This kind of wanting isn’t something I’m used to.
I take.
That’s what I do.
I take and I take.
You’re a giver. I can see that. If I needed proof I’ll be toxic to you, I have it already, but I’m addicted now.
Yeah, I am.
I’m addicted to you.
Watching you laugh... do you know how carefree you look? How you make the air around you dance when you’re happy?
When I saw you that first time, I looked at you and wondered if it was possible to be that perfect. I’m not sure if it is. I’m not sure if it’s a lie. I hope it isn’t. Even as I know you’re not an angel, I want to believe you are.
Tonight, afterward, I fucked a clubwhore because I couldn’t have you. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, this need. I want you, but I can’t have you because I’m dirty. But I’m dirty because of these clubwhores I fuck to get over wanting you.
I need to leave you alone because I stain everything that comes near me.
I’m poison, Keira.
I’m living death.
I don’t want that for you.
But I’ll still be there in the morning, watching you walk into school, making sure you’re safe.
Yours,
Storm
Seven
Storm
PRESENT
By the time church was over an hour later, I had my new councilors, except for one.
Mash had refused to be my Enforcer, but had agreed that, when I picked my guy, he’d work under him and make shit copacetic.
Not all of them were happy about it, but I actually was.
Having eliminated the others the way I had, I figured that I had men on my side with at least some awareness of current events.
With President Davidson squawking all over the news about how he was going to eradicate the New World Sparrows, I had no idea how those brothers had never heard of them. I mean, there was living in a clubhouse, then there was living under a fucking rock.
That goddamn Davidson was never off the TV, and the bitch of it was his approval ratings had never been higher. That meant another four fucking years of the jackass.
Pulling a face as I stretched my arms in front of me, I watched as the others trudged out. I’d known one or two of them would lag behind, so I arched a brow at Sweet Lips in question when he stuck around.
"Everything okay, SL?"
I wasn’t sure I wanted to know how my goddamn VP was called Sweet Lips, but fuck, we all earned our road names in many varied and disturbing ways... Who was I to judge? But I sure as fuck wouldn’t be calling him that.
For a second, he scratched his chin where his stubble was growing out, then he muttered, "You sure you want me as VP?"
I shrugged. "Gonna give you a shot. No harm, no foul."
"You say that now. What if I fuck up?"
"We all fuck up," I countered, because truer words had never been spoken, especially coming from me. "I told you your duties."
He pulled a face. "Yeah."
"Yeah?" I laughed. "What’s that supposed to mean?"
"It means I understood what you were saying, but not necessarily what you were saying. I’m not sure how to do what you want me to."
"We need to start investing in businesses that brothers can work in."
"Yeah, but it’s not like I can make them appear out of thin air."
"Not asking you to."
"No? Well, where am I supposed to find them?"
"Locally?" I sank my ass against the side of the table. "Where else?"
"You want me to takeover businesses that are already open?"
"Not necessarily."
"See, this is why I’m confused. You’re saying shit I understand, but you’re saying shit I don’t know how to resolve."
"We need jobs. Find us jobs. You know, the usual places. A garage? A bar? A strip joint? In West Orange, there’s a fucking diner. Replicate them all, find something new, I don’t give a fuck.
"I spoke with Rex before Christmas, he’s willing to float a loan to the Coshocton chapter to get us underway. I just need you to bring me proposals."
"I ain’t into real estate, man," SL muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Naw? Well, you’re about to be. Find businesses that are for sale, check into how much it’ll cost to start from scratch. Work with Slayer to cost shit up. See if it’ll be profitable."
"What if I don’t?"
I narrowed my eyes at him. "What if you directly disobey a goddamn order?"
He shook his head, quick enough to tell me that, somehow, my reputation had traveled all the way over to Ohio.
There was a reason I was called Storm.
Figured that ‘show and tell’ with Grim had helped some too.
"What if we pick shitty businesses?"
"Try not to," I retorted. "The last decision will rest with me. So you’re off the hook."
His grin, when it came, was lightning quick. Was that why he was called Sweet Lips? "Gotcha. I can deal with the fault lying with you if it’s a disaster. I’ll try not to let you down."
I grunted. "Good. Now fuck off."
Straightening up, I followed him once I’d shut off the lights and headed into the hall.
Though I wanted to see Keira, I knew she’d be talking to MaryCat, and, to be honest, I had no idea in hell what to do with her so I was glad to leave it to my wife.
Preferring to go and visit with Cyan, maybe hang out with her until her mom came looking for her, I returned to the family room. Only, when I got down to the end of the hall, I heard hoots and hollers coming from inside.
With a frown, I peered around the corner, then barked, "Cyan O’Shea! What the hell are you doing?"
Because she was too busy in a cat fight, hands burrowed away into the hair of a girl I recognized as GIF’s kid, she didn’t hear me.
Elbowing through the small crowd that had gathered, I growled at the Old Ladies, "Why the fuck aren’t you stopping this?"
Christ, they looked as if they were going to start taking bets!
All of ‘em bitching and talking behind their hands as small sheets of Monopoly money fluttered in the air like confetti, while chairs groaned and squeaked as they were shoved aside from the brawl.
With a snarl, I dipped down, snagged each kid by the hoodies they were both wearing and tugged them apart.
The little shits didn’t even fucking realize I was separating them.
Their arms and legs kicked in extra wide circles and they growled at each other like wild beasts.
"The hell’s going on?" I snapped, enough temper in my voice to trigger Cyan’s awareness of who was doing the separating.
She peered up at me, slowly drooping in my hold as she winced when she saw the annoyance on my face. I always kept my temper in check around her, but apparently my facial expression revealed exactly how pissed I was with her.
"She started it."
The soft, frightened whisper had me narrowing my eyes at GIF’s kid, before I turned back to mine. "Did you?"
Her mouth tightened and she wriggled in my hold. I let go of GIF’s daughter but kept a firm hand on Cyan’s hoodie even as I let her stand on her own two feet again.