Tiny roams the aisles of shelves for a good five minutes or so before stopping and picking up a book to read the back of it.
“Find one you want?” I ask as I stand directly behind her and wrap my arms around her. She stiffens at first but almost immediately relaxes her body against mine.
“Umm, yeah,” she whispers but she goes to put it back. Reaching out I grab the book from her and turn it so that I can see the front.
I frown when I realize the book isn’t just some romance bullshit like my sister and Raven read.
“Why do you want a Study Guide for a GED book?” I ask, holding the book up in my hand.
Blushing, Tiny looks to the floor. “Because I never finished school,” she murmurs so softly I barely hear her.
“Bitsy, look at me baby,” I command, and her gaze snaps up to mine. “Why didn’t you finish school?” I know the answer just by the look in her eyes before she shakes her head in response. She didn’t get to because she’d run from home and has been in hiding ever since and that shit’s gonna stop. Tiny isn’t gonna hide from the world anymore.
Nodding, I take my ol’ lady in my arms, still holding the heavy book in one hand. “Don’t worry, baby. We will get you set up so you can go to school if that is what you want. I’ll have Fuse set you up with online classes. But listen to me now. Just because you didn’t finish school doesn’t mean you’re stupid or anything else. Okay?”
“Thank you.” With a slight smile on her face she leans further into my chest, laying her head against me.
“Nothing to thank me for, Bitsy. You’re my ol’ lady and I’ll do what I have to, to make you happy,” I murmur, lifting a hand to cup her chin in order to bring her gaze to meet mine.
As I hold her gaze, I tilt my head down to brush my lips against hers gently.
“Get a room, Prez, it’s a bookstore for God’s sake,” Brake chuckles.
“Fuck you, Brake,” I mutter, irritated at the interruption.
Chuckling, Brake moves closer to us, “Sorry to break up y’alls moment but thought you’d want to know Delancy has been spotted.”
Stiffening, I release my grip on Tiny’s chin and turn my attention to my brother. “Which one?” I demand.
“Deanna,” he says, and my anger takes hold.
“Come on let’s get out of here,” I command, tossing the book back on the shelf. Tiny won’t be needing that. I’ll make sure she gets her High School Diploma rather than a GED. She deserves it and I won’t settle for less.
Tiny follows without a word and for that I’m thankful. I don’t think I could handle answering her questions right now. Not when I need to make sure Deanna doesn’t see her. If she does, I’m sure she’ll become a target. For several reasons. One: Tiny’s beautiful. Two: She fits the type they like to snatch up. Three: Deanna is a jealous bitch and will take Tiny for herself if she knows that she’s mine.
Deanna may be married to Delano but she’s a vindictive bitch when it comes to things she can’t have. It’s because of her parents she had to marry her husband rather than getting to be with me. For that she’s hated the fact I didn’t fight for her. My thoughts on it were she didn’t fight for me knowing that her husband, who’s at least fifteen years older than her, killed my parents.
I never should have brought Tiny to the French Quarter knowing there would be a risk of this but fuck Tiny deserves to come here.
“Umm, Chains,” Tiny says as we make it to my bike.
“What’s wrong, Bitsy?” I ask while I grab her helmet to hand her.
“I umm, I didn’t get a chance to go into the store that I needed to,” she says, a blush tinting her cheeks.
Frowning, I glanced around the area to make sure all my brothers were preparing to follow me. And also, to make sure none of Delancy’s men were watching.
“I needed to go somewhere like Wal–Mart or Target,” she murmurs.
Fuck, I should have asked her what store she needed to go to before we left the clubhouse.
Damnit.
“Alright, baby, I’ll take you there let’s get out of the French Quarter first though okay?” I suggest, trying not to show my annoyance.
It’s not her I’m annoyed with, it’s myself.
Actually no. It’s the fact Deanna had to ruin our fun by showing up today.
Normally I don’t give a rat’s ass, but I have to think about Tiny now. I need to make sure she stays safe no matter what. I refuse to let Deanna or Delano get their filthy hands on her.
Chapter Ten
Tiny
Since leaving the French Quarter, Chains has been in a sour mood.
I don’t know who this Deanna Delancy person is but I’m guessing, with the way he’s been acting, she’s not someone he likes. I want to ask him about it, but it isn’t my place.
Honestly, I really don’t know what my place is here. Chains says I’m his ol’ lady but why would he want someone damaged like me. Not when he could have any woman he wanted.
Now as he follows me through the store, I begin to feel completely self-conscious with myself. I barely had clothes and such when I moved here along with personal products. It was almost my time of the month and I ran out of what I had the last time which had been right after moving here.
Going down the personal care aisle, I pick up a cheap thing of shampoo and conditioner before I move down further toward the soap to pick up the least expensive one. I make my way closer to the personal products without giving Chains a glance. Picking up what I need, I glimpse the condoms sitting on the shelf further down and wonder if maybe I should grab some.
As I stop in front of them, Chains finally speaks up. “What are you doing, Bitsy?” he demands.
“Umm, I didn’t know if I should pick up a set.” I murmur, glancing up at him.
“Baby, don’t need’ em,” he growls.
“But . . .” I stop myself from saying anything else. I guess my thoughts of us earlier today are not happening. Or he’s changed his mind.
“Don’t need’ em. Got some already. You done in here?” he mutters as he grabs hold of my hand. Turning me to him, Chains wraps both arms around me.
Instead of answering out loud, I nod my head in response.
“Bitsy, don’t look upset. I’m not saying this shit to upset you. I’m saying it for the fact I don’t need my ol’ lady staring at condoms like she’s trying to figure out what size to get for me. My dick is hard as fuck now thinking of being inside you. Following you around in here is torture as I keep staring at your ass.”
Well okay. I guess that’s a good thing.
I do my best to give him a sincere smile, granted I’m still very self-conscious right now. I mean I’m the stupid one for thinking we would need protection.
“What’s with the fake smile?” he asks softly as he steps away.
Shaking my head, I look at the floor. “It’s not fake. I’ve got everything I needed.”
“Tiny,” he says as he grabs my arm. “Don’t lie to me.”
“I’m not lying,” I whisper.
“Yeah, you are. Now tell me,” he commands.