Chapter 23

23

GENESIS

A fter pulling Amity away from Hannibal before he completely freaked her out, we continue on to the clubhouse. I set her up at a table with Mac and Toot while I go get one of the prospects to rustle us up some food.

By the time I return to the table, Circus, Crane, and Midas are there too. Amity has her head thrown back, laughing at something Toot just said. I walk over to her, ignoring everyone else, and tug her to her feet, taking her chair, and pulling her into my lap.

Midas gives me a knowing look as he sips his beer.

"So, what death-defying stunt did you do today?" Mac asks when the table quiets down.

"I talked to Hannibal."

The guys laugh at her answer. I grin, burying my face against her neck.

"I'm serious. He looked at me like he was deciding which kidney to take. I swear my soul left my body."

I laugh along with the guys. The thing is, she's not wrong. Hannibal's not wired right. I don't know if he was born this way or if it's from some kind of trauma, but the man's not someone we mess with.

"Psychos aside?" Midas asks, glancing around the room. I know he's looking for Legs, but as far as I can tell, she's been avoiding him. He really needs to figure out what the fuck he wants before he loses her for good.

"Today was an easy one. Some horse chases and a shoot-out."

"Don't you ever worry about getting hurt?" Circus frowns.

Amity shrugs. "I do get hurt. It comes with the job. But I know what I'm doing, and I'm careful. I've probably broken more bones than all of you guys put together, but they healed."

"I dated a woman last year who cried when she broke a nail," Crane says, making Amity laugh.

"What's the worst injury—" Midas starts before shaking his head. "Shit, I wasn't thinking."

"It's fine, Midas. It was a long time ago, and I like my life. I wouldn't have become a stuntwoman if it wasn't for that accident. Sure, it sucks that I lost my mom and my dream to win gold at the Olympics, but I found new dreams."

"The Olympics?" Crane says with wide eyes.

"Yeah, I was a gymnast and won a silver medal in Rio. But after the accident, my body couldn't handle the strain, and I lost interest. It just wasn't the same without my mom."

She stops talking when Kiki drops down on Midas's lap. His hands automatically go to her hips, and Amity's jaw tightens as she looks away. It's sweet that she's loyal to Legs, but the truth is, Legs isn't Midas's old lady. He's not doing anything wrong.

"We're throwing a barbecue tomorrow. You should come."

We both turn at the sound of Sunshine's voice behind us.

"I didn't know you were here," Amity says, jumping up to give her a quick hug.

When she pulls back, Sunshine holds up a stuffed bear wearing a leather jacket. "Alex left Meatball here earlier and refused to sleep without him."

"One of the prospects could've run it over to you," Mac tells her. Before she can say anything, Inigo walks up behind her and wraps his arm around her shoulder.

"Inigo brought me. He needed to talk to one of the brothers anyway. Now I'm going home. Hopefully, Meatball's arrival will have my kid settling down because I could sleep for a year. But I'll be here tomorrow with Alex for family day. You'll come, right?" she asks Amity, who looks at me.

I nod, and Amity smiles. "Sure, if you guys don't mind."

"The more, the merrier."

"Would it be alright if I brought a friend?"

"Of course. It starts at 2 p.m. G can fill you in on all the details. On that note, I'll see you all later. Be good. I'm way too tired to bail any of you out of jail." She wags her finger at everyone around the table.

"We're always good," Toot says, flashing her his signature smirk, but Sunshine's immune to it.

She looks up at Inigo. "I'm going to say a quick hi to Lil and then I'll meet you at the car."

He kisses the tip of her nose before patting her ass as she walks away. When he turns back to the table, the smile he wears just for Sunshine slips from his face.

"How's she doing?" I ask him.

"Morning sickness is kicking her ass, if you can even call it that. Morning, afternoon, night—she's throwing up all the time." He runs his hand through his hair.

"That's rough, but hopefully it'll pass soon."

"I hope so. She's downplaying how she's feeling because she wants us to focus on Conan."

"That woman." Midas sighs. "I hope you blistered her ass."

"Why do you think she's walking funny?"

"I've seen Conan's cock. I'd have been walking funny, too," Crane says, making Amity laugh.

"Fucking hell," I groan.

"And on that note, I'm out of here. I'll see you fuckers tomorrow. Amity." He nods before heading over to join Sunshine.

"Is Conan sick?"

The table goes quiet at Amity's question. Mac's the one to answer her.

"He has cancer, and he's just started chemo. It's why we're restructuring."

"Restructuring?" She looks at me for clarification.

