Chapter 5

RiffRaff

It's been over a month now, and I still can't get enough of her. Just watching my girl sleep drives me crazy. She's so damn pretty, and the way she likes to tuck herself into my arms and snuggle up to me does something to that muscle that sits in the left side of my chest. I swear this girl beats the life right into me. And I'm pretty sure if I had to put a word to the feeling, it would be love. But I haven't told her yet. Because once I put it out there, it means she has the power to break me. Out there or not, she still has the power to destroy me, and that shit scares the hell out of me.

At this point, we are way past friends and fuck buddies, and I think she knows it. She's been in my bed day in and day out for weeks now. And I've been waking up with her wrapped around me every damn morning, and that's the way I intend to keep it from here on out. I'm pretty sure by now the guys know I'm not sharing her anymore. At first, they wanted to know why I was hogging their favorite girl, and I told them all to fuck off. Now, they don't even look her way. Thank fuck because if they did, I'm pretty sure I'd punch the lights out of whichever brother was guilty of the crime. I no longer feel jealous when it comes to them. I just feel possessive of my girl.

My angel whimpers in her sleep, and I lean down and kiss the frown away from her forehead. Her eyes flutter open to my touch, and the moment they land on me, she smiles. She smiles like I'm the reason she gets up every day. Like I'm the sun, the moon, and the damn stars lighting up her world. Again, my heart reminds me of the depths of the hold she has on it.

"Morning, babe." I lean down and nuzzle her cute little nose with mine, and she practically purrs at my touch.

"Morning yourself, sexy."

I growl into her neck and give her skin a little nip. Damn, she drives me mad with need. I swear my cock is permanently hard because of this girl. My erection no longer has anything to do with morning wood and everything to do with my sexy Joe who blows my mind every damn time I fuck her.

I pull her body on top of mine, and she doesn't waste any time. She straddles my lap and sinks right down over my cock. Both of us groan in unison as her heat stretches over me. Her hips begin to rock, and before long, she's wide awake and getting her morning workout in on my dick. I swear, the girl has more stamina than I do, and I thought I held the record in the sport.

Half the day goes by before we even get out of bed. She takes a shower with me before she has to run off and help get ready for the barbecue later this afternoon. The club is having their annual family cook-out, and everyone will be here. All the guys and all their girls. Sweet butts included. Even if they weren't, JoeJoe would still be by my side because she's no longer just a club girl. She's my girl. And tonight, I'm planning on making my official claim so everyone, including her, knows it.

My phone rings as I'm finishing up with some business, ready to head to the festivities. As soon as I see the number on the screen, I know I should send the call to voicemail, but I don't. I answer because I always do.

"Let me guess," I say, not bothering with formalities because there's no point with the woman. "You've already run out of the money I last sent you."

"You're not even going to say hello to your mother, Bronson."

I crack my neck at hearing my name uttered from her mouth.

"I have shit to do, Cheryl. If you're not calling for money, then what the hell do you want?"

"Well, I see you're still a shit, Bronson. Never could learn any manners. And yes, that is why I'm calling. I need you to transfer more money into my account before my utilities get shut off."

I squeeze my phone and hear the plastic protective case crack. The woman only ever calls for one reason. Money. And even when I give her more than an average person needs to live off for a month, she still asks for more. I should say demands more. And what do I do? I always fucking give it to her. I used to think one day she'd appreciate my generosity and tell me she loved me. But now, I just do it to get her off my back.

For some reason right now, I'm not feeling as generous as usual, and I'm thinking it has to do with the fact that I have the love and approval of a pretty green-eyed girl and no longer need to find it from the woman who gave birth to me anymore. It's the only explanation I have for what comes out of my mouth next. "I'm going to send you ten thousand. You better make that last or get a fucking job, because it's the last bit you're ever going to get from me. I'm done supporting your ass, so don't ever call me again."

Her voice comes over the line in a near shriek, and I have to hold the phone away from my ear to keep my eardrum from bursting. "You greedy little good for nothing piece of shit. Not only did you steal the love of my life away from me and make him run from your burdensome ass but you also stole my parents' money. If I had known the kind of son I was getting, I would've aborted your sorry ass. Then my life would have been good. But it's too late for that. Now, you're going to go on and be a selfish bastard and keep the money away from me that should've been mine. I was their daughter and the one who should have inherited it. Not you. So if you want to redeem yourself in this world, then I suggest you keep my bank account full."

