The Don's Baby: A Bad Boy Romance (32 page)

CHAPTER NINE

“Not sure what you mean, dude. Getting something to eat, quizzing you…the answer to that is debatable.” He didn’t know why he was giving the wise man shit, but he was having a hard enough time figuring out what he was doing, and he didn’t think he’d be able to explain to someone else what he was doing.

“Don’t bullshit me man.” Fat J. was someone Rafael felt comfortable with, so he didn’t take offense at his tone or his question—especially because he
was
bullshitting him until he could figure out how much he was going to share and what the hell was going on in the first place. Rafael was known as “The Lucky One” for a reason. He believed it was because he was able to make snap decisions, and they were usually pretty good ones. What most people didn’t know was he was like a human lie detector and could almost feel when someone was telling him a lie. That was one of the reasons he’d gotten so high up in the ranks as fast as he had.

“I’m not known for bullshit, so why don’t you say what you’re thinking and we can stop with the general niceties.”

“I’ve met your new friend before.” Fat J. tipped his head toward Emma while he kept his eyes on Rafael.

“You’ve been around the block, buddy. I’m sure you have seen everyone on the scene at least once.” He kept eye contact with Fat J., even though he felt twitchy at where this conversation was headed. This was the type of conversation he had with others, but being on the receiving end of a situation where you may be in the wrong just didn’t sit well with him.

“She’s loyal to the Headless Reapers, and she’d been with them for quite a while if I recall correctly. I know she’s one of their club girls…one of the favorites apparently because they keep her under wraps. She’s not one you’d have found out on the town, and I know I saw her earlier tonight, so how in the world did you end up with her?”

“It’s a long story.”

“Brother, I’ve got nothing but time,” Fat J. said, with a grin on his face.

“Right, but I don’t fat man.” Rafael laughed at the way his large friend stretched both of his hands up and placed them behind his head—like he was just settling in for the long tale.

“So, this whole secret thing you have going on with the Reaper’s golden girl? I’m hoping that this is one of your one night specials because—if not—I hope you are ready for what could possibly come next?”

Rafael looked around and spotted Emma. She’d found a seat and waved to him when he found her and he nodded back at her. “I don’t know, Fat. I like her and I wouldn’t mind seeing her a few more times.”

The shock on Fat J.’s face would have been amusing if he didn’t think about the reason behind it. The man was like stone. No expressions showed on his face most of the time. One of the things he was known for was the fact that he was practically unreadable. The thought had crossed his mind earlier that being with Emma may not have been the best idea, but sometimes the best ideas weren’t always the safest. He had watched her at the party, he had enticed her away, and then she blew
him
away with the sex and the memories.

“Why so shocked, fat man?” Rafael was torn between wanting to know what his friend would have to say and keeping his head in the sand.

“Are you trying to start a war?” The man sat up and moved in as if he was telling Rafael something he didn’t want out. “You know as well as I that the tension between the Tribesmen and the Reapers has been rocky at best and right now it’s at its rockiest. Both sides seem to be looking for a reason to bite the head off the other one. Do you really want to be that reason? I see you two walking around for all to see, like you both aren’t playing for opposite teams, and I wonder what would have happened if members of either of your clubs were enjoying a bite to eat. You picked a good place that neither visit often. But what if tonight had been the night they wanted to try it out?”

There really wasn’t anything Rafael could say about any of this, since it was true. He’d known that no one of either set was likely to be in this establishment at this time of night or really at any time. He was surprised to see Fat J. sitting there when they got there, but he should have been more prepared for the scenario his friend suggested.

“I can see you are thinking about the difference it would have made if you saw club men in here, and that’s good. There has been no blood shed between the Tribesmen and the Reapers…yet. Do I think with the way tensions are heating up that it won’t bubble over? I’m not sure. But what I want you to think about, Lucky,” Fat J. looked at Rafael, as if trying to determine if what he was saying would penetrate the thick skull of stubbornness he had seen firsthand, “is…do you really want the first drop to be spilled on your account?”

