14. Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

Mackenzie

“ W hy did I not know that rats are supposed to eat their own shit?” Shade laughs, setting down one of the many leaflets the pet shop gave me a few days ago.

“Something about absorbing the nutrients from their food.” Prez’s quick response surprises me and Aleko chuckles at my back.

I’m sitting in his lap, with Ninja and Bandit napping on the table in the makeshift portable bed I bought. Aleko’s arms are wrapped around my waist, his chin nestled into my shoulder, and we’re watching some of the brothers making a Guy Fawkes to burn on the bonfire this evening.

Sledge insisted we need one because apparently “Remember remember, the 5th of November” is a whole thing in the UK. Something to do with a plot to kill the king gone wrong in the 1600’s. I wasn’t really listening because Bandit was trying apple slices for the first time and it was so damn cute watching Ninja share one of his favorite snacks.

The basis of the whole 5th of November thing is apparently to burn this Guy and set fireworks off. Seems a little fucked up to me, but if the rest of the UK is anything like Sledge, then I’m not surprised. Either way, it should be a good night.

“Your mum makes a bangin’ chili, Mac. Just had a taste test and it’s fuckin’ perfect.” Sledge barges through the double doors of the rec room, a huge grin on his face and rubbing at his stomach. “And those jacket potatoes, man, she proper nailed it. The prospects are piling up the wood and shit for the bonfire, and I’m heading out to set up the fireworks.” Almost giddy with excitement, and not giving a fuck that no one is responding, Sledge grabs one of the large boxes full of pretty explosives and practically skips back out of the room.

“What in the actual fuck is a jacket potato?” Crow lifts his head from stuffing paper into an old sweater, his brow furrowed in confusion.

“Dunno, man. I’m legit picturing Mr. Potato Head with a jacket on though.” Grinder cackles loudly and continues wadding up balls of paper for the others to stuff into the clothes that will make up our Guy.

“Pretty sure he means baked potato, but the Brits have weird ass names for shit that make zero sense.” Hoops, ever the sensible one. Yet he still has a small grin tipping the corners of his lips upward.

“Sledge is always like a kid at Christmas with this shit. Every fuckin’ year. I think this is the first time he’s been so excited about the food though.” Aleko squeezes me a little as he speaks, like he’s just as happy as I am that Mom and I are here.

“Mom was always good at that. Where do you think I learned to bake cookies so well?”

“Your mom taught you how to bake poison cookies?” His low laugh tickles the skin behind my ear.

“If she did, you should be more worried about the food she’s been feeding y’all, don’tcha think?” I chuckle, snuggling back into him before sighing. “I should ask Mom about that photo, shouldn’t I?” I’ve been putting it off since I saw it a couple of days ago, afraid of the can of worms I could open, seeing as she didn’t readily offer any information when we talked about Jake having a different dad.

“Whenever you’re ready, Cherry. Want me to come with?” I don’t deserve this man. No. I mentally chastise myself because that line of thinking only seems to come with shitty consequences.

“No. I’ll see if she and Sabrina need any help cooking. Maybe I can make some non-poison cookies for later.”

The rumble from his laugh goes through me again and I smile. He’s like the rats, purring when he’s pleased, and I’ve never been happier than in this moment. Okay, that’s a lie, but the sentiment is still there.

I leave Bandit and Ninja with Aleko and the brothers in the rec room, heading toward the kitchen. Mom and Sabrina are signing to each other when I walk in, smiling at something before they notice me and wave me over.

“Hey, darlin’. We’re almost finished up here so you can help wrap the baked potatoes Sledge insisted on if you like?” Mom shakes a roll of aluminum foil in the air. “Keeps them warm.”

“Sure. I was going to bake some cookies for dessert.” Taking the foil, I rip a length off and wrap a potato, smiling at what Sledge called them earlier. I could make actual little jackets out of the foil, but that would take far too long and I doubt the brothers would appreciate the humor, favoring ripping the wrapping off to eat them.

