Pearl's Awakening (Devil's Iron MC #3) (12 page)

Reaching the house, a short while later, I find Markus waiting for me as soon as I walk in the door. Rushing into his arms I find the comfort in them an absolute opposite from the turmoil of the situation at the Dungeon.

“Markus what is going on? First, Ember saying that something happened to her in the parking lot and then Doc acting so very weird when he heard that she was in trouble. Do those two have a past?”

“I don’t fucking know Pearl, I would guess so with the commentary that I got from Tank about the situation. He will be stuck at the Dungeon trying to figure out what the hell went on tonight, both outside with Ember’s car, as well as inside with Doc.”

Taking my hands in one of his, he uses the other to turn my head up to his. “Pet, what were you thinking stepping up to Doc when he was so worked up over Ember? That is not acceptable behavior. You or the babe could have gotten injured.”

Tugging on my wrists we move towards the stairs and he drags me up them as he goes on. “You know better than to put yourself in the way of danger, especially while you are carrying our babe. What do you think that you were doing? Doc is fucking able to put someone to ground with little thought to it, and just because you are a woman doesn’t mean that he would stop.”

“Markus, I was just standing up to him for saying that shit to Ember.” Shaking her head, she goes on, “Doc would never do anything to hurt me Markus, I think that you are overreacting. He was just pissed off, nothing would have happened.”

“You do not know that, Little One. Doc was seeing red and nothing or no one is able to talk him down from that. You need to learn to take your safety and the safety of our babe into consideration. This is not the first time that you have put yourself and him at risk. You did it with Layla as well and that is not fucking acceptable. Don’t think that just because that bitch should have been put to ground, you should have had any hand in doing that shit. You are pregnant, for fucks sake.”

Opening the door to the play room he swats my ass as I walk through the door. “Bend over the bed, drop your pants to the floor and tuck your shirt up. This will be quick because it is late, but you will be punished for this foolish behavior that you cannot seem to keep yourself from.”

“Yes, Master.”

Pulling the yoga pants down over my hips, I let them fall to the floor around my ankles before tucking my shirt up. Bending over the bed I stretch my arms up and above my head grabbing onto the blanket tightly, waiting for my Master to dole out his punishment.

“I see that Abraham worked you over tonight as well, huh? Were you being a brat with him? I did think to warn him about your new found sass, in case you felt the need to try it out on him.”

Looking into his green eyes a smile comes to his lips as he realizes how true his assumption is. “So, you were and he took his belt to you as punishment. Yes? These lines are quite deep, he didn’t take it easy on you did he?” Running his hand over the stripes before land a swift smack on each check, he goes on. “Did he take it easy on you, Pet? Answer me.”

“No, Master he did not take it easy on me.” Looking up into his eyes again I don’t wait long to see lust in them. “He belted me only after he stuck a finger in my ass dry to make his point about not wanting me playing games with either one of you, Master.”

“Oh, what a lesson you had to learn indeed. You will learn this one as well and I hope it is quickly, because your safety is all that matters to both myself and Abraham.” Landing five slaps against my cheeks he goes on, “You, the girls, and that babe are all that matter and are only closely rivaled by our brothers in the MC. You need to learn that you should always protect yourself and our family above all else.” Landing five more, “no matter who the threat comes from, something could change in an instant and you will not put yourself in situations that could lead to your safety being put in jeopardy.” Five more slaps land on my ass before he finishes with, “You are all that fucking matters and you will do well to remember that the next time something comes up. Do you understand me?” Landing a hard hit on each check accentuating them with, “Answer me, Now.”

“Yes, Master I understand that I am not to put myself, the girls, or the babe in any further situations that might jeopardize my safety or that of the children. I will work to do better in the future with this.”

Putting Pearl to bed after rubbing some crème on her ass and thighs, I grab the phone and call Tank to find out what the fuck he learned about tonight. Walking down the stairs to the kitchen I pull out a beer as he answers his phone.

