CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

-:- DESTINY -:-

Jessie at school, check. Emails replied to, check. Laundry away, check. Paid utility bill, check. Tapping my finger on my chin, I know I had something else to do this morning, but what the heck was it?

Making myself an elderberry tea, I take a seat at the kitchen table, pull the laptop towards me and ding, I remember. Googling the Florista and Craft Arcade, I jot down the telephone number, then quickly make the call.

“Good morning. Tilly’s Florista and Craft Arcade, Kya speaking. How may I help you?”

“Morning, Kya. This is Destiny…”

“Oh, hi, Dest. How are you this fine morning?” Kya asks with a flourish.

“I’m okay. How are you?” I politely ask in return.

“I’m good. Now, what can I do for you?”

“Jo told me you sell merchandise at the shop, and I’m wondering if you take on clients as in authors to do their merch for their readers?”

“Hang on, let me speak to Drew because she does that side of the business, and the online store.” Kya must place the phone down as it clatters a little and I pull my phone away from my ears slightly as it came over loud.

Banging again as Kya picks the phone up a minute or two later. “Drew said Jo has already spoken to her. The web shop sells enough to keep Drew on her toes, but not enough to take on an assistant. She said to speak to Amelia at the clubhouse as she has been nominated to do merchandise for Hot Hogs and Cages, and the Recovery business. Seems some of the brothers want t-shirts with the MC logo, too. I think that’ll be your best shot, Dest.”

“Okay. Thank you. I’ll speak to Amelia when I next go to the clubhouse, or I’ll ask Rock to speak to her.”

“Are you going to take up with Rock? He’s a good man, and he’s taken with you for sure.” Kya sounds excited.

“Well, I’ve given myself a pep-talk, and I was nervous as I don’t know a lot about him, but I do like him, and I feel drawn to him. So, I decided to give this my best shot. We’re all strangers to start with, and the caring he has shown toward Jessica and myself has warmed my heart.” I didn’t think I’d be talking about this, with anyone this morning.

“We all had some problem with our man, but they are men after all. You know, more balls than brains at times. They seem to see the woman that is for them and pow, they go for it full steam ahead. All you can do is see where it leads, but Destiny, I think your name says it all. You and Rock were meant to be.”

I can’t help but laugh at her because she sighed, showing she was exasperated at times with BS. I know that’s who her man is because when we came out of our meeting that night at the clubhouse he picked her up, threw her over his shoulder, and slapped her ass while grinning at me. But to top it off, he held his hand out to shake when he introduced himself. I’m not sure why, but he had a tiny pencil sitting behind his ear!

After lunch and another campaign organized for my longest standing author, I rub my neck and make a sandwich. I’m going to make the marinade that Tony suggested and hope I remember all the ingredients he said to use. I want to rub it on the ribs and chicken I’ve purchased for tomorrow’s meal with Rock. It’s ideal as Tony said it will taste different on each type of meat, so fingers crossed that it does. I don’t know what is Rock’s meat of choice, hence my doing the two.

My phone rings and picking it up from the table, I quickly swallow what was in my mouth before speaking. “Hello.” I should have checked who was calling, but it’s a bad habit I have to just pick up and answer.

“Miss. Portess, this is Principal Belesky. Jessica has been pulled out of class for bullying another pupil, and I’m afraid you need to pick her up from school, as she is suspended for a week until she has her behavior corrected.”

Now, the principal couldn’t have told me anything less shocking than this. Suspended from school. I can bet the Philpotts are behind this.

“Hm, so who is she supposed to have bullied? And what exactly did she do to bully?” I ask, keeping calm although I wanted to throttle this bitch.

“Jessica kicked and punched Acton Philpott in class.”

“Oh, I see. So, she retaliates for all the bullying he has done, the bullying that you have done nothing about, yet you suspend Jessica. So, when does Acton’s suspension start for the bullying I spoke to you about only a few days ago?” Yeah, I’m getting tetchy, and although she’s not my daughter, she feels like one with being with me for months.

“I’m not discussing more over the telephone. Please pick up Jessica as soon as you can get here.”

She freaking cut the call and I’m looking at my phone with steam starting to come out of my ears. I’ll pick her up alright, and I’ll find out who I can complain to about the double standards this principal holds.

Grabbing my purse, and sliding my feet into the flats I’d left near the front door, I quickly leave the house, lock up and speed walk towards the school.

Noticing Rock leaning against the wall, drinking coffee I’m sure, outside Hot Hogs, I don’t stop, but he jogs over to me, takes my arm gently and quirks an eyebrow. “What’s goin’ on?”