It still amazes me how deep her words cut. They shouldn't since I've heard them practically my entire life, but they still do. I should be numb to the pain by now, but I'm not. Every time she calls, she manages to leave me with an open wound and a scar that never quite fades. But, lately, with my Joe, they have been fading. That's why I know I'm done this time. For good.

"Like I said. You better make this money last because you won't ever get another dime from me. Goodbye, Cheryl."

I end the call and throw my phone across the room, watching it shatter into pieces as it lands on the hard floor. Now, she'll never be able to get to me again. I'm not only going to get a new phone but I'm also going to get a new number.

I head down to the bar and get myself a drink. The place is already full of people. Most are outside where the food is, but the sweet butts and prospects seem to be lingering in the main hall. Rake pours me a glass of whiskey the moment I seat myself at the bar. I toss the liquid back and get him to fill me another. Even after I've downed my fourth shot, I still feel like I can't breathe. The only thing I know that will take away my pain is my girl, so I head outside to find her. And when I do, a pain unlike anything I've ever felt before slashes through me.

Joe's dancing on the makeshift dance floor with Shiv. They're doing some country two-step dance, and she's laughing and smiling up at him like he's hung the fucking moon. When he dips her as the song comes to an end, nuzzling into the side of her neck and has her smiling even brighter by whatever he's doing or saying, my jealousy blinds me. What in the actual fuck is happening? By the look of it, my girl found someone to keep her company while I wasn't around. By the look of it, she reverted back to her sweet butt ways and is entertaining another one of my brothers. By the fucking look of it, she has no fucking regard for what we have or what we've become over the last month.

I shake my head, feeling nothing but disgust and rage and this gut-wrenching pain. I turn and head right back inside to the spot I had so stupidly vacated just moments ago. Rake fills me another glass, and this time I grab the bottle from him and take a long swig. When I rise from the stool to lock myself in my room, the world spins. I make it halfway across the room to the couch and have to take a seat before I pass the fuck out because it feels like that's where I'm headed.

The music is pumping, and people are scattered all around the room, but I can't make out any of it. My mind is a mess, my vision is blurred, and my fucking chest hurts. Goddamn, I hate jealousy. Not only that, but now I finally understand heartbreak. Except mine feels like it isn't just broken but shattered. How could I have been so wrong about us? How could I have been so wrong about her? How the fuck could I have actually believed she loved me? Clearly, that's not the case, given how she's getting cozy with Shiv and was letting him put his hands all over her.

My eyes shut tight, trying to stop the world and my mind from spinning out of control. I feel someone sit on top of my lap, and I struggle to lift my lids to see who it is. When I finally get them open, I see double of the girl who's now straddling me. Mandy. She starts grinding on my lap and I'm struggling to figure out why the fuck she's even on me. My eyes shut again, but the image of Joe with Shiv flashes in my mind again, and they're flying open. I'd rather stare at Mandy than at the image haunting me in my head.

"I was wondering when I'd get you to myself again. That girl has been hogging the best dick in the house," Mandy purrs into my ear as she leans in and starts to nibble on my skin. I'm so numbed by the liquor, I don't feel a thing. I go to grip her waist to pull her off me, but she takes my gesture in a different way, as if I'm trying to keep her in place, and leans in and starts kissing my mouth. I try to tell her to get off me, but when my mouth opens, her tongue dives right in and practically smothers me to death. The kiss lasts longer than it should only because my brain is such a mess right now and I'm struggling to find the strength to get her the fuck off me. Finally, I do, and manage to shove her from my lap.

I'd feel bad for making the girl nearly land on her ass right now, but she shouldn't have taken liberties that weren't offered.

I stumble my way up to my room, somehow get myself into bed, and then the world goes black.