“Tank, what the hell did Doc have to say for himself when you questioned him? Why the fuck did he see red when it came to Ember and then take it out on both Country and our woman?”

“It is a long and fucked up story Markus, but I will do my best to recap. First off, he apologized and swore up and down that he would have never done anything to Pearl. I let him know if it ever happened again, that we would not take it lightly and he would be beaten to within an inch of his life.”

“Did you happen to fucking stand behind that with anything, Tank?”

“Yes, Prez. He has a black eye and will have trouble breathing for a few days. I don’t think I broke anyribs, but he got the message loud and clear.”

“Good, good. Now tell me what the fuck you found out about him and Ember and why he had that brash fucking reaction to seeing her and hearing that she was in trouble.”

“Doc said that he and Ember have a past, that is all he would fucking tell me when I asked him about it. He told me that she always has trouble following her wherever she goes, and he implied that it had something to do with a previous relationship. A relationship, the best I could tell, she had before they were together, five or six years ago. When I tried to talk more to him about it he fucking told me to mind my own fucking business and leave her to him then stormed out of the Dungeon.”

“What the fuck, five years ago Doc was on the road a lot and didn’t stick around Chicago for very long stretches at all. Fucking goddamn drama is not what we need, shit was just settling down after that chaos with Layla. What did you find out about Ember and the man that you saw by her car?”

“Nothing. She didn’t talk to me and Country said she went to her room and passed out shortly after they got back to her house. He looked around a little, but really didn’t find anything that stuck out to him. Did you realize that she has a son, Prez? Pearl mentioned it to me as we were walking out and said the kid was at her mom’s house for the night.”

“No, I didn’t realize that she had a kid, do you think that might have something to do with the man by her car or the trouble coming her way?”

“I don’t know Prez, I will go over there early tomorrow and talk to her more to get a better handle on what happened. I think that I will just hole up at my house tonight, so you can lock yourselves up tight. I will stop by in the morning after I have talked with Ember to let you know what I find out.”

“Sounds good Tank. Thanks for being there and stepping in when Pearl took her safety in her own hands. She is really quite a brat when she wants to be. Also, I am glad that you were able to win her back and deal out a punishment that went none too easy on her, from what she has told me.”

“Markus, I was only taken aback momentarily by her tingles. I am fully fucking in on this relationship and whatever we need to do to make it work, I am ready for. However, we need to figure this shit out with Ember before we try to work through any issues with our relationship. Pearl was very protective over Ember and had no problem sticking up for her to Doc.”

“Yes, I noticed that by the story you told of her behavior tonight when she found Ember. She is really a fucking angry momma bear when need be. It was the same fucking way when Layla was at the house threatening her. I punished her for taking her safety into her own hands both that night and tonight, but between us, I am fucking proud as hell, knowing that she has no fear when it comes to those she feels are family.”

“Ok, Tank, be safe, we will see you in the morning.”

“Always am Prez.”

Walking back upstairs to Pearl I rub the back of my neck knowing that whatever this thing with Ember is, it will be just our luck that it turns out to be a complete and utter shit show.

Checking on the girls quickly before heading into our bedroom, I find them both resting peacefully. Tomorrow they will be going back to Milwaukee with Pearl. I cannot wait until they are here with me, no us, each and every day and we can start our lives together.

I wish my night had ended a different way, but at least I got to taste my Little One again. I know that I need to do more to make sure that she is secure and feels safe with me. I am not sure how I will be able to make up leaving and doubting her, but it is something that I will need to do.

I tossed and turned in bed for almost two hours before I passed out from exhaustion.  Waking up what feels like only a short time later, I look to the clock and see that it is going on eight am. Getting out of bed I head into the shower to get this day started.

Getting on my bike I head over to Ember’s house after calling Country to get the address. As I pull up outside, I see the truck that Country was driving. As soon as I cut the engine on my bike I see Doc pulling up on his bike behind me.

