Being Us (Next Generation Book 4) Page 3

  Heading into the diner, the bell above the door dinged, indicating my arrival. I had been there before but as soon as I woke up that morning, I had been on edge. I could feel it deep in my bones. Even before leaving the apartment, Trigger felt it as well and tried stopping me from leaving. After giving in, he helped give me peace of mind that I wasn’t overly losing it and that someone was after me. Or multiple someones. At first, I had thought it was all in my head. But after Sunny was shot, I knew I had to get out of there. And fast. I also knew that because Sunny had died, I was royally fucked.

  Making my way into the small diner, I nodded to the waitress and sat at the stool at the counter.

  “Same as usual?” the young woman asked.

  “Two please.” I usually got just one meatball sub and shared it with Trigger but this time, I ordered him his own.

  She gave me a small smile, a flush of pink hitting her cheeks.

  I smiled back but as pretty as she was, my body never hinted for more. It never hinted. Ever. There had been times where I thought a part of me was broken.

  Glancing out the large window that took up the full length of the diner, I saw Trigger being petted by a dark figure. The hackles on the back of my neck rose. The person wore all black and I couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman.

  “Here you go.”

  My head whipped around.

  The waitress placed two wrapped subs on the counter in front of me. “Enjoy.”

  “Thank you.” I grabbed the food and threw a couple of bills in its place.

  When I went to head outside, I saw that the figure had disappeared. Once I neared the lamppost where Trigger had been tied up, I realized that he was gone as well.

  Rushing to the leash that was no longer attached to the collar around my dog’s neck, I looked around me. Nothing was out of the ordinary but there were no cars on the street. Everything looked normal but a feeling of unease rushed through me. Who the hell took my damn dog?

  A bark sounded, pulling me to an alley a block away. Dropping the subs, I quickly rushed toward it. When I rounded the corner, I wasn’t expecting to see what was in front of me.

  My stomach fell.

  Two dark figures had backed Trigger into a corner. He was growling and snarling at them, drool dripping from the sides of his mouth.

  Looking around me for a weapon, my heart leapt when I saw a pipe lying on the ground by a garbage bin. I picked it up, banging it against the wall.

  The two figures turned toward me.

  “’Bout time you show up,” the one said.

  I recognized the voice but couldn’t place it. All I could focus on was the fact that my dog was cornered. He was old. Barely hanging on most days. He didn’t need this added stress. The vet had told me that he only had months to live. If that. This would end him. If the bastards left him alone that is. But I had a bad feeling that tonight would be it for us as a duo.

  “Trigger, I’m here, boy,” I told him, keeping my voice as calm as I could. Calmer than it had been in months.

  “Trigger,” the one guy repeated, leaning against the wall. “I like it.”

  “What do you want?” I demanded, slapping the pipe against my open palm. “You want to play? Because I’m down for that. Although, I don’t think you would like my dog ripping out your throats.”

  One of the men standing closest to Trigger stepped around him and in a quick move, had grabbed him by the throat.

  Trigger struggled but even though he was big, he was weak thanks to his age.

  “I don’t suggest making threats,” the bastard said, petting a hand over Trigger’s head. “One move and I’ll snap his fucking neck.”

  Bile rose to my throat. I was tempted to call this in and beg for help but then I remembered I had no one. I was all alone in this fucked up world thanks to a club brother forcing me out. Being the president meant shit when your whole club was against you.

  “What do you want?” I demanded, keeping the pipe at my side.

  “We have a message for you,” the guy with his arm wrapped around Trigger’s throat, sneered.

  “From who?” I took a step toward them. “I have nothing you want.” The closer I got to them, the more I recognized them. They weren’t part of Devil’s Rejects. Or if they were, they were new. Because they weren’t part of it when I was president. But they were at the time, part of a puppet club. I had them do the shittiest jobs possible. Maybe that was the reason for this. “Listen, whatever I had you do, you know that most clubs make puppet clubs do their dirty work.”

