[ Truyện Tiếng Anh ] Holding Out

Holding Out
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Stupid, slutty wench.

Talon leaned into me and whispered, “Do you wanna piss on me as well, kitten?” Then he chuckled.

“Not funny, Talon.”

“What’s not funny, Ma?”

“Nothing, honey. Now, any chance you want to tell me what happened today?”

She groaned. “I had to do it, Momma. Toby was bein’ mean.”

“Maya, what was Toby saying or doing that was so bad to receive a punch in the stomach?”

Talon chuckled. I elbowed him in the ribs, and sent him my evil glare. He shut up, but a grin stayed upon his lips.

“It was my turn for news—”

“Yes.” I nodded. “And you showed everyone that Monster High doll, right?”

“Yeah, but I also had way better news than that.”

“And?” I prompted.

“I told the class I had a daddy now.” I gasped; Talon’s hand in mine grew tighter. “Toby said Talon wasn’t my daddy, just someone my mum was dating. I thought he was not right, he was yelling that he was, and said I was silly for even thinkin’ it. So I punched him.”

Oh, dear.

Not knowing what to actually say, I decided to steer clear of that whole dad topic—leave it for when I had some inspirational answers, which always came after a bottle of scotch. So I moved onto the lecture of not hurting anyone, even if they think they were right and were vocal about it. Maya then stomped off up the front steps when I took her one-hour of television privileges away for the night. In other words—her world had ended. Maya wasn’t the only one I didn’t want to talk to about the dad subject. As soon as I was in the front door, I headed for the kitchen, where I could hear Mattie and Julian.

“All right, where are we at with dinner? ‘Cause a roast takes awhile; and then there’s all the other preparing to do with the vegetables.”

“Did you smoke a joint while you were out?” Mattie asked. I was shocked that came out of his mouth; usually he was more reserved.

To prove my shock, my eyes bulged, and my mouth dropped open. “No, I did not.”

He turned to Julian and said, “Something happened on the way home.”

Julian nodded. “Oh, definitely.”

I didn’t get to respond, because Talon walked into the kitchen with his phone to his ear. “Right,” he barked. “Well, drop him at the compound.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I’ll be there; what time? That’s none of your business. Well, I could just come and get him like it was ****in’ planned, woman.” He sighed. “Christ, fine.”

“Talon?” I asked. He was very tense.

“Stupid bitch. I was supposed to go and grab Cody. But she’s bringing him here.”

I stiffened. “As in here, here?”

“Nah, kitten, across the road. I wouldn’t wanna burden you with that slut. I’ll be back soon. No one leaves the house. I’ll have guys watching, but no one leaves. Got it?”

“Sure thang, Spiderman.” Julian saluted. Mattie nodded.

Without thinking, my body went to Talon. I curled my arms around his waist and met his gaze. He was annoyed and I wanted to make him better. “Sorry, honey, she’s made you mad.”

His eyes softened. “You doin’ what you just did, and sayin’ what you just said, made puttin’ up with her a whole lot easier. ‘Preciate it, kitten. Now kiss me.”

And I did. It started out slow, a touch of lips. But as soon as Talon’s tongue touched my bottom lip, I dove, and it soon got hot and heavy.

“They should charge money for this. It’s nearly like porn, but they’re clothed,” Julian commented.

I pulled away and smiled at Talon, his eyes showed he was amused, but his mouth frowned and he grumbled, “One ****in’ day, kitten.”

An hour and a half later, dinner was ready, but it was still keeping warm in the oven while we waited for Talon and Cody. Deanna had turned up and was sitting in front of the television with Maya, watching Charlie and Lola while playing with her Monster High dolls. Mattie was at the table reading the paper while Julian sat beside him reading something on his iPad. I was checking the kitchen floor for any uneven ground as I walked back and forth over it.

That was when we all heard yelling out the front. I looked to the guys at the table as they looked to me. We bolted for the lounge.

“Maya, baby. Come to your room and show me all your Lalaloopsy dolls,” Mattie said.

“Sure, Uncle Mattie.” Maya, none the wiser—at least I hoped not—ran off to her room with Mattie following.

Deanna, Julian, and I were just about to peek out the front curtain when we heard, “I should at least get the chance to meet your new whore before she plays house with my son.”

“Bianca, just ****in’ leave. Hell, it’s none of your business who I’m doin’.”

Well, really. He hasn’t even done me yet.

“Holy ****,” Deanna said grinning. I hadn’t had a chance to speak to her…okay I had had a chance, but she ignored those said chances to talk in private.

There was a knock at the front door. “Open up, bitch!”

“Mum.” I heard Cody hiss in a whispered voice.

Oh. My. God. She was acting like this in front of her son. That was just…disgraceful.

I opened the door to witness Talon grab his ex by the arm and pull her roughly away from the door.

“Honey,” I said with a buttery-sweet tone and a smile upon my face. “Don’t go doing that, I would love to meet…Bianca wasn’t it?”

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Bianca looked at me from head-to-toe with a sneer on her face. She was beautiful; I could understand why Talon was married to her. She had long blonde hair, light blue eyes, and a slim body that was wrapped up in designer gear.

I was sure I looked a treat, too. “Sorry, if I would of known I was receiving company, I would have spruced up a little. I’ve been cleaning all day.”

“You clean your own house.”

It wasn’t a question, it was more of a disgusted statement.

Deanna stepped forward from behind the door. “No, woman, fairies fly outta her ass and they do it for her.”

Cody laughed, but he quickly hid it behind a cough when his mum glared at him.

“Hey, Cody.” I waved. He smiled. “Why don’cha come on in. Julian will take you to meet Maya.”

“Bye, Mum,” he whispered as he walked past her into the house, only to stop just inside when his mum spoke.

“Now hang on a second, bitch!” She turned to Talon. “I don’t want him stayin’ here with one of your pieces of *****.”

“My time with my boy, I do what I want. And if spending that time is with my woman, it’s ****in’ what we’ll do.”

With hands on my hips, I said, “Talon, honey. Check your language in front of the kids.”