"Conan used to be VP," I explain. "He stepped down, and I stepped up. They're pretty big shoes to fill."

"No kidding. The man is a giant," she teases, making Mac laugh.

"Blade's stepping down too. He wants to spend more time with his family."

"Ah, so that's why you were crying into your beer that night at the bar," she says, her eyes lighting up with realization, and everyone starts laughing.

These fuckers are finding her hilarious, and while I'm glad my girl's fitting in, they better keep their hands to themselves.

She frowns. "Does this mean you'll be president?"

"No. We have a brother from another chapter coming in and taking over, thank fuck."

"That reminds me, we need to throw a big fucking party," Circus says.

"Sunshine usually handles that shit, but I don't think we should dump anything else on her," Toot points out.

"It's beer, pussy, and food. How hard can it be?" Crane scoffs.

"I can help. I mean, if you want?" Amity offers, surprising me.

"Really? I know you're busy with the movie and all."

"I'm not there for the entire shoot. Most of my scenes will be wrapped up in the next two weeks. Then, I'll just need to be available for any reshoots if necessary. So, I'll have plenty of time. When do you want to have it?"

"A month from today. It doesn't need to be anything fancy. Bikers are simple creatures." Midas winks at her.

I grip the edge of the table to stop myself from reaching over and yanking his eyelid off. Let's see you wink then, motherfucker.

"Beer, pussy, and food," Crane shouts again, making me shake my head.

"Ignore him. I'm pretty sure he was dropped on his head as a baby," I whisper into her ear, making her shiver.

"What's going on with the stalker?" Circus asks, pulling my focus back. "Blade mentioned something happened earlier."

"She got another letter. It's similar to the last one but more sexual. Then her tires were slashed, so he's definitely escalating."

Amity shifts on my lap so she can see me better, her ass moving against my cock, making it harden despite what's going on.

"What's your take on this?" Midas asks Amity.

She shrugs. "I didn't know it was going on until now. I'm not her biggest fan, but she seemed genuinely freaked out when she got both letters."

"She a bitch? Figures," Crane grumbles.

"Bitch or not, she doesn't deserve this. No woman does. She should feel safe at work and at home in her hotel room. Instead, she's looking over her shoulder and jumping at shadows, wondering when this guy is going to make his move. And he will," she says, which I find interesting. Not that I think she's wrong. I agree with her. But part of me wondered if she thought Monica was exaggerating.

"Why now? You said this stalker's been active for how many movies?" Mac asks.

"Since the second one, according to the director, and this is the fourth one in the franchise. As for why now, fuck if I know. Maybe he's just tired of waiting. Or maybe he's twisted things up so much in his head that he really does think they're in some kind of relationship. I just don't know."

"Maybe it's the access," Amity says quietly.

"What do you mean by access ?" Toot asks, leaning forward.

"Well, the first three films were shot in the studio and around the city. It was always busy, and there were cameras everywhere—and I'm not just talking about the ones on set. But here? We're shooting out in the open. There are next to no cameras in town. So it would be easy to move around without being seen. And with the cast and crew rolling in, it's busy enough for someone to blend in without anyone batting an eye at them for not being a local."

"Is the cast and crew the same for all these movies?" I ask.

"The crew is, for the most part. The cast? That's a different story. The lead actor is different for each movie, same with the supporting characters because Monica's character jumps through time into different parallel universes. Some of the people in catering are new, there are a few new medics, and we have two new stunt guys. But everyone else—from makeup to lighting and wardrobe—is the same."

Midas sighs. "So, a new face might stand out, but it wouldn't be enough to raise any alarms."

"Exactly, plus we always bring in a few locals as extras," Amity adds.

"Great, so there are dozens of strangers on set but none will seem out of place." Toot rubs a hand over his face.

"All we can do is keep on watching Monica and keep an eye out for anyone who seems a little bit too interested in her."

"She's one of Hollywood's hottest stars. Everyone is a little bit too interested in her." Amity points out.

"That's what worries me. This guy is too confident. He knows our suspect pool is big enough for him to get lost in."

"Overly confident people get cocky and make mistakes." Midas taps his chin in thought.

"Mistakes can also get people killed."

I'm standing at the gates, sipping my beer, waiting for Amity and Nevaeh to arrive. When they finally pull up, I step back as Hoops opens the gates and waves them in.

Nevaeh's driving. Once she parks, I walk over to the passenger side and help Amity out, giving her a quick kiss. I take in her Rolling Stones T-shirt before my eyes trail down over her long legs, on display in those short denim cut-offs.

I groan and adjust my dick. "You're killing me."

