Chapter 7

GRIZZ

On our way back from the church, we stop by the club to grab my laptop and head back to Luna's. I also bring an overnight bag, figuring if I stay over, I can make sure her brother's friends stay away.

I offer to feed Ivy as she sets about tidying up her kitchen, and when she's done and Ivy is sleeping, I grab the laptop and we sit on the couch. "Okay," I say, "what sort of job?"

She shrugs. "Anything."

"What experience do you have?"

She frowns. "I'm only good at one thing."

I narrow my eyes. "Bullshit, Luna. You just made a shit load of bread."

"I'm not a qualified baker. I won't get a job in a real bakery or anything."

"So, tell me all the things you're good at."

She sighs heavily. "I make bread and I have sex. There is nothing else. Maybe I could stack shelves or something."

My heart sinks a little at how much she doubts herself. "Fine," I mutter, entering the job into the search engine.

She peers closer as a list of vacancies pops up. "Jesus, that's not much per hour."

"Minimum wage," I say with a shrug. "I could ask Axel if there's anything going in any of the businesses."

She shakes her head. "No, I'll find something."

"There's no shame in getting help once in a while, Luna."

"I know. I just can't see me finding anything with good hours that I can fit around Ivy. Jess can't babysit during the daytime, she's at school."

"Which proves she's not old enough to watch a newborn."

"Have you seen how much childcare is?" she asks, arching a brow. "I could never afford that, especially if I take a job paying minimum wage."

"I feel like you're trying to prove to me that working at Zen is the best for you."

She gives a small grin. "Is it working?"

I shake my head. "You need to tell Ivy's father and let him provide."

Luna looks pissed as she stands. "I'm not relying on a man."

"That's ridiculous," I tell her, grabbing her wrist before she can go anywhere. I place the laptop on the table and pull her onto my lap. "It's about getting money you're entitled to for Ivy."

"He'll want to be in her life. I don't want to share her."

"That's just selfish."

"I'm protecting her," she snaps, trying to get out of my hold. Her fidgeting only arouses me, and I pull her closer, burying my nose in the crook of her neck. "I won't have a man letting her down."

"He might surprise you."

"He won't," she mutters, giving up the fight and leaning into me as I run kisses over her shoulder and up her neck.

"Who is it?"

"No one you know." She turns in my arms, throwing a leg either side of my own.

It'sthe middle of the night and a loud bang wakes me. I frown. The room is cloaked in darkness, and it takes me a second to realise I'm still at Luna's place. Sitting up, I feel beside me to find the space where Luna was now empty.

I grab my mobile and check the time. It's two in the morning. I hear Luna's hushed whispers and frown. Who the hell could she be talking to at this hour? I get out of bed and pull on my jeans.

I carefully open the bedroom door. The hallway is empty, but Luna's urgent whispers alarm me, so I move faster, heading toward the living room. "Please," she hisses, "come back later."

"I want what I'm fucking owed," spits a man's voice.

I shove the living room door open, and Luna spins to face me, her expression full of panic. I arch a brow at the man holding her wrist in a tight grip. "Go back to bed," says Luna, pleading me with her eyes.

"What's going on?" I demand to know.

"Nothing, just go back to bed."

"It doesn't look like nothing."

"You heard her, go back to bed. I'll return her when I'm finished," the guy says with a cruel grin.

I give a slight shrug. "Okay," I say, turning to walk away. When I turn back to him, slamming my fist into his face, it catches him by surprise. "As if," I spit, taking Luna's other arm so he can't pull her down with him. He releases her to cup his broken nose as his backside hits the floor. "Get the fuck out while you can," I bark, tugging Luna behind me.

"Really, Lu?" he asks, glaring at her.

"Grizz, what have you done?" she hisses, trying to get around me to go to him. "You'll make everything worse."

"Fuck worse. I told you, you're not whoring yourself out anymore," I snap, keeping her behind me.

"It's her fucking job," the man spits, pushing to his feet. "And she owes me."

"For what?" I ask.

"Drugs."

I turn to her, glaring angrily. "Drugs?" I hadn't checked her for track marks, mainly because she never looks high, but that would make sense as to why she doesn't want to stay at the clubhouse—Axel makes the girls test regular.

"So, if you don't mind, I need my fucking payment," he continues.

Luna doesn't hold my stare. Instead, she lowers her gaze to the floor. "You're a junky?"

When her eyes reach mine again, she looks sad. "I thought you knew me."

"I don't know you," I spit, "and right now, you remind me of my mum, and that's not a good thing."

She pulls from my grip and folds her arms over her chest. "Then maybe you should go."

I shake my head in disgust. "Yeah, maybe I should."

"I've got shit to do, so make it quick," the man snaps, reminding us both he's still in the room.

"You're coming too," I tell him, standing to one side so he can leave.

He rolls his eyes in irritation. "Fine." As he passes, he fixes her with a look of disdain. "The debt just tripled." And then he leaves.

"Great, thanks for that," she snaps, giving me a hard shove in the back.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought I was helping you," I yell.

"By pissing off the men I owe money to?"

"It was before I knew you were a junky."