Talon looked at me with a smile upon his face. “Right, kitten.”

Bianca gasped.

“Come on, little Thor. Let’s leave these cats to hiss it out,” Julian said, and with a gentle hand on Cody’s shoulder, he ushered him forward and down the hall.

“You are ****ing ****ting me!” Bianca screeched.

I stepped out the door with Deanna behind me, and closed it. I’d had enough; I turned to Bianca with a glare.

“I would appreciate it if you would be more civilized around my house. I do not condone bad language when my daughter is present. Now, I am not trying to replace you in any way when it concerns Cody. All I wanted was to meet and get to know my man’s child. I’m sorry if that hurts you in some way; but if this is what Talon wants, then I will stand by him.”

She looked from Talon to me. “You have got to be kidding me. This? That is what you’re ****ing choosing to screw? Some toffee, fat bitch?”

“Watch what you ****in say, Bianca.”

“Yeah, right; you won’t do anything about it, ‘cause you know you’d lose Cody.”

Holy heck. She was really going to play that card with him?

“Now that’s just uncalled for,” I said.

She took a step toward me. “I don’t give a **** what you have to say or think, bitch.”

Deanna started bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet beside me. “Oh, come on, come on. Let me at her. Talon? Zara? Please.”

Bianca looked to Deanna. “And who the **** are you?”

Deanna ignored the question and looked to Talon with pleading eyes. “Please.”

Talon chuckled. “If it’s okay with Zara. Have at it, Hell Mouth.”

Deanna begged me with her eyes. I would have loved to have said my own piece, but I didn’t want the children to overhear. I didn’t want to cause Talon any more damage, and I thought if it didn’t come from me, then the problem wouldn’t escalate. Also, Deanna sure did have a way with words; and when she wanted to get a certain message across, she did, with a firework result.

And who was I to spoil her fun? I nodded my head at Deanna.

She beamed, stepped in front of me, and snarled in Bianca’s face, “Don’t you ever ****in’ come here giving **** to my sista and her man. I will ****in’ take you down, slut. I’m not a pulling hair, sissy fighta. I claw, bite, and give my all, and there is a lot. And if you even think of holding Cody against Talon, I will rip you and your life apart. You think you got money and you can do or say anything? Well, ****, woman, I got so much money I could use it as toilet paper. So, I have every chance to **** you and your husband over. Now back the **** up, woman, and leave. Let them have this; if you don’t—I’ll rain down on you faster than you can blink.”

Bianca did indeed blink…and then again. She opened her mouth, shut it, and then stuttered, “B-but—” She shook her head and stood straighter. “Hang on a sec; she just swore.”

I shrugged my shoulders and said, “Yeah, but she was quiet about it. The kids wouldn’t have heard that.”

“What-****ing-ever.” She turned and went down the steps, then left.

“Honey, your ex is a…not a nice person,” I said as we stared after her.

Deanna sighed. “Zee, she’s a bitch.”

“That she is, Hell Mouth, and so much more. But I think you just scared the **** outta her. So, thanks,” Talon said.

“Not a problem, boss man. I enjoyed it.”

Talon took the steps two at a time and was in front of me; then I was in his arms. “Sorry ‘bout that, kitten.”

I wrapped my arms around his waist and grinned up at him. “Don’t apologise for that thing, honey. I just hope we can salvage dinner.”

“What did I do to ever deserve you?” Talon grinned.

“And me,” Deanna said.

Talon chuckled. “Yeah, Hell Mouth, and ****in’ you. Let’s go eat, babe.”

Dinner wasn’t too bad; the meat was still tender enough that we didn’t have to carve it with a chainsaw. Maya absolutely adored Cody, and I think the feeling was mutual. Cody didn’t say much while we ate, but he did smile, and of course laughed at Deanna and Julian a lot. Though, who wouldn’t?

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After checking with Cody first, we set up a bed in Maya’s room; she was over the moon to have company. I hoped she didn’t talk his ear off. Talon’s only comment was that I needed a bigger house. I laughed and said I liked it the way it was; that was when he informed me that tomorrow we were staying at his house with the kids, because at least then the walls were more soundproof and he could have his wicked way with me. I gulped.

It wasn’t until Julian and Mattie had gone to bed, Deanna had left with Griz, complaining all the way, and Talon and I were in bed and asleep—after fooling around for a bit—that I woke in the middle of the night from having a nightmare about the phone call. If Talon hadn’t been there, it would have advanced into a full-blown panic attack.

“Like I said, kitten,” Talon whispered, “we’re going to my house tomorrow; not for the other reasons, but ‘cause it’s safer. I have an alarm system and cameras. We’ll take everyone if we have to. I’ll keep you safe, babe. Always.”

“Okay, honey,” I said. Because I knew that was true.

“Momma, Mum, Ma. Mummy, wake up.”

I woke up wishing my daughter had a snooze button like my alarm clock. She didn't, of course, so I had to pry open my eyes and pay attention to her.

“Yes, Maya, my wonderful, pain-in-the-beehive daughter. What is so important to wake me up on a Saturday morning?”

“I'm hungry.”

Seriously? Where was that duct tape when I needed it? I sat up slowly, looked next to me, and found the bed empty. Well, there went my morning nookie.

Wait. Where in the heck did that come from?

Why was I thinking about nookie in the first place with my daughter present?

That damn Talon.

“Maya, was that all you needed, hun?” 'Cause last I knew, we had a house full of people who could have helped her out; and also, from the sound of it, they were already awake.

“No. I've got swimming, remember?” She smiled.

I glanced at the clock and hissed, “Snap.” I threw the covers back; thankfully, I was wearing my PJ's so I bounced off the bed and ordered, “Right, Maya get dressed; get the bag from the laundry with a towel in it, and be ready. I'll throw some clothes on and we’ll get going. Okay?”

“Okay.” She ran from the room yelling, “We're late, we're late.”

We weren't that late. Swimming started in ten minutes and we lived five minutes driving distance away from the centre. Okay, so maybe we were going to be a little late, but we had to go; my little uncoordinated angel needed as many lessons as possible.

