“Monroe, you know that’s not how things get handled. I know you’re an independent woman, but some things are meant for a man to deal with. This was one of them. I love that you’re willing to kick the shit out of anyone who stands in our way, but look around. No one’s pissed you’re in my arms or that we’re together. Give the brothers some slack. They’ve known you a long time. They have a right to be protective. And a few punches won’t kill me, okay?”
“Still not okay, and I know who hit you the worst. Let’s just say my father is gonna be lucky if I ever make him a home-cooked meal again. Not to mention what Sadie had in store for Ruger until I told her not to be too hard on him. Something about sleeping on the couch was mentioned.” She may be attemptin’ to make light of the situation, but she’s not hiding it too well, not with the rambling and going every which direction in her rant.
“You confront your dad, that’s fine, but you leave the other brothers alone. I knew what would happen once we started this. You pissin’ off the brothers, though, that’s a reflection of not only me but your dad as well. So, you wanna bitch me out, we’ll go back to my room. You know more than anyone how this stuff goes. I will ask you to wait till you’re at home with your dad, though I think he’s lookin’ forward to the shit you dish him. You get me, Monroe?” I’m being firm in this, a side she’s never seen of me before. It’ll be worse if she doesn’t heed my warning.
“I know, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.” She folds her arms across her chest, pushing her tits up even higher, and once again not wearin’ a bra, the flannel she wears over it does nothing to hide that fact. And if the men weren’t around, I’d be singing my praises to those beauties.
“Are you even hearing what I’m saying or are you staring at my chest?” My eyes were so focused on the hardening of her nipples, I quit listening.
“I am now. Does that count? How about we take this to my room? You can throw me your sass and then nurse me back to health.” I can see that Monroe is on a low simmer and it’s only a matter of time until she blows up.
“That might be a good idea before I get my chance to hurt you more for being such a Neanderthal.”
“You at least gonna make it hurt good, similar to how I made you feel yesterday while you were takin’ my cock with my bike beneath your ass.” I stand up, crowding her space, and see the desire scorching in her eyes.
“Later, guys,” I tell them, grabbing Monroe’s hand while listening to them laugh under their breath, one of them making a comment about the “Cannon” between my legs, and I know that’ll be another fuckin’ conversation once we get in there.
Ten
Monroe
“Should I be worried that there’s arsenic in my coffee this morning?” I stayed with Cannon until I knew if I didn’t get home, no sleep would be had. The bruises on his chest, stomach, and back were a gnarly purple and yellow, only deepening with every hour.
“Probably, but then again, they’d see it in a toxicology report, and I look horrible in orange, so not today.” I’m sitting at the kitchen table enjoying my own cup of coffee. My father is well aware that I didn’t get home until well after midnight and only because I go in at eleven and didn’t pack my clothes to stay at the club. That and the fact I was so scared to fall asleep beside Hunter and hurt him when I flailed around in my sleep like I most often do, so I came home. Hunter commented it’d be the last time I’d do that, especially with another surprise he had up his sleeve but wasn’t giving that out yet.
“I know you’re upset, and I’m sure Cannon told you. You may not have wanted to accept it, but you knew it would happen just the same. It’s done and over with. As hard as it is for me to swallow down my pride, which you know where I’m coming from, I’m happy for you and Cannon. It wasn’t an easy pill to swallow that you’ve been living under my roof and I had no idea what was going on, no matter you’re an adult or not. You two get through this, it’ll be smooth sailing from there.” My dad has a fleeting look on his face, and it makes me wonder if something or someone along the way might have captured his heart. He’s never told me if that were the case, he wasn’t like all the other single parents growing up, where they’d have new aunties or uncles traipsing in and out of my friends’ lives.
“That doesn’t mean I have to like it, Dad,” I grumble, still being a sour puss.
“Nope, you’ll have to live with it though. Now, want me to make my famous breakfast?” he jokes.
“No! We all know how much you suck at using anything in the kitchen besides the coffee pot and microwave,” I all but scream. Dad can do a lot of things, cooking any type of food is not one of them. “I’ll make breakfast. I won’t be home tonight. I’m staying with Cannon.”
“I don’t want to hear about it. Just tell me you won’t be home tonight, and I’ll keep it at that. Though if you do move out, I’ll have a naked house, not just a naked room.” And with that I gag.
“Your face is priceless.” He tops off my coffee. I get to making bacon and eggs while we chat away. While I’m still upset that he had a hand in hurting Hunter, in the back of my mind I knew it would end up that way, no matter if I told them with him or not. And telling them with him and in front of the club, that’d almost be like taking his man card.
Eleven
Cannon
“Monroe question you to death after last night?” Ruger asks. I’m working at the shop today. Apparently, I’m gonna be on the same schedule as Monroe. Fucking blows that she dipped out last night.
“More or less about how I got my club name.” I place the wrench I was using in my toolbox, then pull out another one, hopefully the correct size this time.
“I bet she didn’t need to learn too well.” He’s talking about the time I went on a club run with them right before being patched in. I was a prospect biding my time. We all settled in for the night at a campground, each of us in a tent or a sleeping bag, whatever you preferred. Let’s just say after a fifth of Jack Daniels, my only thoughts were of finding a tree to piss behind. Apparently, so did the rest of the club. The minute my cock was out, all the chatter happened. I was blessed with being a shower and grower. Shortly after I was patched in, Cannon became my given name.
“Of that you’d be correct. It helped lighten the mood. I hear Sadie was threatening the couch. Suspect that didn’t happen. Not with the way you hurried home to your ‘Ol Lady.” If anyone could put Ruger in his place, it was Sadie.
“She didn’t even try. Apparently, Monroe told her that it would benefit Sadie less. Your ‘Ol Lady is smarter than you are.” Fuck, but I love the sound of that. Of course, I didn’t claim her like the other brothers did. Shovel, Razor, and Ruger outright saying it to the brothers. Didn’t think it really needed to be said after shit went down, but I know I’ll be doing it just the same.
“Thinkin’ the college degree says it all, brother. What are you doing out of the house this early?” Usually, we don’t see him until closer to noon.