“Oh, what a good idea.” Mom signs something to Sabrina, who responds in kind. “Sabrina said you’re spoiling the brothers, but she’ll finish wrapping those while you bake. It’s been a long time since the smell of cookies filled these halls.” She begins pulling some ingredients from the cupboards, placing them on the work surface in a neat line, ready for me. “I think this is all you need, if you’re using the recipe I taught you.” Mom’s smile is catching, and I’m afraid I’m going to make it disappear, but I’m not avoiding shit anymore.

“Yup. The one and only.” They really are the best cookies in the world—without the poison, of course.

Fifteen minutes later, I’m rolling balls of dough and placing them on the baking tray. Sabrina signs something to Mom before grabbing a container full of foiled potatoes and leaving the kitchen.

“She’s taking them down to the buffet table and rounding up some prospects to help with the rest.” Mom translates for Sabrina, and I nod in acknowledgement.

Now’s my moment.

“Mom?”

“Yeah, darlin’?” She continues to stir the pot of what I’m assuming is chili because the spices make my nose tickle.

Finishing off the last of the dough balls, I slide the tray into the warm oven and check the time so they don’t burn. I’m stalling, I know. With a deep, fortifying breath, I pull my cell from the pocket of my maxi dress. Because, yes, this thing has freaking pockets. It’s magical.

“Do you recognize this man?” Without giving a hint of my own suspicions, I show Mom the picture Kincaid sent Aleko. The picture that made me think Jake had somehow come back from the dead.

The color drains from Mom’s face, leaving a pale, scared woman in front of me, and I now feel like shit for causing it. I quickly switch it off, worried that Mom may be about to have another episode and the only defense against it that I can offer her is a hug. The memory of her words from our last conversation chooses this moment to come back to me, and I realize I could have approached this with a little more care. She had a restraining order against this man. Ran away from him.

“I’m sorry, M—”

“That’s Jake’s father. How did you…is he…What—”

Like me, she has a thousand questions and doesn’t seem to know where to begin. So I give her the information I have, which isn’t a lot.

“He lives in Stonebrook Falls, the next town over. With his wife and son. Some big-wig business man that owns a pharmaceutical company.”

Mom takes a few deep breaths, slowly in and out, like I’ve seen her do several times with Sabrina, then she nods to herself and pulls out some cleaning supplies. Closing her eyes for a second, she inhales again, opening them on an exhale as she begins wiping down the counters.

“Harrison Beaufort…” The words are like acid on her tongue and she pauses a moment before continuing. “Knowing your brother is gone made me believe I’d never have to hear that name again. Never have to see his face again. He’s a dangerous man, darlin’.” She begins washing the mixing bowl I used to make the cookies, scrubbing it clean to within an inch of its life. “I met a woman, years ago, Mrs. Howell was her name. She ran a home for women like me just outside of town. I had your father by then, but I attended regular meetings and one day, she told me about a new woman she had taken in. She only knew her abuser as Harrison but I knew it was him. The way she described how he controlled her, the leash…how could it be anyone else? A few weeks after she showed up, there was a fire. Just like the one he set before I managed to get the restraining order. It was so terrifying…” Mom’s body begins to tremble, but she continues on anyway. “I never met Mrs. Howell’s son, but he was the only survivor. Women. Children…” Tears begin falling down Mom’s cheeks and her voice hitches.

“Mom, please. You don’t have to.” Now I’m wondering why I even brought the whole thing up. Well, no, that’s not technically true because I had this need to know who this man is. The similarity to Jake is overwhelming and I needed to confirm he hasn’t come back from the dead.

Gripping Mom’s arm lightly, I turn her to face me, take the sponge and bowl from her hands to put them down, then hug her. It takes a few moments before she hugs me back, but when she does, she squeezes hard and sobs into my neck.

“I love you, Mom.”

The bonfire has been going for a solid few hours, the Guy easily burned away quickly with whoops and hollers from the brothers. Bear grumbled like a motherfucker about spending more time making the damn thing than it took to burn, but he’s been enjoying the food on offer.