I dressed in black leggings, a tight, long-sleeve black top under a looser fitting tee that read 'This ain't no milk store', slipped on a pair of combat boots, and ran from my room to the kitchen where Talon and Cody already were.

“Gotta go, gotta go, people,” I said, as I quickly filled a travel mug of coffee. I was about to walk out of the kitchen and yell at Maya to get her beehive out here when Talon called,“Kitten.”

“Yes, honey?” I turned to face him. “Oh, sorry. Morning, Cody. I hope you've had breakfast. Hey, do you want to come with us? I'm sure Maya would love to show you how not to swim while trying to learn to swim.”

Cody beamed and looked from me to Talon, so I moved my gaze to Talon also.

“Kitten, get your ass over here.”

I sighed and rolled my eyes. “Talon, I don't have time for this; I need to go. Maya,” I yelled.

“Comin'!” she yelled back.

“Kitten.” There was a tone of warning in his voice.

I sighed, “Yes, Talon?”

“Get your ass over here. Kiss me, and then you can go. I'll bring Cody with me in a moment; I just gotta see to something at the compound.”

“Oh, okay.” I grinned, walked over to him, and gave him a quick peck on the mouth. Talon wasn't having any of that. As I went to pull away, he brought me closer and really kissed me, so thoroughly that my legs went wonky and my fandola sang "Let's Get it On". Then I remembered we had an audience.

I stepped away and glared at him. “Talon,” I snapped. “None of that in front of Cody—”

“He don't mind.”

“That's beside the point. I do not neck in front of our children.”

His eyes went extra soft. What had I done or said to receive that response from him? I wasn't sure, but I knew I liked it.

Though, then I remembered. “And do not say the a-word again, mister,” I said, jabbing him in the chest with my finger.

“Babe.” he smiled. “Let's leave the cursing lesson ‘til later, when you're not going to be late.”

I gasped, looked to the clock on the microwave, and yelled, “Maya, let's move it.” I gave Talon a quick peck, Cody a hair ruffle, and over my shoulder I said, “See you there.”

Maya met me in the lounge; she said a quick goodbye and we left.

Maya was in the poolroom that was glassed off from the parents. I was in the sitting area watching through the glass, which I found was better for the children because they were able to concentrate on their teacher without having parents yelling orders. I also thought it was wonderful because it blocked out the noise of rowdy kids for half an hour. I was in the back row near the front door, so it was easier for me to keep an eye out for Talon and Cody while watching Maya.

I grimaced as Maya dove in—well, more belly flopped in. I glanced over my shoulder once again to see some woman run out of the centre, when I spotted Cody walking through the door. I smiled and waved him over.

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“Hey,” I said, as he sat down next to me.

“Hi,” he whispered. Something was wrong.

“Um, Cody, are you okay?”

“Yeah.”

Alrighty.

“Uh, Cody, where's your dad?”

He looked over his shoulder, and as he did, his top lip curled up in a look of disgust. “Coming,” he said.

I looked behind me to see that Talon was coming in, but with him was a blonde haired, blue eyed, big-boobed bimbo. She was dressed in the tightest of tight jeans, where anyone could see her camel-toe and a tight white tee. I turned my attention front and center, and tried my best not to jump over the chair and rip her apart for touching my man. Unfortunately, they stopped too far behind us for me to be able to hear what they were saying.

“Who's that, buddy?” I asked Cody.

“Dunno. But don't worry, Zee. Dad likes you better.” He looked at me with concerned eyes.

I smiled and patted his arm. “I know, bud.”

Whoever she was, she had to go. It was making Cody uncomfortable and upset.

“Be back in a sec,” I whispered to Cody. “Can you watch Maya for me?” I pointed her out. He didn't say anything, only nodded.

I got up, plastered a big smile upon my face, and walked up to Talon and Pamela Anderson-wannabe.

Before she noticed me, I heard her whisper, “So, when are you gonna give me another chance to have that **** of yours?”

“Pam,” Talon sighed. His eyes were on me as he added, “I already told you, I gotta woman now—”

“I don't mind sharing, you know that.” She smiled and leaned her tits into his arm.

I took a deep breath and stopped in front of them; she looked at me and glared. “Hi.” I grinned. “I'm Zara Edgingway, Talon's woman. Can I ask that you refrain from rubbing up against my man? I don't like to see it, and his son doesn't like to see it. Actually, I find it disgusting that you would even act such a way in front of these people. Do you have a child here?”

“Yes,” she hissed.

“You better run and be a good mother then, instead of coming onto a man that already said he was taken, and acting like some dog in heat.”

She stalked off without a word.

I glared up at Talon with my hands on my hips and snapped, “I am seriously thinking of tattooing a sign on your forehead when you're asleep that says 'Property of Zara'.” Then I walked off, leaving Talon chuckling behind me.

After Maya finished, we stood outside in the warm midmorning, waiting while Talon and Cody having a great laugh about what I'd said to Talon earlier; Cody was laughing his pants off. I was a little annoyed, but also happy to see Cody smile and laugh with his father, even if it was at my expense. Maya was standing silent beside me, only because she was chomping down a lollipop that Talon had brought her after swimming.

“All right, let's get a-goin'. Babe, you gotta pack some stuff to take to my place.”

“Are we stayin' at Talon's?” Maya asked.

“If that's okay with you.” I smiled down at her.

“That'd be cool. Cody was telling me all about it and how big it was; and, momma, they got a Xbox and a Playstation. I wanna try those.”

“I'm sure that would be fine.”

My daughter is easily bought.

“We'll meet you back at the house,” I said, then turned to walk off, only my arm was caught on something, and that something pulled. I was spun back around, and wrapped up in tight arms.

“When're you gonna flippin' learn?” Talon growled.

“Uh,” was my smart response.

“When one of us is leavin', kitten, I want your mouth. Now give it to me.”

“And what did I say about necking in front of the kids?” I glared.

