Remember, if it’s not your story, don’t tell it. You don’t know all the facts. – Coon
Karan had the TV screen set watch DCSS. Except, it was late. She finally accepted that Cookie did not want her skinny, he just wanted her to be his wife. And she was halfway through her fries, burger and chocolate shake. As she was dipping some fries in her ketchup, the backdoor alarm chirped.Her office door was already closed and the audio for the security cameras were on. Rye’s laughter filled Karan’s office as Chance held the door open.“What the fuck?” Karan muttered as she turned in her chair to watch the show.“Seriously?” Chance asked as he followed Rye inside. “You skipped eighth grade?”“Yeah.” She was smiling and drinking a soda from a sit-down restaurant. “What about you?”“I’m not that smart. I mean, I get numbers and that shit. That comes easy.” he shrugged a took a drink from a cup from the same restaurant.“What the hell is going on here?” Karan asked asI couldn’t imagine going through life without friends. They make it fun. – ZeeRye poured her coffee in the dining room before walking into the kitchen. Smiling, Zee finished packing the white bag with Rye’s breakfast. She had her question ready, along with her secret ulterior motive. But when she looked up and saw the other woman, types of cookware no longer seemed important. Rye’s face was pale, and her eyes were red rimmed from crying. Dark circles were under her lilac eyes that were still filled with tears. Her hair was smoothed down and her work uniform was spotless. That was more out of habit than her intentional actions.“Rye, baby girl, come sit down.” Zee quickly came around the stainless-steel workstation and guided her to a stool.The pale woman sat where she was told. She accepted the water bottle from Zee and continued to look down at the floor. “Baby girl, tell me what’s wrong.” Zee brushed a stray tear off the other woman’s cheek.“I’m too me
If you’re going to be at the clubhouse later, I’ll make sure that your birthday is happy. – Random Club BunnyAfter Chance made sure that Rye was okay, he went and ate breakfast at the Shack just like usual. He flirted with the girls there. Joked with the guys. Accepted homemade cards from his nieces and nephews. He knew if he strayed from his usual routine, people would ask questions. And he had no answers for them. Or even for himself. When he got back to the daycare, his office was decorated with balloons and a giant banner. There were lots of cards from the classes. And a few from the single moms. Chance worried about the grin that Karan gave him. When he opened the beautifully wrapped box, happy birthday confetti exploded out all over his office.Her laughter filled their offices and the reception area.“It wasn’t a glitter bomb!” Karan called out as she held her stomach due to her laughter.Shaking his head and watching the small multicolored cakes, p
How are you doing that? I’m going to starve. – MikeRYE’S MEMORIESEleven-year-old Rye sat with her dad and sister in the small restaurant. This was one of her most favorite places in the world. And her most favorite people. She loved her mom, but just like her sister, she was daddy’s girl through and through.Mike had been away for a few weeks with the Marines, and this was the first Saturday that he was back. This was the final stop of their usual Saturday routine. They wandered through the market where he bought his daughters little trinkets.Today it was a set of matching necklaces. Smooth, round stones with a hole drilled into them for the black cord to loop through. Leigh Anne had a bright blue stone and Ryanne had a piece of brown petrified wood. In the little bag in the empty chair next to Mike was a third necklace for Donna Leigh. Hers was a deep red with veins running through it.Leigh Anne had picked the blue stone because it matched Stitch on her pink
Leave your brother alone. – AlanaMost of the Lowery family had already arrived and were in the back party room. Chance held the large ornate red door for Rye before placing a hand on her lower back. His fingers barely brushed her thin jacket before pulling away. “Sorry, it’s habit.” He said motioning over her shoulder where to go.They entered the room and there was a lull for just a moment as everyone turned. Rye was accepted in with no questions. Names were thrown at her, but she couldn’t keep them straight. There was his mom, brothers and wives, sister and husband and about a dozen nieces and nephews. Not to mention the man and woman that were both married to Chance’s brother who was not in the room at that moment. There was a large bear of a man with bows in his hair and beard and was named Molly and his five wives. Of their dozen or so children, mainly daughters, Rye recognized Priss.As usual, where Priss was, Camille was not far away. Rye waved at Camil
Baby sister… you’re smarter than me. Don’t follow in my footsteps. Be strong. Keep yourself safe. – Leigh AnneMovement outside the restaurant window caught Rye’s attention. She wasn’t paying attention to the teasing and joking going on around her. She was looking out the window, waiting for the figure to reappear. It had to her imagination.There it is again. She knew that form. Would recognize it anywhere. So many nights had been spent curled up against it to stay warm. To stay safe.Even skinny and dirty, with a distance of at least twenty feet, a pane of glass between them and hardly any light outside, Rye knew who it was.Leigh Anne.Rye had no doubts, that was her sister that she saw outside.Grabbing her phone, she stood up and walked out. It wasn’t until the cold wind hit her that she thought about getting her jacket. Her keys and flashlight were still in her pocket. A few years ago, Leigh Anne would have berated her for not having them on her. E
