I steel my facial expression, not wanting Ruthie to gauge my reaction to the news Alexa kept our daughter. My chest squeezes so damn tight I’d swear I’m having a heart attack if I didn’t know better. She didn’t give her up. Our little girl. Fuck me. Fuck me hard. “Since when do you give a shit about what happens to Alexa?”
My wife laughs. “I told you. Her baby might be my half-sister.”
“Cut the fucking bullshit. What kind of game are you playing at?”
“No game. It’s the truth.” She moves in, slinging my papers out my lap. “You know visiting with her...brings back all those good memories. When we first had Rochelle. I want a baby, James, and you’re going to give me one.”
“Why in the hell would I do that?”
“Because you love me and want to make me happy.” She kisses my jaw and I pull away. “Don’t be like that. We deserve a second chance don’t, we?”
“How many times we gonna try and get it wrong?”
“As many as it takes. Make a baby with me.” Her hand slides down my neck. “I want a baby, honey. Do this one thing for me.”
I jerk away. “Having another kid won’t replace Rochelle. Won’t change a damn thing.”
“I bet I can change your mind.”
“You think so?”
Her lips move to my ear and the words she whispers, sends an artic chill down my spine that’s so damn cold my blood could freeze.
“The fuck did you just say to me?”
A coy smile plays at her lips. “You heard me, lover. Give me a baby, and I’ll grant you the freedom you crave. Now take off your pants.”
**
“What ya need?” Grudge rubs his jaw.
“Want you to do something for me.”
“Name it.”
“Ruthie. Gotta funny feeling. Need you to keep an eye on her. You see her talking to anyone or doing anything weird. Let me know. Keep it between us. Don’t let her know you’re following her.”
“I can do that. You can count on me, brother.”
“Good.” I grunt, and he takes off.
I light up another blunt and Nickel flops down in the chair across from me. “Let me get a hit of that.”
I reach it across the table. “How’d that last run go?”
“A-Okay. No problems. Even picked up an extra twenty-five percent for a job well done.”
“And the other side detail. She still using the account?”
“Yeah. Man, look. How long you gonna keep this shit up?”
“Keep putting money in it. She see you?”
“Nope. Though I did see something I’m not sure you’re gonna like.” He passes the blunt back.
I take another hit. “And what’s that?”
“Not sure if I should tell you or let you figure that shit out on your own.” He grins and reaches for the Mary Jane again.
I take another hard puff before handing it over. I cough and slap at my chest. “Can’t do that.”
“Brother, I respect the fuck outta you, but that’s your God damn kid. Ruthie sniffing your ass every time you make a move or not.”
“I’m not ready to see her.”
“Alexa or the kid?” he hands the blunt back.
“Both, but mostly Alexa. Bitch burns through my veins like heroin.”
“Hardest addiction to kick.”
I blow out a ring of smoke. “Exactly. I see her and all I wanna do is rip her clothes off and fuck her till neither of us can see straight.” I take another hit. “Did that little fuck stick she was seeing leave town?”
“Yeah. He got smart. Likes his pretty boy face too much. I don’t get you.” He shakes his head, and Kristen slides a beer in front of him and replaces my empty.
“Yeah well that makes two of us. Besides it’s better this way.”
“Better for who? You’re fucking miserable. Married to a cunt.”
“Watch it. That cunt is still my wife and pregnant with my son.”
“Fuck. For real?”
“Yeah. Wanted to wait to say anything until we knew for sure.”
“Then congrats, Prez. Guess you won’t care that I saw Alexa working the pole at the Lion’s Den.” He smirks and knocks back his beer.
“The fuck did you just say?”
“Me and a few of the boys swung by last night on our way back into town. Gotta say...fine piece of ass like that had my kid no man would be tossing singles at her ass and seeing her titties. And what a fine ass and rack she has. Having that baby did her body good. She musta been drinking a helluva lot of milk.”
I shove my chair back and jump up. “What time is it?”
“I’d say it’s about time you got your head out your ass and claimed your bitch before someone else moves in.”
I ignore him as he laughs. All I see is red and I’m about to be a bull in a china shop. I climb onto my Road King and ride out. I’m gonna spank her ass. Alexa has no business working in a dump like this. I’ve been funneling money into an account for her. Plenty enough to cover her rent. any bills, and to make sure the baby won’t want for a damn thing.
I park and light up a cigarette. Fucking place is booming. Then I see it. A fucking poster by the front door. Alexa in a black leather bikini straddling a Harley looking like every man’s wet dream come true.
I snatch the poster off the brick and wad it up.
“Hey, man. The fuck?” One of the bouncer’s snarls at me.
I step into his space. He takes one look at the President’s patch on my cut and realizes his mistake. My club owns this shithole. Hence the fucking name Lion’s Den.
“My bad. Go on in.”
“Want all these taken down.” I grunt and shove the poster into his chest.
“She’s our main feature,” he mutters.
I don’t give a fuck what they think she is. Alexa isn’t gonna be their anything for much longer. Gonna jerk a