“They'll get used to it.” He grinned and then proceeded to kiss me, and of course, once his mouth was upon mine, my brain went blank and my body took over. Meaning, we were definitely necking in front of the kids.

He stopped the kiss, stepped back, smirked, and gave a chin lift to someone behind me. I turned to see one of Talon's biker brothers do the whole chin lift back. Only when I looked back to Talon, he was already on his way to his car with Cody.

“Ma, we going?”

“Yes, Maya.”

We walked over to my car, a beat-up, black Volkswagen Beetle, got in, and it was then that Maya informed me, “I like Talon for a daddy. He makes you smile a lot.”

I bit my bottom lip, smiled at her, and nodded. Pulling out of the car park, I noticed Talon's biker brother followed us all the way home. I should have noticed that morning that I had a tail, but I hadn't. Really, I should have been the one in the first place to have asked someone to follow or come with us in case anything happened. In case he had someone out there watching and waiting for the right moment to commence his payback, but I didn't think of it.

Why?

Because Talon makes me feel safe.

Talon and I walked in the front door at the same time, and by the looks on Julian, Mattie, and Deanna's faces, I wanted to walk right back out. Mattie quickly ushered Cody and Maya into Maya's room to play games. Then Griz walked out of the kitchen carrying a bunch of bright pink assorted flowers.

I looked to Talon; his body went solid beside me, which I felt as his hand squeezed mine. “Did you buy me flowers?” I asked, though I already knew the answer, only I just didn't want to admit it.

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He shook his head.

I closed my eyes. “They're from him, aren't they?”

“There was a note, boss,” Griz barked.

“Kitten, look at me.”

I kept my eyes closed and shook my head. I didn't want to look at him; I didn't want to see the note, or the flowers, or the pity from anyone. I wanted to lock my family, friends, and myself away in an oblivious bubble and not think of anything.

“She's gonna blow,” Deanna said.

And, in fact, she was right. I felt the pressure build, the stress, and the heartache of not having enough time to mourn my parents, of having to deal with this prick again in my life. I was angry, pissed, annoyed, and ***ually frustrated.

I didn't realize I was still shaking my head until Talon captured it between his palms and tilted it. My eyes opened and saw he was just as furious as I was.

“You can't do this right now. I'd love to let you loose, but not now, and not here with the kids. Do not let this ****er win.”

“I need something, Talon. I need to vent really soon, honey, or I'm gonna go crazy.”

“Girls night!” Julian cried out. I stepped out of Talon's hold and turned to him as he continued, “Or day, should I say. You need to vent, kidney bean; we'll do that in style. Drinking, massages, make-up, dancing, drinking, crying, screaming, and drinking some more.”

“I can't, Julian—”

Mattie emerged from the hallway saying, “No, it's a great idea. I can take care of the children. Zee, it would make you feel so much better.”

“It's not right. Not now, I can't leave Maya and Cody alone. Not that they'd be alone...I just shouldn't.”

“Babe, you should. Matthew can take the kids to my place with Vic, Bizz, and Stake. They'll be ****in' safer there than anywhere.” He looked to Griz and then back to me. “I got **** I need to do, but I'll catch up with you sometime. Until then, Griz, Blue, and Pick will be with you, Hell Mouth, and Julian.”

“I—”

“No, kitten. Do this. You need an outlet; as much as I'd like you to ****in' use me, that ain't gonna work right now. All right?”

I nodded. “Okay, honey.”

He smiled brightly and said, “Good.”

Talon left with the flowers and note—after, of course, a hot make-out session. And yes, it was in front of everyone. I was getting the impression he wasn't unfavorable toward public displays of affection. Something I was still learning to get over myself.

Maya and Cody were both fine with going to Talon's without me, and instead with Mattie and the bikers. I packed as Maya gabbed about how unreal it was going to be staying at Talon's, that she was going to have a huge ass—yes, she said ass, but only because Cody had—room to herself. I was going to have to have another word with Talon. Though, what had me forgiving Cody so quickly about cursing, was when Maya told me that he'd said if she got scared through the night, she was allowed to go into his room, that he'd keep her safe.

Wasn’t that just the cutest thing?

Before they left, I gave Cody a big ass hug for what he'd said.

It caused him to look at me strangely, because either he didn't know why, or he just wasn't used to a mother figure showing him affection.

Griz made himself at home on the couch watching motorbike racing, while Deanna, Julian, and I sat at the kitchen table, organizing the afternoon and night’s events. We were arguing about whether ****tails or straight shots were going to be tonight’s main choice of beverage when the front door opened, and in walked Blue and Pick. They sat down with Griz after a quick hello, and we went back to arguing while we made lunch for everyone.

In the end, we decided to do both. Once lunch was consumed—or wolfed away where the men were concerned—Julian announced, “Massage time. Then we'll start a little drinky-poo.”

“Whoa, hang on. I thought we were going somewhere for that massage,” Deanna said.

Julian rolled his eyes. “Don't be silly, apple tart. I am actually a professional masseuse. I've got my table in my car and all. Girl, you won't know what hit you when I get my hands on you.”

Julian, with the help of Griz, got his table from the car; once we moved the lounge around a bit, we placed the table in the middle. None of the bedrooms were big enough to have it in.

The guys positioned themselves back on the couch and chair, and continued to watch television. That was, until Deanna came out in my robe. I had demanded—because it was my night—that she went first.

“Okay, lemon drop, lay on your stomach.” Julian patted his table.

Deanna turned a glared on the guys, who quickly looked away, then lay down. She had Julian help her remove my robe, so that all she was left wearing was her low-riding jeans. Her top half was naked. Not that you could see anything…thank goodness, or I wouldn’t be getting up there. Julian squirted some oil onto his hands and rubbed them together. As soon as he placed them on Deanna's back and started to work out her knots, she moaned low in her throat.

“Jesus,” Griz growled.

I grinned.

“I think I'm in the wrong job,” Pick said.

I looked to Blue; he wasn't looking at Deanna at all. His eyes were on me, and once I'd turned to him, he said, “Looking forward to your turn, Babe.”