Mom insisted that we all learned to cook. She didn’t like my plan of never moving out. – BearThey rode in silence for a few minutes and Chance wondered if the heater would ever kick on. As far as he was concerned, if you were going to be trapped in a cage it should be for one of two reasons. You made one hell of a bad decision at the zoo. Or for the heater in a car.“Where are we going?” Rye asked as Chance turned down a road with condominiums on either side. “My mom’s place. You need to eat and calm down before we go see Michael.” He pulled into the driveway and parked. “Come on, duchess.”When she didn’t follow him, he walked around and opened her door. Leaning down with one arm propped on the door and the other on the roof, he smiled at her.“It’s too damned cold to stay out here, duchess.” He said gently. “Let’s get something to eat and then we’ll go to the hospital.”Rye nodded and slowly got out of the car. He led the way up to the front door where he
They took Nessie. Lock everything down. – WerewolfChance didn’t know much about Nessie. She was a hell of a cook, had the ability to talk to the dead and had him figured out when it came to women. And scared the fuck out of him. Literally. He got around her and her expensive knives and his oysters tried to call up his ass for safety.Nessie was beautiful, had a lyrical Scottish accent and got away with almost anything. That was because she was the niece of Siobhan, the wife of the Shacks president, Toad. And she had a crazy ex. Not the crazy like he had. No, he had no intention of being the one to change her wayward lifestyle. He planned to kill her for disobeying him and leaving.Now, he had her.Since they were not sure of what else would happen, all properties associated with the Saints were locked down tight. Construction stopped, shops closed, and all the brothers checked in at their clubhouses while the families were gathered at the Shack. The daycar
Chance, you’ve never just been friends with a woman. – SticksChance reached out and touched Rye’s gray streak gently with the tip of his finger. She gave a small flinch but did not pull away. Chance looked from his finger to her eyes. “I like you, Rye. I’ve never really gotten to know a woman before. Not like this. Now, I think you’re one of my closest friends.” He leaned towards her, and she pulled back. “It’s not like that.”His lips kissed her temple with the lightest of touch. “I’m not a good friend.” She mumbled as she got out of the car and headed for the hospital. He wanted to argue with her and tell her that she was indeed a good friend. She was also the only woman that he had wanted for the past month or so. A club girl had sat on his lap the other night and he had no reaction. No desire. Nothing. He saw Rye at work and wanted to take her to bed. He wanted to kiss her, something he never did. He never kissed a girl, and he never went down on a g
I’m very good at being Sophia. I just don’t like being her. – ShilohThe door to the Shack opened and a large group of men in suits entered with a woman in the middle of their pack. As they moved through the building, the men moved off and took up positions around the large space. The woman stopped in front of Pagan who wrapped her up in his arms.“We’re going to get them back.” She quietly promised.“I know.” Pagan whispered against her neck.She pulled away from him and pressed a kiss to his lips before she turned in his arms. “Werewolf, what do you know?”“They were taken by Aranya. We know where their president is.” He answered.She spoke in Italian, and six men stepped towards Werewolf. “Tell them.”Werewolf nodded and pulled up the map on his tablet. He explained where the Aranya clubhouse was located and what he knew of the buildings. “Don, with your leave?” Nico asked and Sophia nodded.“Yes, bring him to me.” The men turned to leave. “Nico," Sophia warned, "do not spill any
Mother, I’m not sure who you think you are but let me assure you who you are not. – SophiaNico leaned over and spoke softly in Sophia’s ear. “Do not let her take hold again. You are in charge of her. You control her.”Sophia nodded and gave him a small smile. She needed the reminder. Shiloh only had to be Sophia for a little while longer. They were winning the last few hold outs over to their side. There were a few that her mother still had convinced that it should be her stepson to take the position.With Sophia at his side to make it legitimate.Otherwise, he was just another son of just another capo. Elizabeth did not want to admit that she had moved down the ranks of the family. When she had first married Joseph, he had been second in line to the throne. His older brother and wife were both killed only a few weeks after Joseph had married Elizabeth.Joseph would be the next to lead the family. But then, the inner war took place and Joseph was caught in the crossfire. His father,
I don’t give a damn how it’s done. I just want it done. – PaganPagan was hammering out his frustration along with the hot metal on the anvil. It was the second day of the meeting with the family, and he was missing his wife.He couldn’t help the smile that crept across his face when he thought of Shiloh as his wife.When it was confirmed who her family was, he understood why she did not want anyone to know that they were married. Until everything was settled, it could put him and his girls in danger. He didn’t understand everything about her family, but he knew it worked like the Saints.They had a family leader and CEO of the company. Shiloh was Nonno’s only living heir and should take his place. Be the next CEO. But it was not what she wanted.She would do it out of duty and obligation. And Pagan was certain that she would be good at it. Shiloh had a good mind for business and could lead the family and business with very little effort. But her heart was n