“What the fuck are you doing here, Doc? I thought I told you if you can’t keep your shit together, you needed to stay the fuck away from this situation.”

“Shut the fuck up, Tank. I need to talk with Ember and I don’t have her fucking number and didn’t know where she was at.”

“You fucking followed me here to start shit with Ember again. What the fuck is wrong with you? Prez is going to have your balls when he finds out that you came here trying to get in the middle of this situation again.”

“I just want to help her, Tank. I can’t explain to you about what we went through or how badly things ended, but I know that I need to try and make it up to her.”

Striding towards me he goes on, “Last night was the first time I have seen Ember in almost five and a half years. She caught me off guard, to say the least. The last time I saw her I told her I would see her when I got back from a run that the MC needed me to go on. When I got back ten days later, she was fucking gone, no note, no call, no nothing. Her house looked like it had been ransacked, but she packed up her shit and fucking took off like what we shared meant fucking nothing to her.”

Tugging on his beard he looks at me, “I need to see her and talk with her, I will help you and Prez however you need until whatever danger she has found herself in this time is neutralized. I would never do anything to put her, Pearl, or the club in danger.”

“Let me talk with her first, Doc. We need to try and sort out what the fuck is going on and who the fuck came after her last night. If she is okay with talking with you after, that is on her. Don’t fucking go against me in this though, Prez will not be keen to know that you are sticking your nose in where it does not fucking belong, especially if something goes south with our woman again.”

Leaving him outside I stride to the door and don’t even get a chance to knock before Country is opening the door to me. “Morning Tank.”

“Morning Country, is she up? I need to talk with her and the sooner the better.” Walking past him into the house I notice the toys and books scattered around the house as I make my way towards the noises I hear.

When I reach the living room I see a boy of no more than five watching cartoons on the TV. His dark brown hair and olive skin remind me of the man who I was just talking to outside. Turning to Ember I stalk over to her and bit out, “Does he know?”

“Tank, what are you talking about?”

“Don’t fucking play games, Ember. Does Doc know that he has a son? Or am I mistaken and you were fucking lots of men that looked so similar those years back?”

I feel her hand connect with my cheek before I could even register what was happening. I am the one in charge of security and am the one that keeps getting attacked by threats I don’t even register.

Grabbing her wrist, I tug down on it as I look into her eyes and see nothing but fear and regret. “Tell me Ember, does he know that he has a son? Does the boy know about his father?”

“Please Tank, you can’t say anything- I will leave as soon as I can get my shit packed up- I didn’t think that Doc would even know we were in town. I have been laying low for the past year that we have been back. I just needed to see my mom and spend some time with my dad before he passed away.”

“We can discuss that more later, for now you need to know that he is outside and wants to speak with you about your abrupt departure all those years ago. I however, need to know who that was by your car last night and also what they did or left in your car to spook you so. Start explaining it to me, now.”

“It is not as simple as you are thinking. When I left it wasn’t because of Doc, I was in love with him, I was carrying his child for fuck’s sake. Of course he didn’t know that, I had just found out a few days before I had to leave.” Closing her eyes, I prompt her to keep going and she slowly returns to the story.

“My ex was very abusive and when Doc left for a run, he caught up to me. He came into my home. Taking turns between raping and beating me repeatedly over the next few days. I thought that I had lost the baby and when he left after a few days, for god knows what, probably thinking that I was too bruised and battered to leave or live, I fucking ran. I thought I had been careful enough to hide from him, but I had to come home last year when my dad started to get sick.”

Reaching for her shaking hands I take them in mine and try to comfort her. “Would you like for me to call Pearl, Ember? She is still in Chicago and could be here in a few minutes if you would like? She has been through some shit in her life as well and I think that she could really help.”

“No, don’t bother her. I have relived this shit for the last five years. It never gets easier and the only thing that makes it better is knowing that I didn’t lose the little man in there when this shit was all happening.”

