“Back here,” I finally call out when I realize I’m not going to be able to get up very easily.
Bronwan appears behind the counter surrounded by a few other women. I have no clue what the hell is going on right now as she moves closer and helps me up off the floor.
“What all needs to be done here?” Bronwan asks, her voice soft as the other women surround us.
“Well, I need to clean everything in here. I’ve been too busy to get it done like I should be on a daily basis. And exhausted. Plus, I’ve gotta make some baked goods and candy to fill the display case tomorrow when I open up. Tomorrow I want to focus on having more samples prepared for the week,” I tell her looking around the shop.
“Okay. Girls, I want you to get this place sparkling. I don’t want a single thing left in place as you clean everything. Make sure Talon and Shank have coffee as well. I’m going to help Kels in the kitchen. I don’t want to hear a single thing out of any of you girls. Get the work done,” Bronwan demands as we turn to make our way to the kitchen.
Talon makes his way over to us and pulls Brent’s playpen it the kitchen with us. He sits on a stool out of the way as I pull out everything we need to make the candy and other goods for the next few days. Bronwan and I get to work only stopping to get something to eat when Talon grabs the order Shank called in for everyone here today. He’s hungry and ordered us pizza, wings, cheesy garlic bread, and mozzarella sticks. Everything was so damn good and I ate more than I should have.
Despite being full, I need to continue working and get everything done before heading home for the night. This is going to have to begin happening weekly when I’ve got a lot of catering events throughout the week. It’s the only way I’ll ever be able to manage everything until Jae gets back.
We’ve been busting our ass for almost the entire day we’re just about done when Death shows up. He says a few words to Talon we can’t hear before Bronwan and her husband disappear and take everyone else with them. Death remains in the kitchen with me, leaning against the counter I’m working at without saying a word. He just watches me work as I finish removing the candy from one of the molds and dumping them into a container they can go in the refrigerator in. Each candy has its own container and we never mix anything so it’s easier to keep everything separate. Not to mention keep anyone with allergies to nuts or anything else away from those candies containing peanut butter, nuts, or anything else.
The only thing I have left to put away are the muffins, mini pies, cupcakes, and cookies. Once that’s done, I plan on going home and spending the rest of the night with Brent before taking a long shower to release the tense muscles in my body. Moving around the kitchen, Death still doesn’t say a word as he simply watches me work. Whenever I do look at him, I can’t get a read on what he’s thinking or what he has to say to me. Death usually doesn’t remain this close to me for no reason.
“What’s going on, Death?” I finally manage to ask him, my voice coming out softer than I intended as I look down at Brent in the playpen.
“I’ve got somethin’ to tell you. When I do, you can’t tell anyone else. No one knows what I’ve done yet. We’re havin’ church later and I’ll tell the guys then,” Death says, his voice calm and steady as he remains unmoving.
“That doesn’t sound good at all,” I mutter going back to work instead of staring down at Brent.
“I think it is. Though I might get my ass handed to me because of what I’ve done,” he responds, still not moving. “I went to see LaRusso. Vince’s dad. Showed him what his precious little boy has been up to and made a deal with him. I’m gonna make sure Vince signs away all of his rights to Brent so he can never get his hands on him. Then, I’m gonna fuckin’ gut him where he stands. Vince will never touch you again. He won’t fuckin’ threaten you or havin’ you live your life constantly runnin’ and lookin’ over your shoulder for his next attack.”
“Death, why would you do that? Vince’s dad isn’t a man to be messed with. I’ve seen more than I should when it comes to him. I wouldn’t be surprised if Vince has orders to kill me for the things I’ve seen over the years,” I tell him, my voice trembling as I know I have an even larger target painted on my back.
“He’s not gonna come for you for any reason. If he does, I’ve got more than enough shit to hand over to Sal and make it so LaRusso doesn’t get out of the war that’s been brewing for years between the LaRusso’s and Rossi’s. I’ve gotten his word he won’t ever come near you for any reason. There also won’t be any blowback from whatever I do to Vince either. LaRusso knows he’s been throwin’ his ass around and hasn’t been the good little boy daddy thinks he is. Or thought he was. See, Vince has been feedin’ lies to his dad about you from the beginnin’. Tellin’ him you had a drug problem and that’s where the insurance money went from your parents’ death.
“I don’t even know what else was said regardin’ you. What I do know is I get to gut the fucker and no one is gonna come after me, you, or the club. We’ve got a very powerful ally on our side and LaRusso is scared to death of him. He knows he can’t win a war against the Rossi family. Vince is draggin’ his name down and that’s the last thing he needs. One fuck-up from your ex and it’s all over for the entire family,” Death tells me new information I didn’t know.