"You don't know shit about me, clearly," she screams, and Ivy begins to cry in the bedroom. "Just leave."

"Is he going to come back?" I demand to know because he didn't look like the type to give up easily.

"Yes," she mutters, rubbing her hands over her tired face. "With his friends probably."

"What does that mean?"

"It means you just made my life ten times harder, Grizz. The debt will never be paid at this rate. He just tripled it."

"I'll pay the debt."

She gives an empty laugh. "It's not money he wants. And unless you're gonna offer him free blowjobs and sex on tap for the next six months, you can't fucking help me."

The thought angers me and I clench my jaw. "Get your bags packed."

"I told you, I'm not going to the clubhouse."

I grab her around the throat and push her against the wall, making sure my mouth is positioned close to her ear as I whisper in a low, threatening voice, "No other man is going to touch you, so pack your fucking bags because you're coming with me."

Luna doesn't speakto me the entire walk to the clubhouse, which suits me fine. I'm still reeling from hearing about her drug habit. It never occurred to me she could have a problem.

Axel is still awake, and he steps from his office as we walk through the main room. "Everything okay?" he asks, taking in the bags stacked on the pushchair and Ivy in my arms.

"She's staying here indefinitely," I tell him. "She needs to be enrolled in a drugs programme."

Luna takes Ivy from me. "I don't need a drugs programme."

"You're not being in charge of that kid when you're a fucking junky," I yell, taking us all by surprise. Ivy begins to wail, and I instantly feel bad.

Luna looks at me with eyes full of hatred. "I am not on drugs," she says clearly. "The debt isn't mine, it's my mother's." And she spins on her heel and heads up the stairs.

Axel watches her before turning back to me. "You wanna start at the beginning?"

"I wanna meet with the Kings. I need to know more about her brother and his scumbag friends."

He gives a nod. "Consider it done."

"And I need the brothers to stay the fuck away from Luna."

He arches a brow. "You claiming her?"

"No, but neither is anyone else."

He gives a knowing smile and goes back into his office. I head up the stairs to find Luna, but it doesn't take me long. She's in her old room cooing at Ivy, who is now wide awake.

"My room," I mutter.

"Not a chance."

"I don't trust you not to run, so my room now," I order.

She rolls her eyes and gathers Ivy in her arms. It's not the only reason I'm keeping her close—I don't want any of my brothers paying her a visit during the night. "Where the hell would I run to?" she asks, passing me. "You just fucked me over."

Axel and I each have our own floor. There are three rooms on mine. Obviously, the first is my own, but I stop at the door next to mine and push it open, pointing for her to go inside. I made sure it was painted and cleaned after the first time I offered for her to come back here.

Luna lingers in the doorway, eyeing the room suspiciously. It's a huge improvement on her old room here, which only had basic furniture. "You'll sleep in here," I tell her, giving a small push so she goes inside. I watch as she walks around the room, occasionally running her hand along the soft blankets folded on the end of the bed or the nice furniture.

"A Moses basket?" she asks, stopping at the fancy one I purchased.

I shrug. "The lady in the shop said it was the best."

"When did you do all this?" she asks. "This basket costs a fortune."

"Last week, just in case you needed a place."

Her eyes soften, and I see the anger leave her. "That's the kindest thing anyone's ever done for me."

I point to the door at the other side of the room. "That leads to a smaller room. When Ivy gets older, you can make it hers."

"You want me to stay here?"

I shrug. "You're just as much a part of this club as anyone here."

I hardly sleep,so hitting the gym works out well because I'm back early enough to force Lexi to come shopping with me.

When I stop the van outside the largest baby shop in the area, she frowns. "What are we doing here?" Then she turns her surprised gaze to me. "Oh my god, did you get your date pregnant already?"

I fain insult. "I'll have you know I haven't laid a finger on Danii . . . yet," I say with a wink. "This is for Ivy."

"Fable's kid?"

"Luna," I correct, getting out the van.

She follows. "Hold on, are you two a thing?"

I frown. "No. God, no, she's a club whore." I hate saying the words, and I instantly shudder because it's not how I feel at all. "But she reminds me of someone, and I know if she'd have had some help, a lot of things in my life would've been different."

"So, you want to help Luna?"

"Exactly."

We go inside and we're immediately met by the shop assistant, who smiles brightly. "Good morning, welcome to Lala Land. What can we help you with today?"

Lexi snort-laughs, glancing at me in amusement. I ignore her and turn back to the assistant. "We need a lot of stuff," I tell her.

Her eyes light up in a way that tells me she works commission. "Fabulous. How far along are you?" she asks Lexi, who almost baulks at the idea this lady thinks she's pregnant.

"Christ, I'm not with this guy," she says, laughing again.

"Try to look less disgusted," I say, shoulder-barging her. The shop assistant looks embarrassed as she stumbles over an apology. "The kid is a few weeks old, and I need a pushchair, one of those car seats, maybe a cot?" I frown while I think before turning to Lexi. "What else do new babies need?"

She shrugs. "I have no clue. You should've got Duchess to come."

"I'll take you through what you need," says the assistant, pulling out a notepad and small pencil.

"I bet you will," I mutter, following her.

