We all give her our word and she drops onto the seat. I continue to make the burger patties, frantically throwing in spices.
“Okay, so I told you I witnessed my priest murder someone?”
I nod. “You did.” The mushy hamburger meat sinks into my fingers.
“Well, it was one of the sisters.”
“What!” I exclaim, dropping the food back into the bowl.
She nods, swallowing before continuing. “He was always so sweet, Lissa,” she says, looking toward me but knowing that the girls are listening as well. “It was unexpected. I don’t know what’s going on, but since then, he’s been chasing me. It’s why I came to you. I had nowhere else to go.”
“This, father,” I spit, walking towards her and placing my hand on her knee. “What’s his name?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know. He’s old, really old. He’s new. He came in after Father David passed away from a heart attack.” She crosses herself before kissing the crucifix which hangs around her neck. I force back an eye roll. “One night, I was walking out of my room and into the community room when I saw him down in the parking lot. He killed her, shot her point blank right between the eyes, and although I was a distance away, I could feel the life being pulled out from her. I stifled a scream, but he had heard me. His face snapped up to the window and I stepped back frantically. I rushed back to my room and grabbed some clothes before sneaking outside. I dodged armed officers who were searching for me, Lissa. Armed officers. Why were armed officers in our church? They had bulletproof vests on that read, in white writing, ‘In man we trust’ across the back.” She wipes the tears from her cheek. “Anyway, I managed to lose them. I hid behind the first dark alley I came across and removed my habit before climbing into my jeans and tee. I had nowhere else to go, so I jumped on a bus and came straight to you.”
“Shit,” I whisper, standing. “This is fucked.”
“It’ll be fine, he was probably just some sick and twisted old man,” I tell her, trying to convince myself.
Jada peers up at Meadow, who swallows before a fake smile appears on her face. “Exactly. I wouldn’t worry about it,” Jada assures her.
I walk back to my duties, running through what she just told me. There’s a chance that her priest was, in fact, a dirty old man who was corrupted, but the armed guards don’t sit well with me.
“You’ll be safe with Jada,” I mutter, peering up at Jada.
Millie’s eyebrows pinch together. “Why?”
“Because—“
“Because I’m a bad ass,” Jada interrupts, her eyes widening on me. I roll my eyes and go back to the patties.
***
It’s a little after three p.m. when Hella walks out of the clubhouse as the girls and I head towards Meadow’s car. My heart lodges into my throat at the sight of him. I blame that on the fact that I haven’t seen him all day. He smiles when he sees me and, damn, if I’d need new panties. His eyes are dark and mischievous, but when he smiles, his dimples pop and his straight white teeth beam from beneath his soft lips. He’s his own brand of love potion.
“Hey!” I say, pausing.
He pulls me under his arm and presses his lips to mine. “Here.” He dishes out his keys and takes a single key off. “Go straight home. Meadow will most likely not be drinking, so she can drop you guys off.”
What? Why’s Meadow not drinking?
I was about to ask when he kissed me again, his hand finding my ass where he gives it a tight squeeze. “I’ll see you later, baby.”
“Wait!” I yelled. He turns, his eyebrows raised in question. “Stay the fuck away from the club whores, Hella.”
His smile returns before he walks back to me, his fingers finding mine as his other hand grips around my chin. “Look at me.” I bring my eyes to his, defeated. “I will never, ever, do anything to hurt you, Melissa. And my man-card will probably be revoked tonight because I can’t see myself so much as batting an eye at any other women, got it?”
I swallowed. “Okay, got it.”
He kissed me again before walking back into the clubhouse. I turn to see the girls all watching us, their jaws to the ground, all except Millie.
“What?” I say, walking to the back door, pulling it open, and sliding beside Millie.
“That was so bizarre,” Meadow adds.
Jada interrupts her. “Actually, it’s really not. He’s been all about Melissa since she got back.”
“Really?” Meadow asks, astounded. I roll my eyes from the back seat as Jada continues, “Yup, he’s been all kinds of overprotective. They full-on got all over each other in front of Millie and me last night!”
“I’m right here, guys,” I mutter, but they continue with their play-by-play of mine and Hella’s…whatever the hell it is. I sigh, realizing in between everything, I forgot to have that conversation with him. It will have to wait until tomorrow. I hope.
