Chapter Five

Raptor

WATCHING GENESIS PUT back every bit of food she got for herself while keeping everything for the baby broke something deep inside me. Seeing the humiliation and shame covering her face along with the embarrassment further shattered whatever broke to begin with. The only good thing in the entire situation was seeing how she put her baby before herself and made sure he has what he needs. However, knowing she's going without any food is not something I can stand by and allow to happen. Genesis needs to fucking eat and not have to worry about if she actually has any food to do so. I know Enchantment doesn't have food so if she doesn't have anything at home and isn't able to eat at work, it means she's not eating at all. Her body isn't getting the nourishment and fuel it needs to get through each day. Especially when she works in a fast paced environment where she's moving and racing around like crazy.

Knowing that she lives in an apartment building with no locking security door only served to piss me off further. Genesis lives on her own from what I can tell with a baby and there's nothing to keep the assholes out of her building. Yeah, I saw the dealers standing around, eyeing up Genesis as if she were their next meal. They want her and aren't going to ask permission to take what they want. Stupid fucks like that never do. I can't understand why Morgan hasn't said a fucking word to anyone here in the club. She is at Genesis' apartment five days a week and should realize we'd help get her in a place where she doesn't need to fucking worry every second of the day that something is gonna happen to her. Or her baby.

Walking in the clubhouse, I let the door slam behind me as I look for Devil. He's the one person who knows what Genesis makes at her job and the one person who should ensure all of his employees make a wage they can live on. I spot him sitting at the end of the bar with a beer in hand and a look of despair in his eyes. I stomp over to him, not giving a fuck who's around to hear what I have to say to him.

"Do you fuckin' know how Genesis lives? Where she fuckin' lives?" I question my best friend as his head snaps up and he glares at me.

"What the fuck are you talkin' about, Raptor? I don't know where Genesis lives. Yeah, I got the address in her file, but I've never been there. And what the fuck do you mean about how she lives? I imagine she lives the way the rest of us do," Devil says, sitting up straight on his stool as Vault enters the room and stares at us both, waiting to see what's going to happen.

"I just watched her put back every bit of food she got for herself. It wasn't much to begin with and she wasn't able to get any of it. You don't serve food at the strip club. If she doesn't have food at home and she's not eatin' there, Genesis doesn't eat. She makes sure the baby has food, formula, diapers, and whatever else he needs while she goes without. Genesis is fuckin' starvin' and she hasn't said anythin' to anyone. She walked away with tears in her fuckin' eyes, cryin' because she's so fuckin' hungry and was embarrassed because she didn't have the money for her purchase and had to put most of it back.

"The apartment buildin' she lives in doesn't have a lockin' security door. Dealers linger outside the buildin', starin' at her when she comes and goes. They're not gonna leave her alone. I saw the look in their eyes and it's one I've seen way too many times in the past. They're gonna take what they want from her and won't give a fuck about the damage they do. She has no one to protect that baby and her," I growl, anger filling me as I look around the room. "I thought this club was better than that. That we take care of those who work for us. Genesis has gone above and beyond up until recently and we're all showin' her how fuckin' little we care about her."

Devil sits there and says nothing for several minutes. His eyes slowly fill with anger as he jumps up from the chair and searches around the common room. I watch on as he finds Morgan sitting with Kat and makes his way over to her.

"Why haven't you said anythin' to anyone here, Morgan? You've been in her apartment several times and have said nothin'. What do you eat when you're at her place with the baby?" Devil questions her, his voice full of anger and rage as he glares down at her with loathing in his eyes as we all step up closer to them.

"I haven't said anything because it's no one's business. Genesis is doing the absolute best she can on her own raising a baby that's not even fucking hers. She's scared every fucking day that someone is going to find out she doesn't have any right to keep that baby and will take him from her. None of you here will ever understand what the fuck is going through her head or understand how she feels. Every dime she's not putting up in some nest egg for their future is spent on the bills to keep a damn roof over their heads and buying the baby what he needs. She'd rather go without food and everything else instead of having him lose out on anything. Genesis is doing her absolute best and if that's not good enough for any of you, you can all fuck right off. She doesn't have money and not everyone does.

"As for what I eat when I'm there, I bring food from here. I've left things for her because on a daily basis she eats almost nothing. The last thing I saw in her refrigerator was a piece of damn cheese and one crusty piece of bread. Genesis won't let it go to waste so I'm sure she's eaten it by now. Yeah, she'd put back every piece of food she got herself to ensure Matie has his food. Besides, it's nothing for any of you to be concerned about. Genesis is too proud to take anything from the club. Especially Devil and Raptor. You two have made her feel like shit and I know she wants nothing to do with either one of you," Morgan tells us as Hope enters the common room and listens to the last part of what's being said.