  “Oh.” The man leaning against the wall held his hand out in front of him. “You see, we don’t actually give a shit about that anymore.”

  “Then what the hell do you want? And get your hands off of my fucking dog.” I had enough of this shit. Trigger looked like he was out for blood, which I knew he was. But I didn’t like the rough hold the fucker had on him.

  “You think I’m stupid?” The man’s arm tightened around Trigger. “This dog may be old, but I know that he could still rip out my throat.”

  “What do you want?” I was getting sick of this back and forth shit. Either they told me what they wanted or I was going to shove this pipe up their asses.

  “Tommy sends his love.”

  Before I could question him, he lifted his hand and plunged a knife deep into Trigger’s side.

  He let out a loud whimper.

  The sound forced me forward. I ignored the bile rising to my throat and rushed to them, not caring in the least that there was another fucker nearby. I had one goal in mind.

  To save my damn dog.

  Bee

  LIVING WITH MEN HAD its hardships at times. Especially when I went out partying with friends and my ass got picked up by my two scowling cousins.

  They were sitting in the front seat of their SUV, lecturing me and telling me how dangerous men were these days.

  While they continued on with their tirade, all I could focus on was the alcohol gurgling in my belly. How much did I even drink?

  My phone dinged from somewhere in the distance but even the sound was loud enough that it pounded into my skull.

  “Bee.”

  I looked up, finding Sammy staring back at me. His dark eyes which mirrored his twin brother’s, narrowed in the middle. Cyrus continued driving us to my place, glancing at me every so often in the rearview mirror.

  “You need to stop doing this shit,” Sammy said, pointing a finger at me.

  “Yeah, because you’ve never done it yourself. Why is it okay for you guys to go out partying but I can’t?” I could only assume I got the words out. But in my head, they sounded like a jumbled mess.

  When Sammy’s brows narrowed even more, I knew that I definitely got the words out.

  “It’s okay to party but when we show up and find you grinding against a fucker more than half your age older than you, that’s when it’s not okay.” Sammy continued to stare at me, probably waiting for me to argue. But I was too tired. Since my fun was ruined, I just wanted my bed. And the guy wasn’t that much older than me.

  “My dad is older than my mom,” I mumbled. “Why is it okay for them?”

  “Because they are adults,” Cyrus threw in. “You are acting like a damn child.”

  “I am not.” I pouted. Okay, maybe I was but truth was, I was twenty-three and inexperienced. In every sense of the word. I had been watched my whole life and lived under my father’s thumb. Hell, under every man’s thumb who had taken on the role of being my impromptu uncle since I was born. Not that I wasn’t grateful for the extra protection, seeing as my father was part of a motorcycle club, but they needed to let me live a little. Which had been what I was trying to do tonight until Cyrus and Sammy showed up.

  “Don’t pout.” Sammy held back a smile.

  I sighed.

  “We hitting the club after we drop her off?” Sammy asked his brother.

  Cyrus only grunted.

  My head whipped around. “Take me with you.”

/>   Sammy chuckled. “No.”

  “Please.” I leaned forward. “I’ll behave. I just don’t want to go home yet.” My parents were out of town, spending the weekend away like they deserved. But I was an only child and our house was too damn lonely all by myself. I could call my best friends up and ask them to come over but knowing them, they were still dancing it up at the club Sammy and Cyrus had taken me from.

  “Not happening, kiddo.” Cyrus’s voice was firm, leaving no room for argument but it didn’t mean I wasn’t willing to take a chance and try.

  “You won’t even know I’m there,” I insisted. “Come on. Please. We never do anything together anymore.”

  Both of them scoffed.

  “We always hang out,” Sammy reminded me.

  “Right.” I snorted. “When you two are actually home and not fucking some stranger,” I mumbled.

  “Watch your mouth,” Cyrus scolded.

  I rolled my eyes. “Just speaking the truth. I’ve seen the women you pick up.”

  “Correction, you’ve seen the women Sammy picks up.”

  “Used to,” Sammy muttered.