Melissa
“It’s beautiful out here,” I say to Meadow as she plunks down onto the picnic blanket she has set up under the tree at the back of their yard. “It sort of reminds me of Hella’s.”
They all pause and Meadow begins pouring wine into our glasses. “Heard you’ve gotten quite cozy there,” she taunts.
I take the glass from her and take a large gulp. “Yeah? Well I heard that you weren’t drinking tonight, spill.”
She pauses, giving Jada her glass. I’m glad I’m not the only one that’s about to get shamelessly drunk. Because thoughts of girls hanging all over Hella dries my mouth out like the Sahara desert, the wine helps.
She smiles shyly. “Fuck it.” He hands fly up in defeat. “I’m pregnant!”
My hand flies up to my mouth. “REALLY!” The girls congratulate her with a hug.
She nods. “Yeah, I was supposed to keep it quiet until I had passed the first trimester, but I can’t keep it in any longer.”
“Oh my god!” I whisper, downing the rest of my drink and gripping onto her hands. “I’m going to be an aunty! Have you told Phoebe?”
She shakes her head around her joyful laughter. “No, not yet but I will now.”
“You better!” I say, taking a seat back on the picnic blanket. “She will kill us all if she’s the last to find out. She’d even give Jada a run for her money.”
We all laugh and Jada shoves me in the arm. “My target includes two balls and cock.”
We all crack up again and Millie shuffles uncomfortably. She’s gotten better with our banter, I’ll give her that.
I throw my hand up as I fish my phone out of my pocket. “It’s mom,” I say to Millie. “I texted her earlier to see if she could swing it.” Sliding my phone unlocked, I answer the call.
“Mom? Hi!”
“Hi, darling. How are my two precious little girls?”
“Someone there, huh?”
“Father Delany,” she answers casually.
I stifle a laugh. “So, you down or what, woman?”
“I’d love to. I can be there three nights from today.”
“Three nights? You sure you’ll have enough time?”
“Oh, sweet deluded child,” she whispers and I choke on my drink. There’s my mother; I was worried for a second. “I have plenty of time and I can organize a lot from here. Roger needs me to attend a charity event. Usually I’d say no, but it’s a pink ribbon cancer event.”
“How depressing, but I understand. I’ll see you then?”
“Yes, dear. I love you so much.”
“Oh, quit the shit, mom. I love you, too.” I laugh before hanging up. “She said she’ll do it!” I exclaim to the girls, placing my phone onto the ground. “She’ll be here in three nights.”
Three hours into our “wedding planning”, we accomplish all of nothing because we’re too busy Googling baby names. We make our way back in the house, all curled on the living room floor while Meadow flicks through all the names.
“I don’t like any of these,” she announces, disgusted.
I laugh. “You could ca
ll him Mini-Beast if he’s a boy and Mini-Meadow if she’s a girl?”
“Well done, Melissa. I’m proud of your food for thought right now.” Meadow gestures around the room dryly, closing the laptop as Jada and I pick up our bottles of wine. We’ve gone past the classy stage which requires drinking out of glasses; we’re now at the straight-from-the-bottle stage.
“Okay,” I slur, my phone vibrating on the floor. “Wait! I need to answer this.” I slide it open, but it slips from my grip, dropping to the ground. I begin laughing, and Jada bends down to pick it up, only for her to drop it too.
Shit, we are way too drunk.
“Hel—“ I clear my throat, attempting to sound sober. “Hello?” That wasn’t much better.
“Really?”
Hella’s voice seeps into me, sending light shivers all over.
“Really what?” I whisper secretly.
“Really you’re that drunk?”
I laugh. “Sorry, you must have the wrong number. You’re searching for someone who gives a fuck, which I don’t.”
“Melissa,” he growls.
My face straightens, all laughter stops. “Sorry, I was kidding. What’s up? Yes, I’m a bit drunk.”
“I need you,” he groans from the phone.
I swallow, sobering a little. “Okay, I’ll get Meadow to drop us off now.”
“At home.”
“Okay.”