I blushed and had second thoughts about actually having a go.

“Blue,” Griz barked.

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Blue smirked and shrugged his shoulders at Griz. “Can't help myself,” He said.

Julian worked Deanna for half an hour, then wrapped the robe back around her; as she got up from the table, her eyes were hooded. That was when I noticed Griz adjust himself in his pants. He so wanted her.

“Come on, french fry, your turn,” Julian said to me.

“Um, no. I think I'll be all right.” I gave him a small smile.

“If I had to do it, so ****in' do you,” Deanna called from my room, where she was probably getting ready to shower to remove the oil from her skin.

“Unless you want me to do it, baby,” Blue said.

“You are just askin' for it, dickhead,” Griz snapped.

“It could be the only chance I'll get to have my hands on her sweet skin,” Blue commented like it meant nothing, his eyes on me, and my eyes were wide and worried.

Griz elbowed him in the ribs and ordered, “Get your stupid ass outside, Wildcat don't need that ****.” He turned back to Blue. “And Talon will ****in' kill you if you make this night crap for her.”

Blue flinched. “Sorry, babe.” He got up from the couch and left out the front door.

“Don't worry, Zara; he'll be all right. He'll still help out tonight,” Pick said.

Was I right to feel bad for Blue? A part of me said no, and then another part said yes. What I didn't understand—even though they'd said some nice things about me—and couldn't comprehend, was that both Talon and Blue thought that I was an okay-type-of-gal.

Maybe they were high most of the time?

That was all I had to explain their interest in me.

An hour later, I had worked out that Julian was actually a god, and I wanted to chop off his hands and sell them on eBay. I could have made millions. But because I couldn't do that, I had a shower after my near-orgasmic massage, and was now dressed in a long black and grey striped skirt, combat boots, and a black tee that read 'Rock On.' I put some make-up on and gunk in my hair to control the frizz. I piled it up, with the help of many bobby pins, on the top of my head—only Julian had to have his way and place a few ringlets hanging down. He was dressed in dark blue jeans and a teal-coloured shirt; Deanna looked wonderful in tight black pants and a silky grey shirt. What we were dressed up for, I didn't have a clue, but once I started on my third ****tail, I didn't care. It was while I was on that third ****tail and fifth shot that I broke down crying when Julian mentioned my parents. Then I went from grieving to flat-out pissed off.

To say the least, I was so happy I had Deanna and Julian there to fuel my fire inside. We yelled and screamed. I quivered a bit, and then whispered my worries to them both as we sat at the kitchen table.

Then I announced, “You know what? We missin' one of me gal's 'ere. I'm gonna ring Vi.”

“We 'on't need dat bitch,” Deanna said. She was a little drunk.

Okay, we all were.

“Deanna,” I sighed. “Honey lumpkin, you need to learn to play nice with others. I lov' ya, but life is all 'bout expanding. Look at me, I have a hot biker boyfriend, who I so want to have *** with—”

“****in' hell,” Griz growled from the lounge room.

“You said it, brother,” Blue griped.

“They're kinda funny,” Pick said.

“Don't listen in then, punks,” Deanna yelled at them.

“Yeah!” Julian yelled as well. “Go on, **** ring, and ring her.”

Julian's cute pet names, I noticed once he was drunk, turned dirty.

I reached for the phone on the kitchen bench and said, “All right, I'm gonna do it.” After a long drink of water.

I rang her mobile number; on the third ring, she picked up.

“‘Low,” she said

“Why ‘ello there, Miss Marcus. You know I really should have taken notice of your last name more because it’s just like Talon’s.”

“Zara?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you drunk?” I could hear the smile in her voice.

“Maybe a wee little bit, and I thought, I’m having a few drinks with Deanna and Julian, and I was missing someone, and that someone was you. Now get your behind here and drink with us,” I ordered.

“I doubt Barbie wants me there—”

“Oh, don't mind her, she's all full of **** bein' a hater.”

“No, I'm not,” Deanna yelled beside me. I shoved her. She teetered in her chair about to fall—and I would have laughed my ass off—but then she regained her balance.

“I can't, anyway,” Violet said. “I'm still at work and I've got some filing to finish.”

“Hmm.” I thought for a second and then slapped the table with my hand. “I've got it. We'll come to you.”

“Yay, an outing. Ooh, I've got to get my shoes.” Julian ran from the kitchen yelling, “Has anyone seen my shoes? We're going out.”

“Like ****,” Griz barked.

“I don't think you should do that, Zee. Someone doesn't sound happy about it on your end,” Vi said.

“Oh, pish posh. Leave them to me. See you soon, hun, and we'll bring some grog.” I hung up before she could complain about my idea.

Griz, Pick and Blue stomped into the kitchen. They all looked good enough to eat, standing there in jeans, biker boots, and tight tees, with their arms crossed over their chests.

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“You know,” I began, “you guys are pretty good looking.”

“You ain't charming us into doin' this ****, Wildcat,” Griz said. His dark-blue gaze shifted from me to Deanna and narrowed.

“What? Don't look like that at me; it wasn't my idea. Still, it's a good one. We need to get out. No, scratch that, Zee needs to get out, have stress-****in'-free fun. It's what her boss man would want for her.”

“Hey, yeah. Good point there.” I nodded. “Call my ***-on-legs man; see what he says.”

Griz stalked into the lounge; his voice was low enough we couldn't hear what was being said, but he sounded outraged. Looked to me like I was going to get my way. I grinned.

“Hell, baby, this is a bad idea, but you knew Talon'd let this fly for you,” Blue commented.

I shrugged and tried to not look so pleased.

“Makes me kind of thankful it ain't me dealing with this ****. If you were my woman, I wouldn't allow this.”

I bit my bottom lip between my teeth.

“Nah, I'm still ****ing jealous.” He walked off as Griz came in.

“Let's roll then.” He turned to Pick. “Go get your vehicle; you and Blue follow—”

Julian ran into the room saying, “Found them, thunder ****s.They were under the bed.”

“Julian Jacob, do not say that word around me again,” I snapped.