  My ears perked up at that. “Oh, do tell! Is there someone in your life, Samson?” I waggled my eyebrows.

  “Do not fucking call me that,” he snapped.

  I jumped, not expecting him to actually get mad at me over the use of his full name. I had learned throughout the years that he hated when people used his full name. It was always Sammy or Sam. Nothing else and he never said why. But I never expected that me calling him that would piss him off.

  “Sorry,” I whispered.

  He huffed. “Don’t worry about it.”

  “Listen, as much as we want to hang out with you, we are taking you home,” Cyrus interjected.

  I only nodded, looking out the window. I didn’t mean to piss Sammy off, but I refused to apologize for stating the truth. How the hell could others get away with having a little fun and I couldn’t? I was sure the women they picked up had filthy mouths on them too. Why couldn’t I have one as well? Oh yeah. Because I was the youngest and it wasn’t normal. I was a good girl. Blah. Blah. Blah.

  While the guys continued talking about their plans for after they dropped me off, I stared out the window. I longed for the day that a man would come whisk me away. It was like my family thought I would fall into the arms of the first man who showed any interest in me. Maybe I would but that was none of their business. I just wanted a man who could stand up to the other men in my life and not back down.

  “Hey, Bee.”

  I smiled as Alex came toward me. He was dressed in a light blue dress shirt that was tucked into black pants.

  He smirked, causing that single dimple in his tanned cheek to pop. He ran a hand through his light brown shaggy hair when something caught his eye. His smile fell, the color draining from his face. “I…something’s come up and I can’t actually go on the date anymore.”

  “W-What?” I asked, my eyes widening. I followed his gaze.

  My dad leaned against the wall, holding a shotgun in his hand. Uncle Greyson stood beside him, cracking his knuckles.

  “See you at school, or not,” Alex said quickly and ran toward his car.

  Slamming the door shut, I spun on my father and uncle. “You have got to be fucking kidding me.”

  Ever since then, I hadn’t been on a date. Word traveled around school rather quickly after that.

  Did you know that Bee’s father is a biker?

  I heard he’s in the mafia.

  I heard her father just got out of jail after killing someone just by looking at him.

  Just once I wanted to be able to live my life and not be under the watchful eyes of my father, his club brothers, and the guys I considered family. I knew I sounded like a whiny brat and I should appreciate having the protection and love that I did but it didn’t make experiencing life any easier.

  Once we pulled onto my street, a hard sigh left me. It was a Saturday night, not even ten yet, and I was going home to spend the rest of the evening doing nothing. All thanks to my cousins who were probably instructed by my father to watch over me. They were allowed to have fun but not me. Why? Because I was a female. It wasn’t fair.

  “Alright, Bee.” Sammy turned to me. “Be a good girl and don’t make us come get you again.”

  “How did you even know I was there?” I waited. When neither of them answered, I laughed. “You followed me. Didn’t you?”

  Cyrus scratched his jaw. “I guess you’ll never know. Now will you?”

  I swallowed a curse and left the SUV. I loved them. I really did. But Cyrus and Sammy needed to mind their own business and leave me alone. Let me live a little. Let me enjoy life. I needed to talk to my mom. I made a mental note to invite her out to lunch when she got home from her weekend away with Dad.

  When I entered the house, my phone dinged, indicating an incoming text.

  Sammy: We’re just looking out for you.

  Me: I’m a big girl, Sammy. I know how to take care of myself but thank you so much for your concern.

  I shoved my phone in my back pocket, ignoring the next text that came through. I would get over this, I knew I would, but that still didn’t mean that I couldn’t grumble about it for at least a little bit.

  My phone suddenly started ringing, making me jump.

  “Geeze, Bee. Get a hold of yourself.” I pulled the phone from my pocket, when I saw one of my best friends calling me. “Hey, girl.”

  “Bitch, where did you go? I saw those hot as fuck cousins of yours storm in and the next thing we knew, you were gone,” Heather Olle yelled into the phone.

  I winced, pulling the phone from my ear. “Do you have to yell?”