If it goes well, you will never have to use your old name ever again. – NicoPagan loved waking up in the morning with Shiloh in bed with him. Most mornings, he woke up with her sucking on his cock. Or his balls. Or moving between the two.This morning was no different. He moaned as his hips thrust up and she took him all the way down to his base.“Fuck, babe.” Pagan growled.She hollowed her cheeks and bobbed up and down on him. His hands fisted in her hair and guided her as she bobbed, and he thrust. Pagan pulled her off him and towards him for a kiss.“I need in you.” He said between kisses.Her hands moved to his shoulders as she moved up his body. He sat up and wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. Shiloh wrapped her arms around his neck and legs around his waist. Moving his mouth to her neck, Pagan guided her onto his cock. “Pagan.” She sighed as his head pressed against her folds, sliding into her slickness. He growled again
I love you, Shy, but if you say you’re going to wear a white dress, I’m calling bullshit. – GertieSaturday after they got married, Shiloh went with some of the other ladies to a bridal shop. Surrounded by so much white and ivory, she and Gertie stood out. They looked at each other and shared a smile before they both busted out laughing.“Yeah…” Karan smirked. “I don’t know if we’re going to find anything for Shiloh here.”“Yes, we will.” Rye assured her as she walked towards the back of the large warehouse style store. The rest of the women all shrugged and followed her back. They weaved their way through racks and racks of gorgeous white, ivory and pale pink wedding gowns. There were large and puffy ones, others that were slim and fitting. And there were yards and yards of skirts, hundreds and thousands of beads. Satin, silk, taffeta and tule.Several of the women stopped to admire a gown or dress here and there. Mia pulled one out and held it in front of her.
I won’t even tell Toad. I’ll just tell him that we got the marriage license. – PaganPagan and Shiloh walked into the Shack holding hands just like they always did on Church nights. Ashlyn ran towards Priscilla to show the teen the new outfit. Alyssa headed for Athos to try to con him into a ride. Pagan was never sure if she was going to try for a ride on the bike, or a horse.Nessie looked at the couple as they came through the door from her usual table between the pool tables and the couches. She grinned at them, and Pagan headed towards her having learned not to avoid her. Nessie always knew way more than she should and said that the ghosts talked to her.Pagan had seen the poltergeist activity. Heard her say things about people that very few knew. “It looks good on yeh.” Nessie grinned at Shiloh. “What?” she asked quietly.“A new last name.”They both were quiet as they stared at her.“Yeh’ll not hear it from me. It’s not me place. We can put it
This is just for you and me. The other wedding will be for our girls. – Shiloh Shiloh walked into the front office of the fab shop and did not miss the loud annoyed sigh from the woman behind the counter. Pagan had told her about Carrianne and admitted that if it wasn’t that she was so freaking efficient, he would certainly fire her.But she kept the shop stocked with the iron and other metals that they needed. The other supplies and equipment were never low. Water and sports drinks were always on hand in the coolers and protein bars on the shelves. Project schedules were laid out with monthly, weekly and daily time allotments. Custom jobs were priced and bid for a hefty profit while not discouraging the buyer. Phones were answered when they had to be, although she preferred emails. And those were responded to within a business day at the most.Pagan knew that she did most of her work while she was at home, and he had no problems with it. Carrianne had told him onc
Most people make the mistake of overcooking the lasagna. – NicoOn the second Saturday of the new year, Nico invited himself over to teach the girls how to make authentic Italian lasagna. He showed up with almost all the ingredients that they would need. As he mixed up the pasta dough, he explained everything to the girls. Pagan and Shiloh sat at the table watching them. “Daddy always just thaws out the lasagna and puts it in the oven.” Ashlyn declared and Nico acted like he was going to die in the kitchen.Shiloh laughed at her cousin as he lay on the floor clutching his heart, mumbling a prayer in Italian. “I’ve made it from scratch before.” Pagan grumbled with a smile.“You never made the pasta.” Ashlyn pointed out.“Or the sauce.” Alyssa added.Shiloh laughed harder. “They have no loyalties to you when it comes to food.”“None.” Pagan agreed as Nico slowly and dramatically stood back up. The girls were helping him as he clutched the cabinet door
I don’t think that you understand your place within this family. – Elizabeth GiordanoPagan and Shiloh spent New Year’s Eve at the Shack while the girls went to a kid’s party over at Chance’s house. He knew that his new wife would not be comfortable with the New Year’s Eve activities and hosted the annual party for the kids. When Pagan had called Chance at ten in the morning, Rye answered the phone whispering.“Hey, Pagan.”“Good morning, Rye. How are the girls?”“Still asleep. Hang on.” Pagan could hear her moving around in their house and then she took a picture. A moment later, his phone chimed as the picture came through and he clicked the speakerphone button before he moved the phone so that both he and Shiloh could see the screen.Chance was lying on his back asleep on the living room floor. He had his niece, Morgan, asleep on one shoulder and Alyssa asleep on the other. He looked happy and content asleep surrounded by a dozen or more club kids.