Page 51 of Lady Sings the Blues

“It’s okay.” I offer her my arms, holding her as much for my comfort as for hers.

“Okay?” she says quietly at first, lip quivering. Then she pushes back from me as her volume goes up. “Okay?” she says again. “Does any of this look okay to you, Beau?”

I think she’s about to lose her shit. I’m just waiting for the tears to fall, for her to bolt, when she completely gob smacks me twistin’ in my arms to address the lawn. “I’mnotawhore.None of you knows what happened. None of you!” Elise then shifts back to me, Chaos and Tommy. “They ruined your home. Where are we supposed to live now?”

“Only thing worth savin’ already got in my arms, darlin’.”

She turns her gaze up to me. Lookin’ with those big eyes that goes straight to my heart and my dick. I clear my throat.

“We’ll stay at the club. Safer anyway.”

My woman is something else. She nods her head. “This has to stop, Beau. Fight for me.” Biting her bottom lip, Elise fists my shirtsleeves, closes her eyes and swallows. When she opens them again, when she finishes her thought,shit.“Help me to fight,please,” she says. “Help me to be Brimstone, too. A Brimstone Lady.”

I can’t keep the smile, the pride, outta my voice. “You got it, baby girl.” I tug her so close to my chest we could hold a dime between us. You’d think with my home in ruins I’d be more upset. But knowing Elise was with me, no one was harmed. The rest is just things. Replaceable things.

Chaos pats my back. “It’s official. I’m a hundred percent in love with your old lady.”

“The fuck, brother?” I ask teasingly, knowing full well he’s got no idea what I heard in Chicago.

But it don’t matter what I heard in Chicago, what with how Elise answers. “Sorry. I’ve had enough chaos in my love life. I’m content to let him.” She motions to me with her chin. “Show me who’sBossin that department.” Then she looks me dead in the eyes. “Butonlyin that department.”

She was tested. Her first official day as a Brimstone old lady she was tested, and in my opinion, passed with flying colors.

Duke steps around from the side of the house where he’d been listening. “Didn’t think she had it in her.”

“Know you didn’t. Don’t doubt me or mine again.” My challenge goes out to all of the brothers.

“Never again, brother,” he calls over his shoulder as he heads for his bike. “Let’s roll out, leave the investigating to the professionals.”

“You need anything more from me, Tommy?” I question the man, with Elise still pressed up against me because my arms tightened around her when Duke showed, rather than let her loose.

“Not right now.”

“Can I go, then? I need to get my woman settled. It’s been a long day.”

“Go. I need you, I’ll call. And I’ll have Maryanne stop by tomorrow.”

“Good deal.” I pat his arm. “Let’s go, darlin.’ You and those kind lips.”

“I know, I know. The kind you’d like to see wrapped around your cock. Not you too. Hollister hell, I tell you what.” But she laughs just the same, shaking her head like she don’t know what to do with me. I love knowing I can make her laugh, especially in the face of all this disaster.

As we walk, I pull her behind me and hold her hand to the edge of the drive where we both mount my bike, her arms move to hold me tight again. Helmet on, because I put it there, she presses her cheek against my shoulder blade, kissing me briefly. She kisses the leather, but I feel it all the way through to my core. It was the kind of kiss saying she’s here with me and not just physically. She really is here with me.

After that, Elise keeps to herself the two miles we ride until rolling up to the front of the compound, where we wait while prospects Levi and Blaze open the gates for us.

“Good to see you again, Elise.” Levi’s lips tip up in that way he has, the one which has convinced many a girl to drop her panties for the kid.

“Find your own.” I warn him.

“Just being friendly, Bossman,” he quickly counters.

She slaps my shoulder. “Leave him alone.”

My response is to turn and kiss her full on the lips. Once I know I got her attention, I pull back to lay it out. “Don’t tell me how to deal with my brothers.”

Elise is so damn cute when pissed. Rolling her eyes. Pursing those plump lips. She don’t like what I have to say, that’s on her. Though, she checks that anger pretty quick, takin’ my hand once I’ve parked and offer to help her off my bike.

The atmosphere feels different today from the last time she was here. The pieces ain’t shown yet. Brothers who stayed behind to look after the place in the wake of my house being firebombed, lounge inside the main common room up at the bar or on the sofas watching television. A couple hot mamas, those are the bitches who have been elevated from just a piece of ass, they live here semi-permanently and help take care of the men, but ain’t anyone’s old lady, they mill about doing what they’re here to do—takin’ care of the brothers.

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