"I take it we're talking about Genesis and her son?" Annabell asks, stepping up to Vault and wrapping her arms around him.

"Yeah, Bell. Raptor saw her puttin' all of her food back to buy things for the baby at the store. She has nothin' to eat and apparently lives in an apartment that has no security measures," Vault answers her as we all stand around the common room in various states of anger.

"So, what the hell are ya gonna do about it?" Annabell asks, anger in her voice as she looks at all of us.

"I'm gonna go buy her enough groceries to last a few weeks at least. I'll make sure she's got pots and pans to cook in as well. She'll have everythin' she needs to cook and eat. I'll also make sure the baby has exactly what he needs. Diapers, food, formula, everythin'. Morgan, you're gonna fuckin' take it to her and make sure that she fuckin' accepts it. I don't want to hear any excuses or anythin'. Tell her you want to make sure the two of you have food to eat. I don't give a fuck what you tell her as long as you make sure she takes everythin' and doesn't reject it," I tell Morgan and everyone else in the room because I don't give a fuck what anyone thinks.

Turning away from the group, I head out of the clubhouse and toward one of the SUVs the club has for anyone to use. Getting in the driver's seat, I flip down the visor and the keys land in my hand. Before I can put them in the ignition, the passenger door opens and Devil is getting in the SUV with me. I don't look at the man who is slowly crushing me on a daily basis.

It's been so hard to stay away from him, but I can't fucking be near him right now. Devil wants to have everything he wants and doesn't give a fuck about anyone else's feelings. That's not how I want to live my life and I refuse to be kept a secret any longer.

"We gonna talk about this shit?" Devil asks once I leave the compound and head for the grocery store.

"Talk about what, Devil?" I return, not sure what part he wants to talk about right now.

"Everythin', Wade. The fact that until today you haven't talked to me in over a week. Or the fact that for the first time you're stickin' up for someone who isn't involved in the club other than bein' an employee of one of the businesses. A woman you tore into less than two weeks ago because she caught us in the storeroom," he states, aggravation filling his voice as I keep my eyes locked on the road in front of us.

"You haven't heard from me because I have nothin' to say to you. I told you I wasn't gonna continue to be your dirty little secret and I meant it. Until you pull your head from your ass we have nothin' to talk about. And when it comes to Genesis, the way I feel and what I choose to do doesn't concern you right now," I tell him, a hard edge to my voice that's not usually present when I talk to Devil.

"You know why I can't tell my family about us, Wade," he tries to say as I cut him off.

"No, I don't. You have this whole conversation built up in your mind about what they'll say and how they'll treat you once they find out who you truly are. You're not givin' anyone the credit they deserve. Everyone in the club is open-minded and will accept this part of you with open arms and an open heart. You're scared and that's okay. I get it. But, you're not a fuckin' teenager anymore. I deserve more than you're givin' me and that's a fact," I say, pulling into the parking lot of the grocery store and parking close to the door.

"You don't know that for sure, Wade. You can't guess what they'll say or do once this news comes out," he states, anger lacing his voice as I shut the engine off and remove the keys, still not looking at him as I open my door and get out.

"Look, it's clear that we both feel somethin' for Genesis. I don't know when it changed or what's goin' on with it. What I do know is that we need to sort this shit out once and for all," he says, rushing his steps to catch up to me.

"Like I said, until you figure your shit out, there's nothin' more to be said," I tell him, grabbing a cart and heading for the produce section of the store.

Devil and I made it through the store grabbing everything I could think of for Genesis and the baby. I grabbed multiple sizes of diapers because I'm not sure what size he's in and didn't want to call Morgan to ask her. Devil didn't say another word as we loaded up two carts full of food, things for the baby, pots and pans, and some more things I'm sure Genesis doesn't have but will need to prepare the food we've gotten her today. Going through the checkout line, I focus on putting up everything in the carts and watching as the young kid bags them for us. He fills the empty carts with the bags as I pull out my card and prepare to pay for the purchase here today.

"I'll give you half the money back for today. If we're both interested in Genesis, then I want to help pay for this stuff. I'll also talk to Valor and King about gettin' better security for her apartment and make sure they fix the security door so there's another level of protection from the outside world. What do you want to do about the other threat lingerin' outside of her buildin'?" he asks once I've paid and we have the receipt and we're leaving the building.