Sabrina and Mom are in one of the suites; after our talk earlier and with the fireworks going off soon, they wanted to be in a safe space. I get it. The hits just keep on coming for Mom, her mind easily wanders back to the shit she experienced with Harrison and with the Toxic Rebels that used to visit her at the psychiatric facility. It’s something I can relate to after my own experiences, but I have Aleko to help center me. The love of Mom’s life is no longer here.

Shaking my thoughts aside, I concentrate on the conversations happening around me. Aleko is with Sledge and Grinder getting the fireworks in place, which I’m not sure is the best idea, but when I see Bear heading in their direction, I’m relieved. He’ll make sure they’re not about to blow up the compound. Hopefully.

“How’re you doin’, Mac?” Vanessa sits beside me, passing me a fresh can.

“I’m good, thanks. You?” Small talk is my enemy. I’m not a fan, but I’ll do pretty much anything for Vanessa at this point. She’s becoming one of my closest friends.

She squeals as Prez comes over, lifts her up, sits in her seat, and places her back on his lap, his arms wrapped securely around her.

“You big brute.” Vanessa giggles, and I can’t help the smile that stretches across my face. These two are made for each other.

“ Your big brute.” He kisses the side of her neck, making her giggle again, and I want to be just like them when I grow up…

“Where are Bandit and Ninja tonight?” Vanessa loves them almost as much as we do.

“They’re up in the soundproofed suite with Mom and Sabrina because we don’t want the fireworks to scare them.” Aleko told me it’s where Ninja usually spends the 5th of November with one of the Khaos Khunts.

“Are they getting along okay?”

“Yeah, best of friends already. They’re constantly snuggled together in Aleko’s hoodie or in their bed. I think Ninja’s happy to have a buddy.”

“So cute. I’ve made a few bags of snacks for them and left them in the main fridge for you. Make sure you tell them Aunt Vanessa prepared them.” She chuckles and places her palm over Prez’s against her stomach. Their private pain hits me a little, the small action nothing to the outside world, but they know. I know. Vanessa and I have both lost babies, but at least I still have the chance to get pregnant again. Vanessa doesn’t have that.

“I heard through the grapevine that you and Psycho are getting married. Does that mean we get to plan a big elaborate club wedding or are you eloping to the courthouse?” Vanessa has no filter and I love it. I guess the news spread from Grinder and Boner as quickly as Aleko guessed it would.

“I’m not sure. I think if Aleko had his way, we’d already be married, so it could go either way at this point.”

“Whichever way it does go, make sure Griffin and I get a front row seat with your mom, okay? We’ve been rooting for you from the start and the way you make our Psycho happy, well, it feels like how we started out, doesn’t it, baby?” Vanessa looks over her shoulder at Prez, a goofy look in her eyes, as though he is her whole world.

“Yeah. You women sure do know how to cause trouble for the Sons, don’tcha?” The laughter from them both holds secrets I don’t think I’ll ever know, but it’s freaking beautiful.

“So, Mac. What’s next for you?” Prez’s question catches me off-guard. Mainly because I don’t have a fucking clue, but also because it’s not what I’d expect from him, especially not in this moment.

“Honestly? I don’t really know. I loved being an EMT, but the hours were shit.” We all laugh because it’s true. Working a twenty-four hour shift every three days meant it was difficult to maintain any sort of structure. I mean, practically being a slave to my brother and his club didn’t help either, but that’s neither here nor there.

“I’ve got a friend who’s looking for some help, if you’re interested?” That doesn’t sound ominous at all…

“What kind of help?” I’m curious, but I know the prez wouldn’t put me in a terrible situation like the Rebels did. So I know for sure it’s not the kind of help that would get me in trouble.

“Her name’s Maribel, and she’s setting up a new hostel in town. Said she could do with an extra pair of hands to help with some of the day to day things. I don’t know exactly what, but I have her number if you want to find out more.” Prez hands over a small card, the number on the back, that he just so happened to have in the pocket of his jeans.

“Thanks. I’ll think about it. I appreciate it.” And I really do. The thought of being useful again, having a purpose other than just existing, it’s exactly what I need.

