Envy (24 page)

Twenty-four hours later and Lauren and I are free to go home. Well, to the clubhouse. Devlin has told me lockdown is over but everyone wants to see us. It’s still hard to breathe, although it’s easier than when I first arrived at the hospital. Devlin takes notice of when I can have my pain killers and has been a star in while I’ve been bored in the hospital. I am fully capable of feeding myself but he wanted to help me, so I let him. Just little things like that have made me feel well and truly looked after.

When Lauren woke up, it took her a while to come around properly. The Doctors thought that’s because she was given a lot of drugs. I still can’t believe that she put herself in danger like that but Lauren is an amazing woman and as soon as Devlin told me why she gave herself over to Strike I wasn’t surprised. Lauren wasn’t only trying to save me but the rest of the women connected to the club as well. She’s spoken to me a little about how she feels killing her ex, Andrew. Secretly, I think she’s silently mourning Andrew because before she realised he was The Devils member, Switch they were a couple. Whether Lauren cheated on him or not doesn’t really matter, she was still with the guy.

Lauren and I hold hands as we walk into the clubhouse. The music is low and I can hear the chatter of everyone. I’m automatically relax and I realise it’s because I’m home. These people are my family and this is where I belong.

Drew and Elise are the first to run up to us but before they even get close Devlin blocks their way.

“Be careful.” He warns them but he still doesn’t move.

“Dev, I’m not going to squeeze her to death. I know about her ribs.” Drew argues.

“Let them pass Devlin.” I laugh.

With a loud sigh Devlin moves out of their way but still stands closely to my side. He watches the girls closely as they gently hold me, their tears bringing on my own. Lauren joins us, Elise and Drew are able to hold her tighter than they can me.

“I’m so sorry.” Drew cries.

“It’s ok.” I insist.

“No.” She shakes he head. “I could have stopped him taking you.”

“Drew,” I argue. “There’s no way you could have stopped them, but we’re safe now.”

“Finally.” Lauren breathes a sigh of relief.

“I put both of you in danger.” She hangs her head in shame.

“Don’t you dare.” I growl. “You have nothing to be sorry about and I don’t want to hear this self-pity a second more. You had nothing to do with it, you couldn’t have stopped them and we’re safe now.”

Devlin laughs beside me and I give him a funny look. “Tough old lady.” He says laughing.

Drew and Elise join him and we meet the others who have waited to see Lauren and I. All the old ladies are here and glad to see us safe. Nelly is much like Elise and Drew and won’t stop crying even though we’re both here with them. Tech, her Old Man, puts an arm around her to try and settle her. Their two year old son Bobby wriggles in his father’s arms as he tries to reach Nelly. She reaches for him and when she holds him, Bobby stretches his arm and caresses his mother’s face, Nelly stops crying and kisses him on his chubby cheek.

“So, I hear Bomber is here.” I whisper over to Elise.

Her smiling face fades and a frown covers her features. “Yeah.”

“Why the long face?” I ask, taking a much needed sit down on the closest sofa.

Elise joins me. “He’s tried talking to me, but with you and Lauren gone, I didn’t think it was right.”

“But now we’re back.” I tease her.

I take a long deep breath and cringe from the pain shooting through my stomach.

“I don’t know.” She bites on her lip.

“What’s the deal with you two?” I ask.

Ever since we were taken to the US Kings of Rebellion clubhouse and saw the way Elise and Bomber interacted, I’ve been so curious. Now that he’s here, I’m wondering if we will see something develop.

“We were close as kids but then his dad joined the American charter. I didn’t know then that he was actually going under cover at The Devils and I definitely didn’t know he had taken Bomber inside with him. There was something there, even at the age of fifteen.” She looks happy as the thinks about their shared past. Young love, how sweet.

“Now you can reconnect.” I smile at her, but she frowns again.

“We’ve hardly spoken. Between you and Lauren missing and Scrappy making sure Bomber is kept well away, I don’t think anything will happen.” She sulks. I can tell how much she likes him by how down she looks.

“Don’t worry, you have me back now.” I wiggle my eyebrows, making her laugh.

“You ok babe?” Devlin asks, he’s standing above me, looking concerned.

“I’m ok, just needed to sit down.” I try to reassure him.