She grins, not the least bit sorry, as I jog around the car and open the door for Nevaeh.

Nevaeh looks surprised for a moment before she smiles and takes my offered hand. "Well, thank you, kind sir."

As she steps out, I see what she's wearing and shoot Amity a worried look.

Nevaeh catches it and bites her lip. "I look stupid, don't I? I don't really have anything appropriate for a biker barbecue."

I close the door and scowl at her. "If you think you look stupid, you need your head checked, woman. My real worry is how many of my brothers I'm going to have to beat to keep them away from you."

"Wait, what?"

Amity bursts out laughing as I check out Tinkerbell's outfit. She's wearing a green dress with little white polka dots on it that hits a couple inches above her knees and moves around her legs when she walks. The top part is more fitted, with tiny buttons running from the waist to the scooped neckline. It covers way more skin than what any of the other women here will be wearing, but fuck.

"You see it, right?" Amity walks around and links arms with Tinkerbell.

"See what?" Tinkerbell asks, worried.

"That your dress screams virgin, but your body screams porn star. These guys are going to come in their pants when they see you."

Nevaeh spins out of Amity's hold and heads back to the car, but I step in front of her to block her way. "Relax, Tinkerbell. I won't let anything happen to you. You stick with Amity, and I'll keep you covered."

"I don't know, G. I'm so far out of my element here."

"Trust me, okay? You're gonna have a blast."

She blows out a nervous breath but nods. "The food does smell amazing and I'm craving a big juicy burger. Okay. Show me how to party like a biker."

I laugh, taking Amity's hand. "Let's start with a barbecue and work up to that instead."

"That's probably a better idea," she mutters as I lead them through the warehouse and out the other side.

"Oh, wow." She gasps as she takes it all in.

"Yeah, that was pretty much my reaction too. It almost feels like you're stepping back in time, right?" Amity says.

Nevaeh nods. "If you swap out cowboys for bikers and horses for Harleys."

I chuckle and let them talk as we head towards the saloon, taking them around the back to the large outdoor area set up for the barbecue. When Amity and I finally got out of bed this morning and made our way downstairs so I could take her back to the RV to get ready, Sunshine already had the prospects hard at work setting up outside. I gotta say, it looks good.

There are a couple of fire pits scattered around, along with a half dozen outdoor sofas that Sunshine insisted on, giant beanbags—impossible to get out of when drunk—and floor cushions big enough for two. A few extra tables have been brought out for guests to sit at, and a large cooking station has been set up at the far end with a couple of grills and a pizza oven. Not too far from that is a huge table that fits all the brothers with space left over for more. It cost the club a small fortune, but it was worth it.

"This is beautiful," Amity says in awe.

"This is all Sunshine. Can't deny the woman added a touch of class to the place."

"That's for sure."

"I'll admit, this is beyond anything I ever imagined." Nevaeh laughs as I guide them over to one of the empty tables.

Hannibal and Midas spot us and make their way over. I don't miss how they both check out Nevaeh, and neither does Amity. She steps in front of her and crosses her arms over her chest.

"No."

"Oh, come on." Midas throws up his hands. "Tinkerbell's my friend too, you know."

"He's fine, Amity." Nevaeh laughs before noticing Hannibal. She leans forward and whisper-shouts to Amity. "That one looks like he wants to eat me, though."

The smile that spreads across Hannibal's face sends a chill down my spine.

"Nevaeh, this is Hannibal. Hannibal, this is Nevaeh."

"Of course it's Hannibal. I knew it. No, sir, I will not put the lotion on my skin."

"That was Buffalo Bill," Amity tells her, making Nevaeh scowl.

"I think you're missing the point."

"How about I get you ladies a drink?" I ask before this turns into one of their random arguments.

Amity surprises me. "I'll take a water."

"Diet Coke if you've got it."

"I'm sure I can find one. Everyone sit. Make yourselves comfortable."

"Neither of you drink? How come?" Midas asks as he pulls out the chair next to Nevaeh.

"I'm an alcoholic," Nevaeh answers, making me pause.

"Really?" Midas looks surprised.

"No. I'm just driving later. But imagine if I was. You'd feel bad for asking, wouldn't you?"

"Probably not," Midas admits, making Hannibal snort.

"I'll be back in a minute. Amity, you have my permission to kneecap them if they try anything with Tinkerbell."

I head into the saloon and walk over to the bar where Mac and Toot are sitting. "Dice, can I get a bottle of water and a Diet Coke if we have any?"

"Sure. Give me two secs."