Rafael sat listening to what his friend was saying, and he understood and agreed with his assessment of the situation with the clubs; but, when he looked over at Emma, he wasn’t sure he was willing to give her up that quickly. They could be secretive and maybe just take a bit of time to figure out what they had going on. Sure, he’d seen things turn bad on a dime but that didn’t mean it would necessarily happen with them or with this venture.

“My god,” Fat J. said. Rafael watched the man look between himself and Emma. “Don’t tell me you’re trying to have feelings for this one. I’ve seen you go through women as most people go through sunflower seeds. You take one enjoy her and spit her out only to replace her with another random seed, but here you sit and I can practically hear you trying to rationalize getting more time with her.”

“You’re pretty poetic today. I didn’t say I was going to marry her or anything but I am interested…so what?”

“So…what do you think the president of the Mountain Tribesman would do if he knew his VP was at the first annual party the Headless Reapers threw this evening? That’s the only place you’d have picked up your new arm candy. I saw her leave tonight and so did everyone else. It smacks of cocky disrespect for the Reapers or could be seen as disloyalty for the Tribesmen. I won’t even say what could happen to the lady in that particular scenario. I know you Rafael and you didn’t come this far in the ranks because you didn’t think things through. Take a look at what you’re doing and the many ways this could play out. There isn’t really a good ending for the two of you any way this shakes out.”

Rafael hadn’t considered it the way Fat J. was describing it, but club life had rules, regulations, and consequences for those who didn’t follow said rules and regulations. Loyalty was at the base of all club life, but he wouldn’t have considered what he’d done disloyal to his club, and he really didn’t give a fuck about the Reapers. What would happen to one of their club girls who did something like this? He wasn’t really sure as none of the ladies who were with them wanted to leave. If they did, he didn’t know about it.

“I hear you, man.” Rafael said, as he sat up and faced his friend. “I’m not taking this lightly. I will really take your words into consideration.”

“I know you hear me. You’ve got great listening skills. But the question is what will you do with the information? I can feel the wind of you blowing me off.” The fat man was wise beyond his years. That’s probably why he was respected in most sets of club life. It’s also the reason why he was still alive even though he said how he felt to anyone who he wanted to say it to. “Think of Layla. She’s one of the most popular girls in your club, right?”

“I guess you could say that.” He knew where this was going and yes, he knew there would be hell to pay if Layla somehow swapped sides. It wouldn’t be taken lightly. She was a big woman with a huge heart, and she could ride your cock for as long as you needed…anytime you wanted. A hot commodity is what the Tribesmen had in Layla. They knew it and so did she. Besides what he’d seen during the huge fight between the clubs and a few other sightings, he’d rarely seen Emma. However, he’d experienced what a few hours deep in her pussy could do and he’d even thought about who was missing this fine fuck.

“There will be no promises made this night. I know I want to see her again. That’s all I can say.”

“So you are willing to risk all you both have in your lives for a chance to see her? You can’t believe this is an affair that will work out in the long run.”

Rafael watched Emma enjoying her food and found himself smiling. She did everything with gusto. Where most women would daintily pick at their food and try to look cute, this one was truly enjoying her food. She took regular bites and ran her fries through the ketchup before plopping them into her mouth. He enjoyed watching a woman find pleasure—whether it was on his cock or some other kind.

“I’ll be damned,” Fat J. murmured.

“What?” Rafael turned his attention back to his friend. The man looked even more distraught than he had the last time he looked at him.

“You can’t believe you really like her that much after one night, and not even a full night at that.” Fat J. had gone from looking shocked to incredulous. Rafael couldn’t believe how many expressions had crossed his friend’s face. It was probably more than he’d seen at any one meeting. If anything should make him ponder what was going on with this situation, it would be that.