“Okay, but that doesn’t do anything to stop Vince from coming for me. His father might tell him to stay away, but Vince does what he wants more often than not. That’s why he’s always fucking young girls and everything else he does. I don’t honestly know what he has planned or anything other than getting his hands on the money he feels entitled to. My money,” I tell him, fear coursing through me. “Honestly, all you’ve done is piss Vince off so he comes after me even harder. There won’t be any stopping him now, Death.”
“He’s not gonna come after you, Half Pint. If he gets anywhere close to you, he’ll be stopped immediately. We’ve got guards on you and they can’t be bought like that other fuckin’ bitch I’m still lookin’ for. Kelsey, you’ve gotta believe we have your back and won’t let anythin’ happen to you.”
“It’s not that I don’t trust in the club, Death. It’s that I know Vince better than any of you. I’ve seen him do horrible things and felt his hands and feet as they break down my body one beating at a time. I’m the one on the run from him and who was just in the hospital because he managed to pay off or promise something to one of your Prospects. Death, I thank you for attempting to fix this situation for me, but please don’t do it again. I’m just going to talk to Jae now that she’s home and make sure she understands I can’t remain here until she’s cleared to come back to work. I’ll go where I need to go to stay away from him once again,” I tell him, my voice a whisper as tears fall down my face and hit the playpen where Brent sleeps peacefully.
“Not gonna fuckin’ happen, Half Pint. You got my boy in your belly and there is no reason for you to run. I know you’re fuckin’ terrified of Vince and you have a good reason to fear him. That doesn’t mean he gets to win. He’s nothin’ more than a little bitch who will get what’s comin’ his way. Get the thought of leavin’ here out of your fuckin’ head and realize you have friends here and people who want to help you,” Death says, glaring down at me as he stands to his full height just a few steps from me.
“You knew I was leaving, Death. You don’t want your son and there’s reason for me to remain here when I can start over somewhere new. You don’t have to see your son on a daily basis or anything else. I meant what I said about not wanting your support of any kind. I’m not going to take your money or anything else. I’m leaving and you can’t stop me,” I tell him, determination filling me as I look at the man I’m falling for every day.
“You don’t fuckin’ get it, Half Pint,” Death says, stepping up so our bodies are touching from chest to toes.
Death leans down and crushes his lips to mine. He doesn’t hesitate to deepen the kiss as he pulls my body flush against his. His arms wrapped around me feel like steel bands as I arch even closer to him. We don’t stop until someone clears their throat. Pulling apart quickly, we both turn our heads to find Talon and Bronwan standing there with smiles on their faces. Death doesn’t pull away from me as confusion fills me. I have no clue what’s going on or why Death isn’t staying away from me like he’s been doing for so long now.
“What’s goin’ on in here?” Talon questions, his smile morphing into a smirk.
“Just talkin’ to Kels about somethin’. We need to head out soon. Can you be done here in about ten minutes?” Death asks me as I look around the kitchen.
“Yeah. I just gotta finish packing everything up,” I tell him as I step away and go about my work for the day.
Bronwan helps me get everything taken care of as I complete a walkthrough of the shop. The girls did an amazing job cleaning up the front while I cleaned the kitchen again as we worked. There isn’t a single thing out of place or messed up in case Jae stops in without an advance warning. Not that she needs to warn me. I just don’t want her to see how I let this place go without her here.
After getting Brent out of the playpen and putting his coat on him, we all make our way out of the shop as I set the alarm and make sure the front door is locked. Bronwan helps me get him in the SUV before walking over to her own parked just down from mine. Death, Talon, and Shank follow us back to the compound where I head for my apartment and Bronwan parks in front of the clubhouse. I don’t recognize either guy who are already waiting for me at the apartment as I park and get Brent out so we can head inside. I don’t want to do anything else other than eat something, make sure my son is ready for bed, and then take a shower. I’m exhausted and ready to crash.
Chapter Fifteen
LASH AND HARTLEY are parents once again. She had a little girl they named Imogen. He’s been over the moon since she was born. It’s only been a few hours and I know the last place he wants to be is here at the clubhouse when his wife and new daughter are at the hospital. She’s got a few Prospects with her, but Lash will always want to be where she is and I can’t say I blame him. Especially when he has a new daughter. However, this is important and needs to be told to everyone at once. So, he made an exception and returned to the clubhouse for just long enough to have this church so he can get back to the hospital.