We get backto the clubhouse with a van full of things I never knew a baby needed, and I instruct the prospects to take everything to the room I plan to kit out for Ivy. "Why are you doing this again?" asks Lexi. "You spent a ridiculous amount on a kid that's not yours."

I shrug. "She's cute. Besides, if I can help her to get a good start in life, it's one less broken person. And isn't this what you asked for?"

"I guess so," she says with a smile.

LUNA

I watchas Duchess rocks Ivy to sleep in her arms. "It's been a while since I held a baby," she muses.

Hands go over my eyes, and I jump in fright. "Relax," Grizz whispers in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. "It's just me. Duchess, can you watch Ivy? I need Luna for a minute."

"Of course."

"Stand," he tells me, and I follow his instruction. He uncovers my eyes and tips me over his shoulder. I let out a surprised scream, and he swats me on the backside before carrying me from the kitchen and up the stairs.

He dumps me on my feet outside my bedroom. "What are you up to?" I ask, unable to keep the smile from my face.

He grabs my hand and leads me into the room and through the door to Ivy's bedroom. It's no longer empty, and I gasp. "I did some shopping," he tells me.

I step farther into the room, running my hand over the beautiful white wood of the new cot. "This is gorgeous," I whisper.

He takes me by the shoulders and spins me towards the window, where there's an expensive pushchair. I know it's expensive because it's the one I fell in love with but knew I'd never be able to afford. "Grizz, this is all so . . ." Words fail me. "But why?"

He gives a shrug. "She deserves the best."

"Thank you. I mean, words don't seem enough, but I'm so grateful. You really shouldn't be spending all your money on us."

He smiles. "The little goblin needs this stuff, and while you're part of this club, she'll never go without."

His words warm my heart, and it's almost on the tip of my tongue to tell him the truth about Ivy, but Axel barges in carrying tins of paint. He places them down and looks around. "Fuck me, that sales assistant had your pants down."

"Well, Lexi was no fucking help, Pres, so I had to rely on the assistant to tell me what to get."

"Maybe you should stop borrowing my old lady and get your own," he suggests.

I feel my cheeks blush, so I move over to the window and stare out. Ivy would never have all this stuff if I hadn't come to the clubhouse. Maybe Grizz is right—being here and accepting help will work out better. "Luna, here're all the things you'll need in this box," says Grizz, pulling my attention back to him. "You'll be able to paint her a mural like the one you started in your flat." He places the box beside the paints. "We'll leave you to it."

When Lexi joins me an hour later, she stands back to admire the pencil outline I've begun on the wall. "This is amazing. I didn't know you could draw."

I offer a weak smile. Nobody in the club would know this sort of thing, but why would they? "We've never really had chance to talk," I say, and she looks a little guilty.

"Which is why I wanted the guys to get closer to the women," she explains. "They should understand you're all human and not just a quick shag." She looks around the room. "And clearly, it's working, right?"

"It is?" I ask.

"Grizz seems really taken with you and Ivy."

"With Ivy," I correct. "He's really fallen for her."

"She's a cutie, so I don't blame him. Would he even know about her if he hadn't started looking out for you? Would any of us know?"

I shake my head. I had no intention of telling anyone at the club about my personal life. It's one of the reasons I didn't speak—they couldn't ask questions and discover what a shambles my life actually is. "He told me you can make bread?"

I laugh. "Can't everyone?"

"Apparently not like you. His eyes lit up when he told me how amazing it was. ‘The best he's ever tasted' were his exact words. Maybe you could make some for the opening of The Bar?"

"Opening?" I repeat. At one time, I knew everything that went down in this club. Now, I'm out of the loop.

"Yeah, he's been working on a bar. It opens tomorrow night."

"Oh, I didn't realise."

"Well, everyone's invited, so dig out something good to wear." She heads for the door. "Maybe it'll be the night Grizz falls madly in love with you."

I scoff. "I don't think that'll happen." But after she's gone, I smile wide. I don't exactly hate the idea, and it's not like I haven't pictured it since he's been hanging around. He keeps coming back and doing nice things like this. But he didn't mention the bar opening, which makes me think he doesn't want me there. I go back to drawing and decide that if he asks, I'll go, but if he doesn't, I'll stay away.

I spentthe day painting the picture I'd drawn on Ivy's wall. Duchess insisted on keeping Ivy with her, so I didn't get her back until it was time for her bath. And now, Grizz is in here watching my every move like I haven't bathed my daughter a million times over. "How come she doesn't slip out your hand?" he asks with worry etched on his face.

I laugh. "Here, you do it," I say, waiting for him to replace my hand with his own. "See, she's not slippery like an eel."

He grins. "I guess."

"Hold out your hand," I tell him before squirting a small amount of baby shampoo onto it. I watch as he gently massages it into her hair. It's only ever been me doing the bedtime routine, and as he rinses her hair with so much care and love, my heart swells.

Once she's wrapped in a towel, he hands her to me. "I've got somewhere to be. I'll check in later?"

I shake my head, embarrassed I was getting carried away in my head. "You really don't have to. I'll probably get an early night anyway."

He gives a nod and kisses me on the forehead. "Sweet dreams."