“Is that who the man was that we caught on camera by your car the other night, this ex of yours?”

“No, he would never be stupid enough to do that shit for himself. It was one of his brothers, I am sure.”

“Brothers, as in an MC? Who the fuck is this ex of yours Ember?”

“His road name is Clutch, he is President of the Knights”

“I know who he is Ember. Are you telling me that you dated him before Doc? How old were you when you dated him Ember?”

“Not legal, if that is what you are getting at. I was barely legal when Doc and I started to hook up.” Running a hand through her hair she glances towards the little boy who is still sitting on the couch watching TV. “I ran away from home when I was 16 and ran straight into Clutch and that fucking club. It took me almost two years to realize what was happening in both our relationship and the Knights in general. When I left I didn’t think that he would ever do anything to me. I guess he was fucking pissed when he found out that I started seeing a Devil’s Iron brother, and when he got an opportunity to show me his disdain for my choice, he fucking took it.”

“Well Ember, I will need to tell Prez this so that we can come up with a solution. Even if you were not so close with the Devil’s Iron, he came after you on our watch and we will make sure that you are safe. Country will stay here with you and either me or Prez will be back by the end of the day to give you an update on the situation.”

“Thanks Tank, that really makes me feel better, but I am sure that he has other things that he could be doing. I will be alright here by myself.”

Hearing a rough booming voice form the doorway we both look over to see Doc. Taking up the majority of the door frame he gets out, “Country can go home I will stay and watch over her. We need to talk anyway about where the fuck she has been for the last five and a half years.”

Seeing the panic in her face as I look at Ember, I turn and look to the couch through the other doorway and notice the boy is no longer there. Turning back, I notice that he has made his way into the kitchen and is now standing beside his mother looking towards Doc.

Cocking his head to the side, anger is radiating off of Doc and I am worried about what is about to happen. Taking a step forward to block his path, I am quickly bumped out of the way as Doc kneels down next to the boy looking up to Ember asking only one thing, “What is his name, Ember?”

“Vincent,” spills softly from her lips as tears start falling from her eyes.

“That’s my dad’s name, too,” comes from the little boy’s lips and I am quickly taken aback by the atmosphere in this room.

“Yes, it is Vincent, yes it is.” Ruffling the little boy’s dark hair while still down on his knees, Doc looks up from the boy to Ember and back, again and again for long minutes.

Standing abruptly, Doc turns and walks from the room. We hear the front door slam before his bike starts up and he is gone.

“That was my daddy, right mommy? It looked just like the picture of the man that you always tell me about during goodnight story time.”

“Yes, sweetheart. That man is your daddy, don’t worry he will be back soon and he will talk more to you then, he was just nervous meeting you for the first time. Why don’t you go and wash up before we have lunch, huh? Then maybe we can play outside before it is time to lay down for your nap? Sound good?”

“Yes mommy, it sounds good. I know he will be back, I think that he might have just been too happy to see me and you.”

“Yes Vincent, I am sure that is exactly what happened.”

As the boy walks from the room, I look at Ember and see that her tears have stopped. “Ember, I don’t know what to say. I need to get this info about Clutch to Prez. Country will be here and I will leave you both mine and Markus’ number in case you need anything, Ok?”

“Yes, Tank. I will be fine. He actually took that much better than I thought he would have. It was my choice to leave without a word, and I will pay the piper when the time comes for that.”

Walking back through the house I let Country know that he will be on her until I talk to Prez and we come up with a plan. As I make my way to my bike I think that the Prospects will be logging some hours watching Ember over the next few days as we figure out how to deal with Clutch.

Riding over to Markus’ house, I cannot wait to get Pearl in my hands again. As I pull up into the driveway I am not sure how to approach Pearl if the girls are around. Why the fuck didn’t I talk about that with Markus yesterday? I have to discuss this shit about Ember with him anyway, we might not even be able to spend any time together. Fuck.