“Sorry, ***** flaps.” He smiled sweetly. I rolled my eyes, and Deanna burst out laughing.

“You three are with me,” Griz ordered.

Excitement ran throughout my body; I couldn't keep still in the car on the way to work, which wasn't far. Really, we could have walked, but I wasn't going to push that idea. Deanna sat in the front of the tough-looking black Chrysler next to Griz; Julian was in the back with me. We kept looking at each other, smiling and giggling.

We pulled up to the office and I got out juggling a bottle of Tequila, a bottle of bourbon, and a ****tail shaker. Julian was carrying the glasses for us to use because I knew there were none at the office, well, besides coffee cups. But that just wasn't going to happen.

Griz came around the front of the car and barked, “Next time, you wait till I'm outta the car and the boys have pulled up and got out as well.”

“Sorry, Griz,” I said in a little girl’s voice. Julian and Deanna laughed. Griz's eyes narrowed.

It turned out to be a great idea of mine. Violet was a great person usually, but a hoot when she was tipsy. We were surrounding her desk, sitting in our own chairs, talking and laughing about our first time experiences in ***. The guys were sitting back a bit, pretending not to listen as they played cards.

“It wasn't until I met Travis that I was introduced to receiving it hard. God, I loved it when he used to pound into me, and let me tell you, he was huge. Delicious.” Vi licked her lips and grinned from the memory.

“Christ,” Blue swore.

“I think I need a smoke after that,” Julian said. We all laughed.

“What about you, Barbie?”

“The best time I've ever had *** was when—”

“Enough,” Griz growled. “I don't wanna hear any more of this ****.”

“Aw, but we haven't got to my turn yet,” Julian moaned.

“No offense, man, but we had to hear about your first time; that was enough,” Pick said.

“You know what?” I asked the room.

Vi, Deanna, and Julian all asked ‘what?’ back at the same time, causing us to laugh again.

“I need music.”

“Yeah, that'd be a grand idea. I want to dance.” Violet smiled, but then it quickly faded. “But I haven't got anything here to listen to it on.”

“Not even a radio?” Julian asked.

“Nope. But hey, there's a bar just down the road—”

“**** no,” Blue said.

“Yes. Yes, I like that idea.” I clapped. “Come on, guys; it's just down the road, like five places away; we can walk. Nothing’s gonna happen.”

We walked into the bustling bar. The atmosphere felt great, with dim lighting, and someone singing at the karaoke machine. Pool tables were full; so were the booths and seating area at the bar. Deanna dragged me over to the bar and squeezed her way in, shouting out to the bar girl in a tight white tee that she wanted four shots of **** Sucking Cowboys. Upon paying, she dished out the shots; on the count of three, down they went and up came my hamburger from dinner…nearly.

“Oh, I love this song. Let’s dance,” Julian shouted when Taylor’s Swift’s "Trouble" song came through the karaoke machine, and some young girl started singing it with a not-too-bad voice.

We left Griz, Pick, and Blue at the bar, while Violet, Deanna, Julian and myself went off to shake our booties.

Two songs later, I glanced around for our guards, only they were no longer brooding at the bar. I looked around, but couldn’t see them anywhere. Violet tugged on my arm, and while she jiggled what her mama gave her, she pointed through the crowd to a booth in the far corner where they were now seated—still brooding. Their arms were crossed over their chests and had eyes that said ‘don’t speak to me or I’ll bite your head off.’ It was only Griz’s eyes that lasered into us. Though, I think that had something to do with the way Deanna was grinding against some innocent young man…um, okay, maybe he wasn’t that innocent considering the way he grabbed her boobs. I giggled to myself when she elbowed him in the ribs and pushed him away. She turned her gaze to me, grinned, and shook her head.

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Deanna, Julian, and I made our way to the table, while Vi went to grab us some more drinks. I had asked for water because I didn’t think my stomach could handle another toxic mix. That was when Deanna called me a ***** and said to Vi that if she got me a water, they’d be having words. Violet then proceeded to laugh in Deanna’s face, and answered with ‘Whatever.’ I knew what I’d be getting— water.

I collapsed next to Pick. Griz and Blue stood so that Julian and Deanna could sit, and then Vi when she got back. It was like they were protecting the President’s daughter. Blue and Griz with their backs to us both stood straight and still, glaring out at the partygoers.

Wow, they must take their jobs seriously.

“You know, I kind of feel like Whitney Houston in Bodyguard right now,” Julian said

I held up my fist to be pumped and yelled, “That’s what I was just thinking.” Sort of. Only I didn’t know why I was yelling; it wasn’t so hard to hear in our corner.

“Yo, Vi. Oh my God, I love you,” I yelled—yes again—when she deposited a bottle of water in front of me with a smirk directed at Deanna.

“Do you reckon Talon could be quiet during ***?” I asked.

Okay. Maybe I could have been a tad intoxicated still, because yelling was all I could do right then.

“Jesus,” Blue hissed.

“Talon owes us,” Griz barked.

Julian ended up spitting his drink all over the table. Violet groaned and banged her head against the table. Pick asked for me to move so he could escape, and Deanna sat with her finger tapping her chin, pondering my question.

“Given his hotliness and badassness, I highly doubt it,” Deanna said. “Why the wondering?”

I sighed loudly. “I wanna have ***; I miss the pounding, the closeness, and the connection,” I whined. “Hey!” I shouted. “No comment from the spunky men,” I yelled when Griz and Blue went to complain.

“Uh, Wildcat. Please, please move,” Pick begged.

While continuing my rant, I moved and sat back down after Pick had escaped. “Six years people. Six long years. Holy hemorrhoid, do you think my well’s dried up?”

“**** me,” Griz snapped.

“You don’t want me to,” Deanna supplied. I thought it had been quiet, but Griz turned a surprised stare upon her, which quickly morphed into a glare. Then he went back to looking at the crowd.

“You can’t tell me—” Vi began.

“What?” Julian asked.

“Nope, I can’t say it. That’s my brother for gonad’s-sake.” She shuddered.