"I plan on dealin' with them once it gets dark out. Don't need you there, Devil. You'll be at work when I show up," I tell him, hating the fact that I don't want to do this kind of shit with him.

Devil and I always handle all sorts of problems like this together. When I'm the hothead, he calms me down. When it's his turn to lose his shit, I pull him back in. To do something like this alone means I won't have that safety net like I normally do. I don't really give a fuck though. With the way I'm feeling and have been for so long now, I want to lose control. If I end up in jail for taking out the fucking scumbags, I don't give a fuck. We've got a kickass lawyer from what I hear and she'll get me off all charges. It's why she gets paid the high retainer fee.

"I'm not lettin' you deal with this shit alone, Wade. I don't give a fuck what we have goin' on personally, I've always had your back and that won't change because of this. Eventually, I'll figure things out. I just need you to wait for me. To understand that I'm tryin' my best and this is so much harder than I thought it would be. I don't want to lose you, Wade," he says, remorse filling his voice, almost causing me to crack and start to bring down the wall I've reinforced around my heart against him.

"We'll see. Maybe I'll ask King or someone to go with me. Like I said, you'll be at work when I show up," I tell him, loading the groceries in the back of the SUV with his help before we both put the carts away and get in.

I drive straight back to the compound and pull up in front of the door. Morgan should leave early to head over to Genesis' apartment so none of the food goes bad. I'm sure she's ready to get out of here after going off on us all. And I have no clue if Vault said anything to her once I took off.

Walking in the common room, I easily find Morgan exiting the hallway where her room is. She looks at me and heads straight over with a small smile on her face.

"Did you buy out the store?" she asks, laughter filling her voice.

"Almost. I got a ton of meat, vegetables, fresh produce, potatoes, stuff for the baby. I wasn't sure what size diapers he's in so I got a few different sizes. There's baby food and stuff for him, pots and pans, and a few other things I thought she'd need. Don't tell her I got it for her. Genesis won't accept it if it comes from me. I've got a lot to make up for when it comes to her. Everythin' is in the SUV. I'll send Deegan over with you. She knows him and won't bat an eye at him showin' up with you," I inform her leaving out so much of what we threw in the carts. Including the cases of water I saw her buy for the baby.

"What do you want me to do if she won't accept this stuff? Genesis isn't the kind of person who will accept charity or a handout from anyone, Raptor. She's a proud, independent woman who thrives on doing everything on her own. I have a feeling it's because that's what she's been taught growing up. Genesis has never had anyone in her corner or anyone remain in her life. Even now her last foster family only checks on her once a month and from what she's not saying, I believe it's more obligatory than something they actually want to do," Morgan informs me and rage simmers below the surface because no one should be made to feel as if they have to do everything on their own their entire lives.

"Please get her to take it, Morgan. I don't care what you have to say in order to make it happen. Genesis deserves to have the food she needs to keep movin' for herself and the baby. She's starvin' herself and it's not a choice she's made. I don't know all the details, but I'm sure Gen wasn't given a choice in takin' the baby, but she'll always do the right thing. I want to do the right thing for her when she needs it the most. Devil is also gonna make sure the security door gets fixed and King or Valor might be by to add some extra security measures to her apartment. I'm not sure what he's gonna ask them to do," I tell her, pleading because this is important to me and I want to make sure Genesis doesn't reject this gift. "Tell her it's a gift because that's what it is. I'm not givin' her charity or a handout. And I don't want anythin' in return for this. The only thing I want is for her to eat and for the baby to have what he needs."

"I'll do my best, Raptor. And for the record, what you've done is a good thing. I'm sorry I went off earlier, but that girl needs someone in her life who will be there for her no matter what's going on. Everyone else uses her and walks away. They don't see her determination or strength. No one sees how large of a heart she has either. All they see is the outside package and write her off because she's not good enough. That's what she's been told her entire life," Morgan says, giving me a little more insight into the woman who is tying me up in knots.

"There's also a surprise in one of the bags. Make sure it gets put up in a place in her apartment that she might believe she forgot. I've got some cash tucked into one of the bags to add to her nest egg. Or use it to buy what she needs. I don't care how she spends it," I state, turning to walk away from Morgan as Kat comes into the common room dressed for work at the strip club.

She gives me a nod as I watch Morgan leave the clubhouse and hope that Genesis will take the groceries. Devil comes out from where King's office is and heads straight for the door of the clubhouse. He's also heading into work. I hate watching him leave knowing there's so much strain on our friendship and whatever else there is between the two of us. For the first time in my life, I'm at a loss and I don't know if this is something Devil and I will be able to overcome what's happened. Only time will tell.