“Come on, you need to go to bed.” He holds out his hand and as much as I want to refuse him because he’s telling me what to do, I know I need to rest up.

I take his helping hand and groan as I stand. Shit that was sore. Devlin fusses over me, making Elise smirk from the cuteness.

“Devlin, I’m ok.” I tell him.

“Go and rest.” Elise adds.

“We’re not done with this conversation.” I remind her as Devlin helps me away.

“What conversation?” Devlin asks as we make our way through concerned members.

“Bomber.” I reply, preparing myself for Devlin and him telling me to stay out of it.

“That won’t happen.” He laughs. “Scrappy won’t allow it.”

“You knew?” I gasp as we make our way to his room.

“Everyone does.” He shakes his head. “Scrappy doesn’t trust him, never has.”

“Because of him being with The Devils?”

“Not just that. He’s very protective of Elise.” Devlin tells me as he helps me down on the bed.

I sigh in content, this bed feels good. Devlin joins me, smoothing my hair.

“I’m so glad to have you back.” He whispers.

“Me too.” I kiss him softly, careful to not press too hard on my stitches. “So, am I your old lady?”

I know he asked me before but it wasn’t totally official and after hearing him call me it in front of everyone today has left me feeling weightless.

“Of course you are.” He laughs. God he’s so sexy, his laugh is deep and husky and his dark eyes stare into my bright ones.

I’m so happy to be back where I belong. Devlin holds me, careful not to hurt me and we lay like this for the rest of the day. Happy to be back together, with no threats hanging over our heads. I know that Savage and the rest of The Devils that survived are in the warehouse awaiting their punishment from The Kings, but I won’t say anything. Devlin will know what I’m intending to do, I just hope Savage is still alive when I’m able to sneak in and give him my signature blessing, I hope he likes heat to his dick. If he’s anything like Demon, he will scream like a bitch.

The next morning a church meeting is called and this one will be very interesting. Prez has just announced that he’s set up a phone call with Savages VP, back in the US and that will be on loud speaker during church. His name is Breaker. I’ve never met him but my brother has and as long as he says he’s a good man, I’ll take his word.

I can’t figure out if he would have been involved or not. The way Strike told it, Savage wanted to be the new and improved Devil President, with no help from anyone but the Devils. Meaning that nobody from the US Kings charter, including Breaker, knew what their back stabbing Prez was up to. But I’m not about to start trusting Strike, dead or alive. Which leads us onto the second topic for church, what are we going to do about Strike’s sister and Grims agreement to keep an eye on her?

Leaving Natasha in bed this morning was tough. I have my club duties but having her back with me and injured I feel like I can’t leave her alone.

“How’s Tash doing?” Spliff asks when I take my seat at Church.

“Better now she’s home.” I answer, full respect for my brother for asking how my woman is doing when he’s just lost his own. “How are you doing?”

“As good as I can be.” He straightens himself. “As long as I keep my kids happy, I’ll live happy enough.”

Spliff’s words make me feel sorry for my brother. I know he’s not going to be thinking about meeting someone else right now but it’s sad to hear that all he wants is his children’s happiness. I hope that eventually he will find someone else to fill his heart. Of course, I will never speak this out loud my brothers would rip me a new one for sounding like a pussy.

Prez walks in quickly followed by Grim and as soon as they sit down my Dad hits the gavel down. He gets out his phone and places it in front of him on the dark wood table.

“Let’s give Breaker a call.” With a tap on his phone the dialling tones sound out as he puts it on loud speaker for us all to hear.

“Franky.” Breaker greets only a few seconds later, obviously waiting for our call. “I have you on loudspeaker so the brothers can hear you.”

“I’m doing the same brother.” My dad replies. “Saves us repeating it to everyone.”

“I hear ya.” Breaker laughs. “Bomber make it out to you?”

“I’m here.” Bomber shouts out, earning a frown from Scrappy.

“Let’s get down to it Breaker shall we?” Dad cuts in.

“Yeah.” Breaker adds. “Just what did Prez do?”

“He’s not your Prez anymore Breaker.” My Dad reveals.

“The fuck?” Breaker asks, his shocked tone coming clearly from the speaker.

“Two of our girls were kidnapped a couple of days ago. Strike and the Devils were behind it of course, but what we didn’t know was that Savage has been working with them.” Dad delivers.