“Oh, oh! I think I know where you’re going,” Julian said clapping. “And, **** ring, you can’t deny the male ****ableness your bro is. Anyway, what she was getting at…you can’t tell us that you and Spidey haven’t done squat in the bedroom department.”

I think I just blushed. Or the room had turned up twenty degree.

“What the ****, bitch? You have done something with the boss man and you ain’t told me? Where’s the friendship? I told you all about my last one not that long ago.”

Griz flinched; Deanna smirked, but then quickly sent me her deadly glare. Thankfully, I was immune.

“****,” Blue said. “I am not stayin’ here to hear this crap. We can watch’em from the bar.” Blue stalked off, with Pick and a grumbling Griz not far behind.

“Maybe I should join them,” Vi added. “I really don’t feel like hearing about what my brother gets up to in bed. It’d probably cause me to chuck.”

“Block ya ears then,” Deanna said.

I had to laugh when Violet did, in fact, block her ears.

“Quickly spill, muff lover,” Julian cried, leaning forward over the table.

“There isn’t really much to say. As you can tell, we didn’t do the deed…”

“But? Come on, woman, don’t leave me hanging,” Deanna said.

I blushed again. “I’m still kind of sensitive about it. Icameinliketwoseconds.”

“Say what now?” Julian asked. “Sorry, dick sucker, I don’t speak drunk-virgin-hymen-grown-over-girl.”

Groaning, I hid my eyes with my hand. “He went…you know…down yonda, and I was…um, done really quickly.”

“Did he care?” Deanna asked.

“No. Well, I don’t think so, especially not when I reciprocated.”

“Whoop, ****in’, whoop, girl. I’m so proud of you.” Deanna beamed.

Deanna cheering me on made me smile. I should be proud; I was lucky I lasted that long after SIX YEARS, and the fact that Talon didn’t seem to have minded at all.

I got in closer and whispered, “He is huge.”

“I hate you.” Julian glared.

“You—”

“Hey there, sweetheart,” a guy in his late forties said, as he stood at our table with two others. They all wore jeans and tees, with leather biker vests over the top. It was hazy, but I read the words ‘Vicious Club’ on the top patch.

The older one sat down beside me. “How’s your night been, beautiful?”

I studied him for a second, and it was his eyes that told me he was harmless; the crinkle around them and his mouth told me he was caring, and the thick salt and pepper hair told me that my fingers wouldn’t mind running through it to see if it was as soft as it looked. His friends, though, were another story; they looked mean and scary. This was why I leaned into him and whispered, “You seem like a nice guy, and I honestly mean it when I say that one day we could be friends, but—I’m sorry to say that your friends don’t seem all that nice.”

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I sat back and watched him throw his head back and laugh a deep belly laugh.

“Oh, you are precious.” he smiled.

“Which is why she’s Hawks property,” Griz growled beside us, where he stood next to Mean One and Mean Two.

Property, smoperty. I wasn’t sure I liked that word yet.

Mr. Nice looked up at Griz and asked, “Whose?”

“Talon’s.”

But I like that word.

“Wildcat, go and dance,” Blue ordered.

Now he just popped out of nowhere. I rolled my eyes and scooted around the other side, where Julian, Deanna, and Vi were already waiting for me.

Leaning over the table, I uttered, “It was nice meeting you…”

“Rocko,” he supplied.

I smiled. “Rocko, and remember what I said.” I got closer still. “I think you may need new friends.”

“Thanks, sweetheart.” He chuckled and then winked. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Griz sat down as soon as I was out of the way. I moved off to the dance floor with my peeps to jiggle my flabby bits once again.

I was determined to have a great night, even though something told me to keep an eye on Rocko’s friends. We danced; we drank, and we sang our night into happiness. Rocko and his mates left, but I still couldn’t fight the feeling of unease. Then I thought it could just be that I had to pee. Violet had gone to grab a drink, and while Deanna and Julian were being entertained by the Tina Turner wannabe, I went off in search of the toilet.

I woke up in the back of a strange car. My eyes were a little blurry, but once they cleared, I saw a gun pointed at my face. The guy pointing it was the one I'd seen walk into the girls bathroom behind me at the bar, and he was also the one who had tasered me in the back after saying his boss wanted a word with me. It was just before I had the chance to scream.

“I don't know your boss,” I croaked and sat up slowly.

My mouth was dry, and the great buzz I had going on disappeared, leaving me with a very bad headache.

Though, that could also be from being freaking tasered.

“Yeah, well, he knows you, and when he wants something, he gets it.” The guys smiled, showing crooked teeth. If it wasn't for those, he would have been an okay-looking man. He had a buzz cut, leaving dark-coloured fluff, and his eyes were brown. He had a piercing in his lip, nose, and eyebrow, and seemed tall, slim, and young. It was dark in and out of the car.

His companion who was driving was totally different. He had long, dirty-blond hair; his build was larger, and he seemed shorter than Mr. Talker.

I wondered if by now my friends knew I'd been kidnapped. I hoped they weren't panicking too much. My next thought was why wasn't I panicking? I felt a bit stressed, only relieved at the same time, because at least no one would get hurt when I was delivered to David. He'd already done many bad things to me; it couldn't get worse. Right?

I gulped.

The car suddenly stopped. It was then I realized I should have been taking in my surroundings to know where I was in case of an escape. We'd pulled up outside of a huge house, one that I didn't recognize being anything David would buy. It was old, yet beautiful. David loved new and exquisite things. My door was opened, and Mr. Silent jutted his chin out and up.

I stumbled out, and Mr. Silent grabbed my arm, dragging me roughly forward and through the front door, down a hallway that took my breath away, and into a room that was a library. Books lined two walls from top to bottom. A large desk was in front of a huge bay window, where a man was standing in front of it looking out. He turned with an intense gaze.

Oh. My. God. Where do they make these people? He was yet another good-looking older man, probably in his early forties, with salt and pepper hair, grey eyes, and was wearing a suit. Though it was a firm fit, so I could tell he worked out a lot.