Speaking of things I need, Aleko chooses this moment to saunter over to us, a half smirk on his lips and that damn single brow raised, a look in his eyes that says he wants to devour me whole.

“Sorry, Prez, but I’m stealing my woman back.” Aleko doesn’t even look at Prez or Vanessa. Instead, he scoops me up, taking the can from my hand and placing it on the brick wall I was sitting on. “You looked fucking delicious sitting there, Cherry. Too delicious not to taste.” Carrying me bridal style, he takes me around the side of the building. It’s darker here without the lights and laughter coming from the crowd around the bonfire.

“Aleko, someone could see!”

“That didn’t bother you the first time I slid inside your little wet pussy.” His smirk grows, taking over his whole face as he places me down with my back against the wall.

He’s not wrong. That first time was exhilarating. The sounds of engines revving, people hollering all around us, it was a thrill. I didn’t race that day, but Aleko did, and he was magnificent.

I squeal when he kneels, pushing up the skirt of my long maxi dress, and presses his warm mouth to my pussy. Holy fuck, he’s good at that. The ball of his barbell just adds an extra sensation I can’t explain. There’s no holding back when two fingers find their way inside me, his tongue lapping at my clit, and my knees buckle as an orgasm flows through me like lightning, as if it came from nowhere. Only, it didn’t come from nowhere. Aleko is fucking masterful with his tongue.

Taking his time to lick my slit, he looks up at me as he slowly pulls his fingers from my pussy before pushing them into his mouth and sucking on them as he stands.

“Turn around, Cherry. I need to see that ass.”

Obliging, I turn and place my hands against the wall, then I arch my back just a little when he lifts my skirt up and over my ass, baring me to him completely. Because, of course, I’m not wearing panties again. It drives Aleko crazy every time, and I fucking love it.

“Oh, you’re a naughty girl. If it didn’t make me so fucking hard I’d demand you wear panties around the brothers, but knowing it’s all for me, and they don’t have a fucking clue, yeah…you’re hot as fuck, Cherry. So wet for me.” He drags his fingers over my slit, all the way up and over my asshole before putting a little pressure there with his thumb.

He slides his other hand up my back and into my hair before gripping it, holding me in place just as his cock pistons into me.

“Oh, God! Yes!” I scream out at the sensation, the pain from how he’s pulling my hair, the pleasure from how his cock pushes in and out of me…it’s everything.

Bringing the hand that was holding my ass in place around to my front, Aleko leans over me, impossibly closer than before, and pinches my nipple, kneading my breast at the same time.

Another orgasm begins building, straight from the tips of my toes, and I swear Aleko is holding me up, because I could easily fall to the ground with the amount of pleasure tingling its way through my body.

“That’s it, don’t come yet, baby.” He pinches my nipple again, harder this time, and it’s fucking incredible. He continues to pound into me, a tight grip on my hair, a firm hold on my breast, his breath at my ear…I love this man.

The squeal of fireworks adds to the moment, bangs going off and the flash of colorful lights all around us as my orgasm becomes so intense I could pass out. It’s flowing throughout my whole body, tingling, making me almost spasm just as Aleko says, “Come all over my cock, Cherry.”

I yell out as he shudders inside me, filling me with his cum as his hold on my breast and hair get gentler. More soothing.

Closing my eyes, I try to get my breath back, with Aleko stroking a palm over my ass and no doubt looking at where we’re joined.

He pulls out of me, scooping up our cum with his fingers and pushing it back inside me. I shake my head and chuckle because I know what he’s doing.

I stand and turn to face my man, tenderly kissing him on the lips as I wrap my arms around him.

Fireworks going off in the sky above provide the perfect backdrop to this perfect moment. The kaleidoscope of colors flash and bang, lighting up the darkness, which is exactly what Aleko does for me.

Even with the tragedies we’ve both had to overcome, this moment couldn’t be more fairytale-like.

Until the blood curdling scream that will forever change our lives hits us like an atomic shock wave.

“Nooooooo!”