I spurt out what’s happening like I’m projectile vomiting, and the more I get upset, the tighter Rock’s face becomes. Turning us both and walking into the building, Rock shouts, “MOUNT UP, brOTHERS, WE’RE ON A MISSION.”

Fist runs over, but before he can ask, Rock has told him what’s going on. Fist snarls, takes his phone out of his coveralls, and walks away, speaking with someone.

Thirty-five minutes later, I’m on the back of Rock’s bike. Riding bitch, is what I was told. I’m not sure I like that description I have to say, and I argued about getting on when Rock told me that, but when I was told gruffly, “Shut up, get on, let’s go.” I did just that, much to Rock and everyone else’s amusement, but I’m gonna forget he said that.

Stopping outside Jessica’s school, I look at the bikers who have dropped everything and come as a show of force and intimidation. Axel, standing at the front, looking mean with his President’s kutte showing exactly who he is, and how important.

Now, apparently Axel had shouted, “Brothers to arms”, and this is who arrived within minutes. Drag, BS, Buzz, Wings, PT, TwoCents, Stitch and Meat.

They are all now standing behind their president, looking mean and hungry for trouble. Well, all apart from Meat, who looks like he’s ready for trouble but seems to be wearing some type of gangster outfit. All he needs is an old-fashioned weapon, and I’m sure Principal Belesky would piss her pants.

“Come on, Destiny,” Axel says, and I follow him into the school. I’m thankful Rock is beside me and has his hand on my lower back. It feels good not to have to do this alone.

Axel stops outside the principal’s office, not speaking to anyone that’s tried to stop him. He opens the door with such a flourish it bounces off the wall, and he holds his hand out to stop it from coming back and hitting him.

Principal Belesky jumps to her feet behind her desk, mouth dropped open with shock, and swallows loudly. “What is going on here?” She asks in a somewhat shaky voice.

“What’s goin’ on is a crock of shit, that stinks so bad I may have to get in the extermination squad,” Axel snarls, stepping over to the desk and leaning toward the principal. Who, I have to say, plopped back into her seat and has gone terribly white.

“Now, Pres, remember we’re not in the sandbox anymore,” Rock says, and I’m sure he’s smirking!

“The sandbox smells sweeter than this place. Now…” Growling, and I mean growling, that is enough to scare anyone, before continuing, “I can imagine what’s gone on here. Pissy fuckin’ Philpott came in here whining that Destiny here complained about her pansy-ass boy Acton being a bully. We have the video proof, of course, that we now will give to the Sheriff. Said Sheriff, being one of us.”

I feel my legs shaking a little at the feral look on Axel’s face, but he’s not raised his voice once, which I think has made this a lot scarier.

“Rock, tell one of the brothers to get Jessica. Where is she?” Axel asks the principal.

“She’s sitting on a bench in the locker area.”

“You know, I always thought you were an excellent principal, but you’re not. You’re a little bitch for Mrs. Philpott. What about all the mothers that have children in your school, because they are all under your protection while in this building? You have failed as a principal, and I’m going to do everything I can to have your job,” I snap, turning and leaving Axel and Rock in the principal's office.

I catch sight of Meat walking with Jessica, hand-in-hand, and my goodness, Jessica has the biggest smile on her face. She’s skipping as she walks along, showing not a care in the world.

Looking at Meat, he gives me a tiny twitch of the lip, before picking Jessica up and carrying her out the door to his hog. I stand dumbstruck as he places a small helmet on her head that has rainbows and unicorns all over it. He sits her in front of him on his hog and fires her up, Jessica giggling and shouting, “Let’s go!” I’m not sure what Garrett is going to say if he hears about all this.

Axel and Rock appear behind me. Both have smug looks on their faces. “Come on, Red, time to go.” Rock throws an arm around my shoulders and leads me to his hog.

I look over at Axel and he smirks, then states loudly and clearly, “Seems Principal Belesky is retiring. Handed her notice in while we were standing there. She’s gone already.”

“Why?” I blurt out.

“Seems I know her family and seems I know that her son is into dirty things. Like I said, the place stinks and needs cleaning.” Axel straddles his hog, places his helmet on, fires her up, and lifting his hand in the air we all follow him to the clubhouse.

Jessica is in the kitchen, eating something Meat has given her, drinking milk and has a milk smile. She’s happy and shows no sign of being worried she’s not at school.

Sitting next to Jessica, I run my fingers through her hair, then smile as I ask, “What happened?”