“Um, you're not David,” I said puzzled. What was I doing here, and who was this guy?

“I hope my men weren't too forceful in getting you here.”

“Do you call being tasered too forceful?” I asked with fake bravado, hands on my hips, and glaring at him. On the inside I was chanting I'm gonna die; I'm gonna die and I never got to have *** with Talon.

His fierce gaze turned to Mr. Silent and Talker. “I told you to ask her politely. Did you even do that? Doesn't matter; get out of my sight,” he snapped. “Please, Zara, have a seat, and I'm sorry for the way they treated you. It was not something I wanted.”

Skepticism ran through my mind; still, I took a seat opposite him as he sat behind a large wooden mahogany desk that held papers scattered everywhere. “You have a nice home,” I said. Why am I being polite to the guy? I cleared my throat. “Um, I mean, what am I doing here?”

“Thank you to the first.” He smiled. “And to the second, I have some questions, to which I am sure you will have the answers for.”

“Sorry, but I doubt that. I don't know you.” I looked down to my lap and adjusted my skirt.

“Pam, please come in,” he called.

I turned in time to see the door open, and my jaw dropped. In walked the Pamela Anderson-wannabe from swimming this morning.

“You have got to be ****ting me,” I uttered. My eyes watched her as she walked over to...heck, I didn't even know the guy’s name, and stood beside him smiling smugly.

“I can see that you recognize my girlfriend, Pam Knowles.”

I snorted. I couldn't help it, and said, “Seriously, buddy, you need to find a new girlfriend.”

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He glared at me. “So what happened this morning was true? You verbally insulted and harmed Pam in front of my child.”

I gasped.

“You see, Zara, I do not take kindly to this type of behavior in front of my child, and I do not appreciate having my girlfriend mentally and physically hurt.”

I slapped my hands on the desk and stood yelling, “Say what now? Look, buddy, I don't know who you are, and you seem like a nice sort-of-guy, but I can tell you now, I never did anything to your Pamela Anderson-wannabe.”

“She's lying,” Pam spat.

“Oh my frigging God. Are you really trying this on?” I glared and turned to her fella, offered an eye roll and added, “Buddy—”

“Travis Stewart,” he supplied.

I sighed deeply. “Travis, I didn't even see a child with her. I only approached her because she was, and I'm sorry to tell you this, hitting on my man in front of his child. My man’s son found me sitting down and he looked worried by it, so I got up to get rid of her. I may have called her a dog in heat, but other than that, I never did or said anything that was not appropriate.” I raised my hands in the air and let them fall. “This is why I was tasered and brought here? Jesus, how bad is my luck right now? You know what? I really don't need this. I have enough going on.” I flopped back in the chair.

“I'm sorry, Zara—”

“What are you apologizing to her for?” Pam snapped.

Travis glared up at her. “Clearly, she is having a hard time in life at the present time.” He stood to gaze down at her; she took a step back. “Tell me, Pam, is it true what you have told me, or is what Zara was saying true?”

“Travy, it wasn't like that; she's lying.”

We all turned to the door when we heard a commotion outside of it. The door flew open, and in it stood Violet holding out her gun, pointing it inside the room.

“Travis?” She looked as though she knew him. She relaxed her form and stepped further in.

I looked from Vi to Travis, and then back. Wait a cotton pickin' minute. “That's your Travis?” I gasped. I turned back to Travis and appraised him in a new light.

“Violet. What are you doing here?” He was clearly shocked.

Vi shook her head and placed her gun away. Hang on, should she really be carrying a gun? Because when I left, she was well on her way to being drunk. And where in the heck was Talon?

“I came for Zara.” She walked over to stand beside me.

“Where are my men?”

Vi shrugged. “Unconscious. Travis, what's going on here? Why kidnap Zara?”

“Pam here told me Zara abused her in front of my child. I couldn't stand for that; I needed to have a word with her.”

Vi scoffed. “Zara wouldn't hurt a fly.” She jerked her head sideways to Pam. “She's lying.”

“I am not,” Pam screeched.

“Oh, just give up,” I said to her, then to Travis, “Ask my man; he'll tell you.”

“Travis,” Vi said, catching his attention. “You really should have went about this in a different way.”

“Why?”

“She's Hawks property.”

“****,” he hissed. “Whose?”

“Talon Marcus.”

“Christ.” He turned to Pam; just from his look, I would have been scared as well. She was taking step after step away from him. “Get the **** out of my house. You lied, and now I have this **** to fix; you're ****in' lucky I don't kill you. You stupid bitch, in front of my baby; you whored yourself in front of her?” He ran a hand through his hair. “Leave. Now.”

She ran from the room.

“Christ. ****!” Travis said as he paced the room, only to stop behind the desk again. “I am truly sorry for this, Zara.” He looked to Violet. “When will I be hearing from Talon?”

“Not sure. He doesn't know yet.”

Scoffing I asked, “How'd you pull that off?”

“I told the guys I'd be able to get you back before he found out. It was just lucky I saw those idiots leaving with you over one’s shoulder. I followed and rang Griz on the way. He freaked; I told him I'd have you back soon, so we better get going.”

“Wow, you’re like a super-agent.” I grinned.

“Yes.” I watched Travis smiled appreciatively, his gaze wandering up and down Vi's body. He turned back to me. “Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you. Again, I am sorry for the way my men treated you, and for this...terrible misunderstanding. I'm sure I'll be hearing from Talon soon.”

“Don’t worry too much; it wasn't so bad, and I'll let Talon know that. I'm just thankful you know what a...nasty person your girlfriend is now. No one needs that around their child.”

“That's true. You sound like you speak from experience.”

I smiled. “I have a six-year-old daughter. It was just lucky enough I got away from my nasty before it could touch her.”

“Zara, we better go,” Vi said.

“Maybe one day, when we have more time, you could explain further on that topic?”

I ****ed my head to the side. “You know what, maybe one day I will. And I'm sure Violet would love to come along as well.”

He smirked, knowing full well that I knew about their past. “That would be wonderful. Coffee with two beautiful women.”