“I’m not going into what I believe—and with that I’m going to grab a bite to eat with my newest friend.”

“I can’t stop what you are going to do, but please take what I’ve said under consideration. That’s all that I ask. Alright, Lucky?”

Rafael looked at his friend and could see real concern in his eyes. It was warranted, and he knew that, but it didn’t make him want to stop whatever was happening between him and Emma. He would consider what he was doing, but his gut hadn’t placed any warning bells since he met her. Yet, he hoped what they had for each other didn’t disarm his defenses somehow.

“I’ll think about what you’ve said. It’s a good thing we’re friends, Fat. I can’t imagine talking to you about this if we weren’t…unless you count my fist in your face as a conversation.” He was done with this little talk and his friend for the moment. Thankful for the additional point of view, but not willing to let Emma go just yet he stood from the booth and prepared to walk away.

“You’d be surprised at how often I hear that,” Fat J. said with a laugh. “Tell Emma I said hello.”

“So you know her…not just know about her?” Rafael asked wondering what Fat J. knew.

“I know a lot of things about a lot of things,” he responded. Now, this was the man he knew: cryptic, and knowledgeable.

“Anything you think I should know in particular?” Rafael asked his friend.

Fat J. looked like he wasn’t going to answer him. He took a big bite of his sandwich and washed it down with his drink, but then he sighed deeply. “She seems to be a great conversationalist, witty, funny, and well-liked by the club members and the other club girls. The last president, McMillan, brought her in and deemed her practically untouchable until recently.”

“Maybe that’s because the new president has taken over and McMillian is nowhere to be found.” Rafael added still confused about the state of affairs with that situation, but like Marlene used to say—Not his monkeys…not his circus.

“Could be. All I know is with new leadership there are big changes and also the need to prove oneself.” Fat J. narrowed his eyes at Rafael. “This really doesn’t seem like a good time to stir the pot, but that’s not my decision or my spoon.”

“Keep safe, Fat J.,” Rafael said, as he walked away from his friend. The air felt immediately lighter the farther he got away from the whole situation. It was a given that he would need to deal with the situation—unless he could shake the feeling that he wanted to see more of Emma.

CHAPTER TEN

Sitting down at the table, Rafael was glad that Emma hadn’t waited for him. Full throttle—that’s how he liked to live and that’s how he liked the people around him. She was thoroughly enjoying what was left of her food.

“I was going to wait for you, but it looked like the conversation you two were having was intense, and I wanted to taste this hot and fresh.”

“Good, huh?”

“You were right. This food is delicious. I’ll refrain from thinking bad thoughts about things before I look more fully at what is being offered,” she said, sitting back in her chair with the look of a person with a full belly.

“How long have you been with the Reapers?” After talking with Fat J., Rafael wondered where Emma’s head was along the lines of loyalty and what they were doing together.

“I’ve been with them for about 5 years. I can tell by the look in your eye and the person you were talking to that you now have some doubts about whatever this thing is we’re doing.” She looked sad. He hated that look on her, but it was time for some real talk.

“What do you think would happen if you were seen with me…eating in a restaurant…just taking it easy?” He watched the color drain from her face. “I know. Not a good thought. I’m used to doing my own thing and saying to hell with the consequences, but I wasn’t sure if you’d thought about that.”

“I owe the Reapers my life. They saved me from a fate worse than death.” She took a minute to take a sip of her beverage, and she appeared to be thinking it over. “Lately, I’ve been rethinking this life choice I made. I told you that before, but I knew when I did it that this lifestyle wasn’t one I could opt out of easily. I wasn’t using you to get out of anything, but when we flirted at the house and you wanted to take me somewhere, I think that was as much excitement as I’ve had in a good long while. When I found out who you really were—there was no way I was going to let you go without having a slice of ‘The Lucky One.’” Her smile coupled with the pink in her cheeks made her adorable. Adorable? Who the fuck was he becoming?