Then he hangs up. I look at my phone and Meadow’s eyes search mine. “What, Melissa? Has something happened?” She looks worried. I realize it probably doesn’t look good from their side.
“Nah, Hella just needs his dose of me. Can you drop us off now?”
Her shoulders slack, relief washing over her. “Yes,” she breathes. “Yes, I can do that.” We pull up to the house I’ve grown so used to seeing and I push open the door, tumbling out.
Meadow laughs from the driver’s seat while winding down her window. “Girl, you better eat some bread.”
I laugh, clicking my fingers at her, and say, “Gotcha, I shall do that,” before saluting her. When she starts reversing out of the driveway, Jada pops out of the back window, lifts her shirt up, and screams, “Tits out for the boys!” I burst into laughter just as the front door opens and Hella leans against the doorframe in loose grey track pants that slack around his toned waist. The headlights of Meadow’s car light up Hella’s body and my mouth waters at the sight in front of me. His hair is covered by a blue and white flat baseball cap, which is sitting backwards on his head, and his chest is bare, showcasing all his tattoos and rippled muscles. His hands come to his chest as he smirks. “You checking me out?”
I giggle. “Maybe,” I answer before walking towards him. I fling my arms around his neck and inhale his scent. “Mmmm, you smell good.”
“Yeah? You smell terrible. Come on, taking you to bed.”
“What?” I say, stepping inside as he closes the door. “I thought I was coming home to get some ass. Now I feel cheated.”
He laughs. “Baby? I’m not into fucking drunk girls. Come on. Shower, then bed.”
“Food!” I retort, ducking under his arm and making my way to the kitchen. I pause. “Never mind. We need to go shopping. Your cupboards are about as dry as Millie.”
He lets out a loud laugh, displaying those two perfect dimples. “That’s not very nice, baby. That’s your sister.” He leads me up stairs. It takes him around thirty minutes to get me in the shower. There, I use a loofa as a microphone while I bat out The Cranberries’ “Zombie” to him loudly over the sound dock.
Yeah, I should never be left unattended at this level of drunk.
Melissa
“Mom!” I exclaim, running into her arms. She taps the top of the taxi, signaling him to go.
“Hi, darling. How have you been and where’s the bar?”
I laugh, taking her hand in mine, her gold bangles slipping over the tips of my fingers. “Come on, come meet the gang.”
“Melissa, they don’t like to be referred to as ‘The Gang’,” she whispers discretely into my ear as her arm hooks around mine.
I smile, leaning into her. “Mom? I was talking about the girls.”
“Oh!” She stands straight as she follows me to the Clubhouse doors. “I can’t wait.”
We walk inside the bar to find it empty, which is a good thing. I don’t want to terrify her right off the bat. “Come on.” I tug her hand and pull her towards the back of the kitchen where the girls are. Meadow has the catering crew she hired in there organizing all the food. I push open the doors.
“Mom!” Millie gasps, running towards her with open arms.
“Hi, darling.” Mom’s in her fifties, but she has the soul of someone in her twenties. “Your mother needs a drink.”
Meadow introduces herself along with Jada, Layla, and Asha. Phoebe should be here sometime tonight for the bridal reception she’s planning, which frightens Meadow and excites me. After mom’s introduced, she runs through all the things she organized from home, which is everything—from equipment hire, to the DJ, even so much as a professional bartender who will be set up in the corner with his own little bar. The wedding is still two weeks away, but they’re casing out the space and what’s going where.
“You missing your man?” Layla nudges my shoulder with hers. It’s strange. I know her and Hella have some sort of history—it’s been said enough—but she doesn’t seem to mind.
“I am a little. I get cold at night.” Hella, Beast, Frost, and Ripper went on a run a couple of days ago. They should be back tonight. With the wedding so close, Meadow isn’t too happy with them making an emergency run, but club business is club business and it doesn’t involve us. He’s texted me throughout his entire time away. I still miss him, which is a foreign feeling for me, but I’m learning to just go with it when it comes to Hella. If I get hurt, then I get hurt.
Layla laughs. “At least they’ll be back tonight.” She walks back to her duties of floral placements on the tables. I look at Millie, who watches our conversation uncomfortably.
“What’s wrong?” I ask her, opening a new box of cutlery.
