

“I’d wipe that smile off your face if I was you.” He warns.

My grin does falter slightly, but that’s only because I know what type of man he is. However, knowing the effect the threat of my family has had on him makes me smile. This earns me a slap and it’s so hard that I almost fall to the floor. Drew screams behind the hand of the Devil member holding her as Strike grabs me by my hair and brings it close to him so he can growl into my ear.

“I want you and Raven. You fucking belong to me!” He shouts.

“We’re not yours and we never were.” I say through gritted teeth.

“That’s where you wrong!” He pulls me closer. My hair is ripped from my scalp and I try to hide the pain from him. Strike laughs. “I need to hurt you so bad Silver, so I’m taking you back.”

“Leave Raven.” I beg, I’d rather he take me and leave Lauren. “Have me and leave Raven.”

Drew tries to protest when I repeat my plea.

“Want me all to yourself?” Strike laughs. “That’s not happening Silver. I’m having both of you, and I have the perfect plan.”

He grabs me tight, finally letting go of my hair but instead traps me in his strong arms. He marches over to Drew and her eyes widen, tears streaming down them.

“Well look at you.” Strike looks Drew over and I think he likes what he sees. No, I don’t want Drew anywhere near Strike. “Who do you belong to?”

He orders for the man to let her mouth free to answer and I step in. “She’s nobodies, just a whore.”

Drew’s eyes widen at me but I shake my head at her. She needs to be quiet. If he finds out that she’s Grim’s sister and the President’s daughter, he will want her to add to his collection.

“You’re lying.” Strike shakes me. “I’ve been watching you all for a while now, you didn’t even know did you Silver?”

“Please don’t hurt her!” Drew begs.

Strike stops shaking me and glares at her. “What’s your name?”

I shake my head to try and get through to her that she shouldn’t tell him.

“Drew.” She announces with pride and so she should. Her family is kick ass and well known. Nobody should mess with her if they have brains, but Strike doesn’t care about anyone but himself.

“Ahh you’re one of the club brats.” He laughs at her but I’m glad he doesn’t know exactly who she is. “So you do belong to somebody.”

“Damn right!” She shouts and I cringe.

I hope she’s not going to do what I think she is.

“I belong to my dad,
The President!
” I hang my head in defeat. “When he finds out what you’re doing he’s going to kill you! Natasha is like a daughter to him, you won’t be alive for much longer.”