“I don’t know these men so how can you expect me to be with one of them? I can’t pretend I want something or someone if I don’t. I would be better off just staying here and watching after Cage.” Rico turns to me and steps closer.
“If you don’t do what I say, that boy in the bedroom will feel my fists on him. You should know that if you go to Cassius and he isn’t happy with you that he will sell you to an associate of his. Then you will have it worse and probably end up dead. Pretty little girls aren’t his only targets to sell. I’m sure Cage would bring a decent price on the black market so think about that. You will do as your told and if you make me hit you again by being mouthy, that boy in there, the one you love so much, will pay for your mouth. Do you understand what I am saying?” Rico is seething. “Answer me.”
“I won’t give you any problems.” I know what I need to do now, and I can’t wait anymore.
“We’re supposed to meet Grater at the clubhouse. You know if Blade sees him first that he’s going to rub it in his face that he’s getting Beth. If you want me to calm him down, then I need to be there.” Rico gives me an evil smile. Grater was another man in the club that approached Rico about claiming me.
“You see, Jen knows her place. She minds me when we need to take care of business. You’ll get on board. Get some ice on that face.” Rico walks over to the door and Jen meets him there from the other direction. “Jen will be back tomorrow to take you shopping for some new clothes. Listen to her so you will look nice or there will be consequences for the two of you.” Rico opens the door and they leave. The door is no more shut, and Cage is back in the living room with me.
“I’m going to grow up and kill Rico and my mom. I hate them both.” No, Rico and Jen can’t poison this sweet boy. I won’t allow it. I reach for Cage and bring him close to me and hug him. I throw the towel to the floor and hug Cage tighter. I get as close to Cage’s ear as I can, and I whisper,
“It’s time, Cage. Go take a shower and dress to leave. After we have dinner, I’ll go over to Ms. Snead’s and we are putting our plan into action. Don’t say a word or do anything out of the ordinary. Can you do this for me?” I don’t know if we are being watched or if Rico has this placed bug. I don’t think he does, but I won’t take any chances on getting caught because if we do, there will be no second chances. I just hope my gut is right and Krill is still the good boy I remember. I’ll come back and face whatever consequences await me. “We’re going to your dad and he will keep you safe.” I release Cage and he looks at me. I know he’s anxious about what he’s going into. He doesn’t know the other side of his family. “Go get your shower while I fix us a sandwich.”
“Let me help you. You’re hurt. I’m old enough to make us sandwiches. You were protecting me. I heard Rico. I know you let him hurt you, so he wouldn’t hurt me. Please, Bethany, let me help you now.” I know my little man needs this.
“Alrighty, let’s make us a sandwich but then you are in the shower.” I let him know with my eyes that we need to get out of here as soon as possible. He nods his head and lets me know he understands. Cage helps me make my way into the kitchen and we make ourselves the last meal we will ever eat in this kitchen together.
Chapter Four
Jen
It didn’t take long for Grater and Rico to move their conversation into Rico’s office. I know only one of them will be walking out of that room again. That’s what Rico does; he uses someone until they are used up and then he ties up loose ends by getting rid of the problem, or I should say the person in his way. I know the story to the club will be that Grater was stealing from the club or something along those lines. Rico preaches about his legacy of the club and how great he is going to make it, but the only person he has loyalty to is himself. One day, I’ll be the loose end that he needs to clean up and that’s why I have decided to take steps to make that impossible.
I’m not the stupid little twit that Rico thinks that I am. I have known since right after Dad’s death that it was Rico that killed him. Rico wanted the club as his. He said Dad was weak and let the club get run out of our territory. It was Rico that told me to get close to Krill when I was still in high school. It was the first time that Rico used my body to help his cause. Krill was an enjoyable time for me. I had been on lockdown since I hit puberty by my dad and Rico. Krill was my first taste of sex and I loved it. The only thing I regret is being stupid enough to let Rico talk me into getting knocked up. I never wanted children and still don’t. I don’t want to see Cage hurt by Rico, but I have no feelings for that little boy at all. That’s why I haven’t let Rico know about the money that Beth has set back to run and the reason I’ve been dragging my feet with the attorneys on the vitiation hearings. I would bet my last dollar that by tomorrow morning, Beth and Cage will be making their way to Krill. I never had anything against Krill the way Rico did. Krill can make a woman have orgasm after orgasm all night long, and I’ve learned in the years since I have been with the man that every man does not have that talent or the patience to do it. No, Krill is by far the best lover I have ever had, but something else that Krill has is he knows who he is as a man. I couldn’t wrap Krill around my finger by enticing him with sex. He was too far up the ass of the Troubled Fathoms MC and his dad. I knew his dad would make him go into the military as soon as we were out of high school. All the Troubled Fathoms have done their time in the military and Hawser’s boys were no different. The entire time I was with Krill, I fed my brother all the little tidbits of information I heard. It wasn’t a lot, but Rico compensated me well for anything I could get and that kept me in money.
With Beth gone then Cassius will turn his attention back to me. I have always been one of his favorites, but he knows I’m not mother material. My plans are for Cassius to set up a woman to give him the children he wants and to raise them. I don’t know why men think they need children to carry their names on. Just look at my dad and see how that can play out.
Rico can either be neutralized by Cassius and take his orders from me, or like I was thinking before, I will get the pleasure of ending him. Beth will find a way to stay in Cage’s life and Krill will keep them both close and safe from Rico. I should feel some jealousy toward Beth, but I don’t. I mean everyone wants her because she is so damn innocent and beautiful. If there is one person in this world that I have good feelings toward, it is Beth. I think it’s because I spent so much time with her when Ma ran off. Beth and I were close. She was the first person that gave me unconditional love and never tried to use me. I know I use her to get the heat off me when Rico is around, but I hope she makes a clean break and gets away from us. I have decided to give her a twenty-four-hour head start and then I’ll let Rico know she is gone. If Beth can’t get away with that big of a head start, then she deserves to be caught. Maybe Krill will fall in love with our little Beth and they can raise Cage together. Beth has everything she needs to make that happen. Every time I let myself think about the time that Krill and I spent together, they are only good thoughts. I hold no grudges against Krill. He was a good boyfriend to me, and he almost made me wish that I was that sweet girl he thought I was—almost. I knew if I let myself be that girl that I would turn into a woman like my ma. A woman full of hate and regret. No, I will never be that way. I like my life and I will like it more when I get everything just the way I want it, and that means Beth and Cage need to get away. Run, Beth, because if you come back here, I will have to get rid of you and I would feel bad if I had to do that myself.