She shakes her head, an absent look passing over her. “Nothing. It’s… nothing.” Her smile drops and she walks out of the kitchen to the bar.
I sigh, pushing the utility knife into my back pocket. She’s not telling me something. What’s new?
Hella
Little red droplets splatter on my face as I deliver the next blow, his jaw cracking under my knuckles. He’s barely recognizable now. Where his once-white skin and blue eyes flared with anger, they’re now masked by the sticky evidence of my wrath.
I chuckle, pushing on my gloves. Beast looks at me, eyebrows raised. “What’d this fucker do?”
I roll my shoulders back, tightening the mask that’s sitting around the bottom of my face.
“Please,” the woman pleads, her arms bound around the back of her chair, her hair falling over her eyes. “Please, what did we do wrong?”
I bring my eyes back to the piece of shit sitting on the seat in front of me. “He fucked with someone who belongs to me.”
Her tear-stricken eyes widen. “Melissa?” She scoffs. “That slut had it coming! He told me all about it. She’s just a stupid fucking slut who wanted to be in the—“
I slap her face so hard, her body flying across the room as the sting from the force tingles over the back of my hand. That felt damn good, too.
“Yeah?” I walk towards her, bending down and tilting my head. I pause, my eyes running over her. Big tits, tight little body, blood smeared over her forehead. “You know…” My hand reaches up, my fingers gliding down her cheek, over her jaw, and down her sternum. She flinches. “Nah, it’s gone,” I mutter, rising to my feet.
“What’s gone?” she asks, her eyes searching mine.
“The need to fuck anything that isn’t my girl.” I turn to Frost. “Playtime for the Joker?”
A smirk appears on his face as he pulls her up by her hair and dr
ags her screaming to the back of the house.
“Yo!” I call out. “Do it out here! I want this fucker to see his girl being abused.”
Frost drags her back towards us, looking at me. “Brother, rape isn’t really my thing.”
I roll my eyes, my hand flying up to her throat. I squeeze until I feel the tubes of her throat creaking under my fingertips. I pull her face to mine. “Lucky for you, I brought the wrong brother.” I look at Frost. “But unlucky for you,” I add, looking back to her, “I’m going to make you wish that I did just rape you.” I swipe her hair out of the way with my face, my mask skimming over the blood that’s tracing down the side of her cheek, her desperate tears causing her mascara to run. “At least you’d enjoy my cock.”
Frost steps up. “Me, I’ll do it.” He pulls out his gun and clocks it. “I want to try something.”
I look up at him. “Try what?”
He looks down to the tip of his barrel where there’s a silencer screwed on, then he looks down at her legs, running his eyes up her body. “I wanna see what her insides look like if I blow her up from the inside.”
“Jesus fucking Christ,” Beast whispers, pulling one of the seats from the kitchen table and taking a seat. “Well, hurry up, you two. I have my woman to marry. Quit fucking around.”
The piece of shit starts tugging on his ties around his wrist, his muffled screams silenced by the duct tape that’s over his mouth.
I chuckle. “Do it.”
Eddy’s screams come louder, more desperate. I walk to the back of him, my hands tightening around the back of his neck. His eyes shut. She looks at him pleadingly, the smug smirk she had over her face when talking about Melissa long gone.
I bend down to his ear. “Open your fucking eyes. See, you played with the wrong girl. You played with a girl who’s owned by a man who likes to watch his victim endure pain, who gets off on the perverse, sadistic need of the kill. That man is me.”
His eyes flare open just as Frost bends down, spreading the woman’s legs wide. She begins kicking, tossing, and turning, so he brings the back of his gun up, slamming it down over her face. Her back hits the floor, her head turning sideways slowly as she drifts in and out of consciousness. He continues by removing her G-string. Frost smirks, brings it up to his nose, and inhales deeply. I laugh as he shoves it into his back pocket. The piece of shit starts wriggling in his spot, his screams turning into sobs. Frost’s gun disappears between her thighs. The very moment that skinny barrel inserts into her, her head begins yanking sideways desperately, calling out for her boyfriend as his shoulders shake under my grip. I smirk, and with a small nod of my head, the silent gunshot rips through the air as blood, brain matter, skin, and organs rain down on us.