* * *

I reach for my girl,but the space next to me is empty. My eyes open and I immediately shut them from the brightness streaming into the room. When I finally feel like I can try to pry them open again, I do. This time, I let my eyes adjust and squint past the pounding headache right behind my sockets. When I get a look around the room, I see that Joe isn't with me. I start to wonder where she is when the memories of last night flood right back in and drown my heart in the pain.

Fuck.

The bitch of an egg donor called me. Then I caught my girl dancing with Shiv. I was drunk off my ass. And to top all that shit off with a big fucking cherry on top, Mandy climbed on my lap and tried to get at my dick. Fuck. I wish I'd blacked the fuck out before any of that shit happened. Because the reality hitting in the light of day bites a fucking big one.

I replay my girl on the dance floor in Shiv's arms and can't seem to get past the betrayal. I need to know why. I need to know what I did to chase her into his arms because things were so damn good between us. So damn good, they seemed too good to be true. Which, apparently, they were. Maybe if I had told her I loved her, things would have worked out differently. Maybe if she had known how goddamn important she is to me, none of this shit would have happened.

I'm jumping out of my bed and heading to find my girl. I need to know if that's the reason. Because if it is, then I'm going to remedy the situation right now. I'll get down on one knee and ask the girl if she'll be my wife, something I'd never in a million years thought I'd ever do. But if that's what it takes to prove that she's it for me, I'll propose today. Because damn she is. She's all I want.

I rush down to her room and bang on the door too hard and too loud, but my nerves are on edge, and I'm anxious to see her. She doesn't answer though, and when I try the doorknob, it opens. She's not inside, and her bed is made like it hadn't been slept in all night. My stomach twists up in a fucking double knot, and I take off down the hall to Shiv's room. I'm hoping like hell that I don't find her inside because I'm not sure I'll be able to handle the sight if she is.

I pound on his door even harder, furry building as fast as my anxiety. When his door starts to open, I practically shove past the bastard to see for myself, but his bed is empty.

"Dude, what the fuck?" His groggy voice has me turning in his direction. I grip the base of his neck and pin him to the wall.

"Why the fuck did you do it, man?"

He shakes his head like he's trying to shake the grogginess away, and then he turns his eyes back to me and finally looks awake.

"Do what?" His brow is narrowed like he has no idea what the fuck I'm talking about.

"Why the fuck did you go for my girl? You knew she was mine. You knew what she fucking meant to me. Why the fuck did you do it?"

He finally looks like he knows what and who I'm talking about.

"First of all, you fucker. You still haven't claimed her, so you have no fucking right to be mad at my ass for anything. Second of all, I didn't make a play for her, so you've got that shit wrong. I'm not sure who your fucking source is, but you need to get your facts straight before you come accusing me of shit I'm not guilty of. Because if I wasn't so goddamn tired right now, I'd be kicking your ass. I would never betray a brother like that and you of all people should fucking know that."

I shake my head as what he's saying sinks in. "I know what I saw. You two on the dance floor."

He shrugs and nods, and gives me a look like I'm the idiot here. "Yeah, it's called fucking dancing, asshole. That's all it was."

Here I am, losing my shit, trying to filter through what he's saying and wondering exactly what's going on with my girl, and the guy is acting like I'm out of my mind. I guess he's right. I am out of my fucking mind for one raven-haired goddess. I'm so damn in love with her I can't think straight or remember my name most days because all I can think about is her.

"Look, man." He reaches out and clasps my shoulder. "I know she's your girl. We all do. I know how much you love her, and I'd never fucking do that to you, Riff. You're a brother and a friend. And she's a friend, too. She's just as much in love with you as you are with her. I even told her that last night. I told her that love looked good on her and I was happy for you two. I'm not sure what you think you saw, but that's all that happened. She honored me with a dance, and we talked about your sorry ass the entire time we were on the floor, and then I whispered that into her ear at the end."

Holy shit. The relief that floods me nearly takes me to my knees. My girl wasn't trying to betray me. Not only that, but he just said she loves me. I'm out the door, throwing an apology over my shoulder as I run through the house looking for my Joe. I don't know why she didn't come to find me last night if that was the case, but maybe it had to do with the fact that I'd locked my bedroom door. From now on, the girl who owns the key to my heart will have a key to my room.