“Prez? Why would he be working the Devils?” He asks.

“We didn’t know until we found him in the house our girls were kept in.” My dad adds.

“How do you know he wasn’t just trying to help?” Breaker asks.

“With his fist!?” I stand, pure rage dripping from me. “My girl was in fucking bits! Savage helped with that, his words to her was that he was the new Devils President and she would be his whore!”

“Calm down Devlin!” My father shouts.

“I don’t wanna hear that shit!” I slam my fist down on the wood table.

I look over to Grim and see that he’s barely holding is shit back.

“Sit down or you can get out!” My Dad shouts over to me and because I want to hear what’s going to happen I shut up and take my seat.

After a few seconds of silence Breaker continues to speak.

“From that reaction, I take your word for the truth.” Breaker admits. “We were led to believe Savage was out on private business. Is this why you returned to the UK Bomber?”

“Yes.” Bomber adds. “I’ve been suspicious of him for a while. I needed to come here to help them out.”

We all know that that’s a lie. He’s here on purely selfish reasons but nobody says a thing.

“So why not give me a fucking heads up?” Breaker sounds pissed.

“That’s down to me Breaker,” Dad interrupts. “As soon as he told me of his plans, I told him to keep it a secret. At the time we didn’t know if your Prez was working alone or not.”

“He’s not our fucking Prez anymore.” Breaker spits. “Where’s the piece of shit now?”

“In the warehouse but he won’t be for much longer.” Grim growls out.

“I’m gonna need you to keep him alive for me Franky.” Breaker asks. “He’s our Prez, and I know he wronged your women, but he’s ours to punish. I can’t make it out right away but I’ll be with you within the month.”

“I understand.” Dad admits into the phone.

“Just make sure he’s alive.” Breaker demands, sounding like a true President.

The phone call quickly ends after that. After a few details of when, where and how. Dad also tells him to declare his newly appointed VP when he visits in a months’ time.

“I think it’s safe to say he didn’t know anything.” Baby points out.

“Too bad you promised no harm to Savage Prez.” I add. “I can’t promise I will come through on that.”

“That’s why I said he will be alive, I didn’t agree on what state he would be in.” My Dad chuckles as he puts his phone away. “Are we all in agreement that Breaker and his charter were innocent in all this?”

He goes around the table everyone says yes as I thought they would. It does seem pretty clear Breaker knew nothing. Although, if I was him I would be looking through my men a lot closer for the next few weeks. You never know, someone in that charter could have been helping Savage at his request. He was their president after all.

“So, next in line.” Prez reaches under the table and shows a bunch of pictures of Strike’s dear little sister Simone.

She looks nothing like her brothers, which is a good thing for her. She looks to have red hair, not the dyed kind but the tone that you’re born with and she’s very slim. I would say she’s pretty, but it feels odd thinking of Strike’s sister as pretty. She’s young, and the pictures that are being shown, she looks happy. No doubt that smile wouldn’t be on her face if she knew who she was related to.

“Strike’s little sister.” Baby grins. “You know, she’s kinda hot.”

“Baby.” Prez warns and Baby’s smug grin vanishes.

“Some of you might not know what Grim agreed to Strike’s death wish.” Grim becomes annoyed at Dads words.

“It wasn’t like that.” He argues. “He asked us to watch over his sister because Venom might go after her.”

“Why would he do that though?” Tech asks.

“Because Venom is a twisted fuck and he was held back by Strike.” I add.

“Worse than his brother?” Neo asks not believing that at all.

“Yes.” Grim answers, deadly serious. “Venom is young, he grew up watching Strike torture men and women he learnt and developed what he saw. The only man to hold him back was Strike, and now he’s dead.”

“He thinks that Venom will go after his sister because he didn’t see the point in keeping her hidden.” I add.

“But she’s not our problem.” Scrappy reminds us.

Disagreements fly around the table until Prez calls it to an end asking for a final vote. It’s pretty close, but the vote says we do nothing. It pisses Grim off and it annoys me. An innocent girl might be in danger and we’re the only ones to warn her, but the vote is our law. She’s not our worry so therefore none of our concern. I can see why most of the brothers who voted against it, we’ve been through so much shit already. Why throw ourselves into more?