Page 18 of Blade's Return
“You’re fuckin’ right I’m not taking it well. It’s bullshit. I am part of the Saints. I only agreed to play the straight-edge suit because we needed the cover for the casino deal. We’re going up against the big boys with more casinos, a corporate name customers flock to and unlimited resources. We have to appear squeaky-clean. I didn’t agree to leave the damn club. If that’s what you’re telling me?—”
“Fucking hell, stop.” Bear’s voice crashes through the air like thunder. “Can’t you see I’m trying to make sure you have a good life? The kind you deserve. Hell, the kind Livy has always deserved.”
The waitress chooses that moment to show up, smiling way too wide. We order house beers, and our menus are left unopened on the table. When she leaves, I lean back, looking between the two men who’ve meant the most in my life.
“I am part of the Saints,” I declare quietly, daring either one of them to argue. “Being your second, Bear, and building this club into something we can be proud of—that’s all I’ve ever wanted. I don’t know what bullshit this is, but it needs to stop.”
Bear sighs. “Okay. Real talk. You’ve been seeing Livy for at least two weeks now. That girl’s falling in love with you.”
“Bear—”
“Let me finish. I know her better than you do.”
I lean back, thinking about Livy’s shy smile, her fingers brushing mine, the way she laughs when she finally lets herself forget her past. I haven’t pushed her to reveal her secrets. I’m letting her come to me. Still, the cold showers I’ve been taking are getting damn old.
“I wouldn’t say that’s true,” I lie.
Bear snorts. “I didn’t mean sexually, asshole, but she’s special to me.”
That catches me. “How’d you two get so close?”
He scratches his beard, his eyes softening. I can tell he’s thinking over his answer. “She saved my life.”
Hangman whistles. “This story again.”
“What story?” I ask, keyed up for some reason.
“Remember when I went after Eyeball alone?” Bear says. “I was stupid enough to think they were holding Mavis against her will.”
“Jesus, you were always?—”
“Dumb as hell over the bitch, I know. Still, I thought she had cleaned up and we were solid again. I thought they’d taken Mavis against her will and I was going to get her—but I didn’t want to bring the club into it.”
“A mistake,” Hangman growls, while I nod my head in agreement. That’s the kind of President Bear is. If he can handle things quietly, he chooses that—even if it could get him killed. That’s just one of the reasons I’m anxious to get my role back as VP. I want to watch over my brother.
Bear shrugs, then continues his story. “Anyway, I got in, had words with Mavis. It didn’t go well since she was taking some fucker’s cock up her ass while bent over snorting coke. I ruined her orgasm by killing the man. I’m not sure she noticed. The bitch was too high to care. She screamed at me to get out. I told her sorry ass I never wanted to see her again. Those were the final words we ever shared.”
“Why the hell didn’t you ever tell that part of the story to us, man?” Hangman snaps.
“I’ve been labeled stupid enough when it came to her,” he says with a shrug. “Trying to hold on to my pride, I guess.” He shuts up when the waitress brings drinks over. We order the lunch special, and she leaves. Mine and Hangman’s eyes come to Bear, and we just wait. I can tell that he’s dealing with a lot of memories that he doesn’t like. The last thing I want to do is cause Bear more pain over the bitch. I assume Hangman feels the same way because he’s just sitting there, waiting. “Anyway, Eyeball caught me. He had three of his men hold me down while he worked me over.”
“Figures,” I growl. “The fucker wouldn’t dare take you one-on-one.”
“Since you’ve never given this much detail about what happened, are you going to spill on how you got out?” Hangman asks.
“And what it has to do with my woman,” I add.
“I caught one guard sleeping, the other getting a blowjob,” he says with a shrug. “They thought Eyeball had knocked me out. I faked it pretty good. I was in damn bad shape—well, you saw me, and that was after I’d recovered a couple of days. I managed to escape and make it to my bike. Bastard didn’t bother patting me down, past taking my weapons. I guess he figured he was going to kill me, and he’d take my wallet and shit after that. It took me three tries to get on my damn bike and fish my keys out of my pocket. I held onto the bike with all I had. To be honest, I managed it longer than I thought I would. I ended up piling up close to where Livy’s father’s place is. Livy found me. She took me to the house. Put me in her room and then went back out, got my bike and called someone she trusted to come get it. She hid me, and when those bastards came calling, it took everything she had to get me outside, into her car, and drive me to the community center. Once she got me settled, she went home. Livy could have turned me in, but she didn’t. She lied to those bastards. They were waiting when she got back. She faced them alone.” His eyes harden. “When she finally returned, Livy’s face was bruised, her nose swollen and bloody. She was limping and her ribs were bruised. The bastards had worked her over hard. There was a cut along her side. She’d bandaged it, but it was clearly bleeding. They tortured her, trying to make her admit she was lying—to give me up. Olivia never gave in. She protected me.”
“I’ve seen the scar on her side,” I murmur. I don’t realize that I said the words out loud until I notice the look on Bear’s face. I don’t know exactly how to describe it, but it hits me strangely. I figure it’s because she was injured covering for him. He has to feel guilty as hell for the pain she endured.
“Livy risked her life for me. I owe her. She’s family. I’ll protect her with my life. I always will. Now, I’ve seen Livy happy before. She hasn’t been that in a long time. Seeing how she looks at you, Blade—it’s special. It has been a long time since I’ve seen that light in her eyes. I want the best for both of you.”
“Bear—”
“You need to mark my words, Blade. Livy will not let herself be with you if she knows you are part of this life. She just won’t.”
“You’re wrong. She may have some nightmares over the way they beat her because of you, but she won’t turn her back on me.” My voice comes out sharp. “She likes you. She likes Ayita. Livy does that knowing you’re both part of the club. What about her says that she can’t handle it? Livy will accept it,” I insist. “She’ll accept me.”