Sighing as dramatically as any seven-year-old would, she tells me what occurred. “I was sitting in class, and Acton kept staring at me. Sticking his tongue out and crossing his eyes. He then was pulling faces and pointing.”

Amelia and Bitty have just walked into the kitchen and are now standing, taking it all in. “What was the teacher doing?” Bitty asks.

“Nothing. He only does it when she’s not looking.” Jessica rolls her eyes. I’m sure she’s seven going on twenty. “When it was break, Acton walked over to me and pulled my hair, so I kicked him as hard as I could. Then I punched him right in his stomach, just like Rock showed me.” Now, that has Jessica smiling so wide, and looking so proud that I turn slowly, along with Meat, Bitty and Amelia, to look at Rock who’d been leaning on the kitchen island listening quietly. This new information has him standing slowly, then turning and walking out of the kitchen before anyone can reprimand him.

“Fucker!” Meat mumbles.

“That’s a bad word, Uncle Meat,” Jessica states with a frown.

Meat grunts before he also walks away and out of the kitchen. I look at Amelia and Bitty and they both giggle like school children themselves.

Deciding I don’t want to discuss this anymore, I quickly change the topic of conversation. “Amelia, I was told you are going to be merchandising. I wondered if you needed any clients, because I have authors who need a supplier, and a reliable one at that.”

“Well, I have been asked to do just that. Putting the MC businesses as first in the queue, of course. But I’d be happy to do any other authors after Jo. If I get too busy, I’d need someone to give me a hand.” Amelia is giving me the look that says I’m the one she’s asking to give a hand, as I’m the one that’s asking for her to take on clients.

I give her a weak smile, a small nod, and respond. “Yeah, I can do that, but you’ll have to teach me how to do it.”

“That’s not a problem.” Amelia pats my shoulder, then walks away with a smirking Bitty behind her. I’m sure I hear Amelia mutter, ‘mission accomplished’ .

Stitch walks into the kitchen, giving Jessica a smile. “Come on, Jessica, let’s get that bandage off and check you out.”

I follow Stitch and Jessica, but if I’m honest, I feel like a spare wheel. They are talking to each other like long-lost friends. But I’m pleased everyone likes Jessica, and she likes everyone.

The bandage is off, no longer required. Jessica has to be careful with the arm so she doesn’t give it any hard knocks, and is given a bag of sweets as a treat for being a good girl.

Rock appears, and leaving Jessica with Stitch, takes me outside. Walking up the compound, we pass the vegetable garden, the greenhouse, also the treehouse, and that’s when I see a house and cabins.

“We are going to live here. I’m having a cabin built. It’s a large one because who knows how many kids we’ll have. I’m up for as many as you want, and if we are not lucky enough to have any, we’ll adopt a parcel of them,” Rock states, like it’s a done deal. He must realize what I’m thinking because he continues, “It’s a done deal, Red. You are mine, and I am yours. Nobody, and I mean nobody, will ever get between us. I don’t do cheating. You will never have to worry about that.”

“I’m good to see where this leads, Rock, but it’s a bit too soon to be discussing kids.” I’m on the verge of stuttering at this point, because I can see me, Rock, and ten kids. It has me panicking somewhat.

Stopping at what you can only describe as a building site, I scan the area. “This is going to be our cabin. Hammer has made a start, and I can’t wait for it to be finished. You gotta be thinking about what you want it to look like inside. I’ll get the stuff from Hammer so you can pick kitchen cabinets and shit.”

I am so shocked, I must look like a nodding toy because that’s what I’m doing, nodding at everything he says. “Okay,” I pop out, but then I’m dragged to Rock’s chest, and he’s kissing me until I’m ready to pass out from lack of oxygen. I think my man’s a Neanderthal.

Oh! I thought, my man!

Walking back to the clubhouse, I tell Rock about Mrs. Philpott and her asking about someone here called Dragon. “I didn’t know what she was talking about, and I told her so. I also told her there’s no one here with that name. I’ve no idea what she was getting at, or who she was trying to get at.”

“When did this happen?” Rock asks.

“Yesterday at the grocery store. The woman is a crazy bitch, if you ask me. She needs a reality check and her attitude also needs adjusting,” I snap.

“Shall I tell Axel?” Rock asks with a huge smirk on his face. I slap his chest with the back of my hand, then snuggle into his side. Feeling that is easy, with no awkwardness at all. It’s a good sign, I’m thinking, and if I am totally honest, I can’t wait to be claimed.