He didn’t know what to say to her because, whatever came of it, he could take care of himself. That she had thought about it and knew what her role was supposed to be was refreshing. It would have been easy for her to say that she didn’t know about the life and the loyalty that was supposed to come with it. He would have known she was lying, but he’d have known what kind of person she was. Now, he added honesty to all the other things he liked about her.

“It’s not something we have to think about tonight. I just wanted to know where you stood and what, if anything, you were considering.”

He picked up his burger that was cooled down but still tasted delicious and watched as she ran her remaining French fries through the ketchup on her plate. “I really brought the vibe down.”

She smiled at that. “I like to be handed the truth straight out, so I appreciate open conversation. It’s hard for me to believe that I was having so much fun I didn’t even think about what could happen if we were seen out together.”

He just nodded and continued to eat.

“What about the guy you were talking to? I’ve seen him several times at the clubhouse. Do you think he would say anything?”

“I don’t believe so. Nothing in this world is a 100 percent guarantee, but I’ve got a lot of faith in Andreas and I can’t say that about many people outside of my club.”

“I think they call him Fat Jesus,” she said with a giggle, “but that’s not what the girls call him.”

“That is what he’s called, even though I think it’s because of his looks it hasn’t really been verified. I wasn’t sure if you knew him or not.” This one knew a lot more than she let on at first. She hadn’t acted as if she’d known who he was, but she knew enough to know his nickname and from the way she sounded, the girls in her club called him something else so he must be there a bit. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know what the women called Fat J., and he didn’t want to have whatever they joked about on his mind the next time he had to talk to him about business.

“You said you left Miss Marlene’s house and joined up with your mother. Is your mother still around?” Try as he might, he kept going back to this. He knew why he left his foster mother’s house; but, if Emma was so unhappy, why didn’t she just stay where she was?

“I said I liked honest conversation, and then you jumped right in there,” she said with a sad smirk on her face. “Like I said, I went to live with my mother. She was into some illegal stuff, and that’s how she got me into running drugs here and there. One of the operations went bad and the people I was supposed to deliver the drugs to wanted sex, as well. I wasn’t willing to put out, and they decided they would just take it. I don’t think they ever planned to let me out of there. They were going to kill me or sell me to someone. I had a bad feeling as soon as I got there, but it was too late. Dustin was one of the men there.”

“Dustin was one of the leaders of the Reapers a couple of years ago.”

“Right,” she said looking at him like she was glad he knew who she was talking about without more explanation. “He saved me from the whole situation and kept the peace. I walked out of there on his arm, and he took me home. I was never so grateful to anyone until later that night when my mother had made another bad deal, and I had to watch the men who came for her shoot her in the head while we huddled together.”

“Damn!” That was more than he expected to hear, but now he knew why she had a fear of guns. He couldn’t imagine what that would be like. His mother wasn’t anything to write sonnets about but watching someone kill her while he hung on to her for dear life would be life-altering.

“After the men left, I stayed on the floor holding my mother in my arms. I think I was in shock. I didn’t look at her, but I was covered her blood. Dustin had given me a way to get in touch with him, and when I’d gotten myself together enough to get up and get out of there, I called him. He came to pick me up, and that’s where my club life began.”

Rafael listened to her story. When she finished, he was amazed at her strength. He also didn’t remember eating his food; but, when he glanced down at his plate, he noticed that it was empty. Emma looked like that story had taken the rest of the umph out of her, but it could be that it was so late. Plus, she’d had a full night and now a fuller belly.

“You ready to get out of here?” For some reason, he wanted to give her something he’d not given to anyone else. A night in his bed. Rafael had learned early that it was easier to leave than to wait for someone else to get the hint that the party was over and it was time to go. Most of his hook-ups were in hotels, alleys, or at the lucky woman’s place of residence. That way it was over when he said it was over.

“Sure,” she said standing up and putting the trash on the tray. He did the same with his tray and then led the way out to his bike.