"Where's your woman?" Mac asks, taking a swig of his beer.

"Out back with Hannibal and Midas, and her friend Nevaeh."

"The other bestie is here, and you didn't tell me!" Toot gasps before getting off his stool and heading out.

"Fuck my life."

"What's the big deal?"

"You'll see."

Dice hands me the water and a Diet Coke. "Do you want anything else?"

"Yeah, grab me a Miller."

He grabs a bottle and pops the cap before handing it to me.

"Thanks." I tip my beer at Dice and head back outside, with Mac following behind me. By the time I reach the table, Nevaeh and Amity are laughing at something Toot must have said.

When he sees me, he scowls. "You didn't say she was hot."

"She's my girl's sister," I tell him as I hand Amity and Nevaeh their drinks.

"You make an exception when she's schoolteacher hot, G. Where's your damn loyalty?"

I point at Amity. "With her. She gives better head than you do."

"Now that was just mean," he pouts, making the girls laugh again as I squeeze in next to Amity.

"Nevaeh's off limits, so keep your hands and dick to yourself," I warn him.

"Damn. Cock-blocked by my own VP. Harsh."

"I hate to break it to you, but you don't stand a chance with me anyway," Nevaeh tells him.

"I'll have you know I'm quite the catch."

"You tried to steal my bestie."

"Shit, I did do that. Alright, fine. Tell me you at least have a sister that looks like you."

The smile drops from Nevaeh's face so fast it makes everyone at the table fall silent. Amity reaches over and squeezes Nevaeh's hand.

"Did I just say something I shouldn't have?" Toot says softly. "I'm sorry."

Nevaeh nods before taking a sip of her Diet Coke. "It's fine. You just caught me off guard. I do have a sister, actually. Or I did. A twin named Citlalli. She was taken from outside our home when we were ten."

"Oh fuck, Nevaeh, I'm really sorry."

"It's okay, really. It's just sometimes I forget, you know?"

"They ever find her?" Hannibal asks.

Nevaeh shakes her head. "The main suspect was a pedophile who lived a mile from our house, which we found out later. He was killed when the police tried to question him. He pulled a gun, and officers opened fire. The case went cold after that. No body was ever found, and there haven't been any sightings either. It's like she just vanished."

"Well, now I feel like a dick. Can I make it up to you with a little oral? I've been told my tongue has magical powers," Toot offers.

I groan and Mac laughs.

Nevaeh turns to Midas. "Is he serious?"

"Unfortunately, yes."

"I'm gonna pass. But thank you, Toot." She turns wide eyes to Amity, who's biting her lips to keep from laughing.

"So, you said something about planning a party?" Nevaeh asks, changing the subject.

"I did."

I jump in before anyone mentions prison. "A brother from another chapter is joining us, and we want to welcome him in style."

"That's sweet."

Amity waves at Legs as she walks past and gestures for her to join us. Legs looks at Midas, shakes her head, and keeps going.

"Damn it, I wanted to ask her to help. Oh well, I'll ask her later. Alright, party planning. Nevaeh, take notes. The rest of you tell me what a biker party needs."

Crane stands up from the nearest table and yells, "Food, beer, and pussy!" setting off a bunch of hollered agreements.

"Crane!" Amity yells in exasperation, and Nevaeh laughs; the sadness from a moment ago is gone.

I take a swig of my beer and nod to the man who was clearly eavesdropping. He might be a pain in the ass, but the man does have great timing.

"Alright everyone, food is ready!" Sunshine shouts out. The guys are gone in seconds making Amity and Nevaeh crack up.

"Looks like Probe was right, about the food part at least." Nevaeh giggles.

"Can't say he's wrong about the rest either," I wink.

"Well there's only one way to find out." Amity says with a smirk I don't trust one little bit. Before I can call her on it, she jumps up, her tits bouncing in my face, making me lose my train of thought.

"Come on Pippin. I want to introduce you to Sunshine and grab some food before it's all gone." Amity yanks Nevaeh out of her seat and drags her over to Sunshine who is at one of the food tables.

I let my eyes drop to my woman's spectacular ass and consider tossing her over my shoulder and taking her upstairs so I can fuck her senseless.

I see Midas walk back over with a plate of food in one hand and a beer in another.

He places the beer down on the table as I return my focus to Amity who has her arm wrapped around Nevaeh, both of them laughing at Sunshine as she waves her hands around wildly.

My eyes slip to her ass again, my stomach clenching with a hunger that has nothing to do with food.

Midas snorts "You are so pussy whipped."

I steal a burger from his plate and grin.

"And proud of it too."