  “Sorry.” She cleared her throat. “Where did you go?” she asked at a more reasonable volume.

  “The twins took me out of there and now I’m stuck at home.” I could have stayed at the club, but I wouldn’t put it past one of them to throw me over their shoulder and carry me out of there kicking and screaming. I didn’t need that sort of publicity, knowing it would only get back to my father.

  “Oh, well in that case. Are they still there?” Whatever Heather was hinting at, only made me laugh and roll my eyes. She had a thing for the twins for as long as I could remember. It didn’t help that they weren’t interested. At all. But because of that, it only made her want them more. They brushed it off as a silly crush, but I knew her. It went far past just a crush.

  “No, they aren’t. My parents aren’t here either.” I sighed, kicking off my shoes and walking further into the house.

  “So, you’re on lockdown for the night?” she asked, knowing I hated when she used that term. Her and our other friend, Lori Alexander, would tease me whenever I wasn’t allowed out of the house. They referred to it as lockdown mode.

  “Looks like it.” I was sounding ungrateful for all the protection I had but growing up where it was constantly looming over my head, it got old and quickly.

  “Well if you need Lori and I to stop by, let me know. And if the twins happen to be there, I wouldn’t complain at all.”

  I could almost hear her waggling her eyebrows.

  “You know that’ll never happen.” I laughed.

  “Oh it will. Sammy likes easy women.” She sighed. “I can be easy for him.”

  “You’re such a slut.” A bubble of laughter left me.

  “Whatever. He’s hot.”

  I made a face. “Sure. I guess. If you go for that grumpy brooding shit.”

  “He’s not grumpy or brooding. That’s Cyrus.”

  “Oh.” I clutched my chest. “I’m sorry. I guess I don’t know my cousins after all.”

  She laughed. “I wonder if they’re into threesomes.”

  “Oh God.” I gagged. “Stop.”

  Her laughter turned into a fit of giggles.

  “Are you talking to Bee?” I heard Lori ask in the background.

  “Yeah,” Heather answered.

  “Ask her if th
e twins are there.”

  “Seriously?” I smacked my forehead. “Her too?”

  “Maybe they’d be into a foursome,” Heather said.

  “On that note, I’m hanging up.” I shook my head, unable to stop the smile forming on my face.

  “See you later, Buzzkill,” Heather teased.

  “Yeah, yeah,” I grumbled, not liking the nickname they had given me whenever I had to cut my night short. “Love you.”

  “Love you too,” both Lori and Heather said at the same time.

  When I disconnected the call, I shoved my phone in my back pocket and stood there. Our house wasn’t overly large. That had never been something my parents wanted. Especially when they only had me. There was a main level with no second floor. The basement was completely finished but I hardly ever went down there. Our backyard was my favorite spot. It held a swing set that we had ever since I was a little girl. It was one of those old ones made out of metal.

  Trees surrounded the fence, closing in our yard. My mom would spend her afternoons in the summer planting her flowers and cleaning up the yard when she wasn’t working at her shop. Now that I was trained in almost everything she knew about cars and motorcycles; she was able to take more time off to be with my dad. Even though she wasn’t retirement age yet, she was slowly learning how to take care of herself more. Which was something Dad had insisted on.

  My chest pained.

  I longed for the day I had someone who looked at me like my father looked at her. Mom was much younger than him, but it had never stopped them.

  Since they were out until the following day and I was home alone, a part of me considered going back out but then the rational part of me, thought better of it. I didn’t need to ruin my parents’ weekend by having it leaked back to them that their daughter couldn’t follow the rules and take care of herself when they weren’t home.

  Swallowing a sigh, I grabbed a bottle of wine from the wine rack on the counter in the kitchen and decided to have a pity party for one. Not like I could do anything else with my cousins breathing down my neck.

  A noise from the backyard caught my attention but I had seen enough horror movies to know not to check out the sound. When it didn’t happen again, I let out a breath of relief. But my nerves were suddenly on edge. And I couldn’t figure out why.