Tomorrow I'll go back to work and face whatever questions Victorio might have, whatever changes what I've told him might bring. But tonight, I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.
In the arms of the man who sees me not as broken, but as beautifully, perfectly whole, but more importantly, as his.
Chapter Fourteen
WHIP
It's Friday evening and the clubhouse is pumping with music, laughter, and the smell of barbecue wafting through the air. Violet's twenty-fifth birthday party is in full swing, and watching her smile as she talks with Savannah and the other old ladies makes me happier than I can express.
She's wearing the red dress I picked out for her this morning, along with a different collar I placed around her neck four days ago. It's a daytime collar, so it's a little more discreet. I don't want everyone knowing she's in the lifestyle, especially in a workplace setting when that could bring up some odd conversations. But, things have become as natural as breathing now, even as she wears the collar.
I watch her as her fingers unconsciously touch it when she's nervous, and she wears it with pride. What she doesn't know yet is what really happened to Derek.
The official story is that Derek left town after a "conversation" with some of the brothers. Cruel spread word that he got scared, packed up his shit, and headed west. Even filed a police report about his missing person status being closed—apparently Derek called his mother from somewhere in Nevada, said he needed a fresh start.
The truth is much darker.
Derek died three nights ago in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. I put two bullets in his chest and one in his head after I broke three ribs, his jaw, and both knees. He begged for his life right before I pulled the trigger. He promised he'd never go near Violet again, that he'd disappear forever.
But promises from a man who hits women aren't worth the air they're spoken with.
I have no regrets. I'd do it again tomorrow if it meant keeping Violet safe. The world is a better place without Derek in it.
"You look like you're thinking heavy thoughts," Cruel says, appearing beside me with two beers.
I accept one, taking a long pull. "Just watching my woman enjoy herself."
"She fits in good here. The ladies love her."
"Yeah, they do." I watch Violet laugh at something Savannah says, her whole face lighting up. "How's club business going?"
Cruel's expression darkens. "Viper's stirring up shit about your woman again. Says you're too distracted, making decisions with your dick instead of your brain."
I turn to look at him fully. "What kind of decisions?"
"The Derek situation. He's been asking too many questions aboutwhyDerek really disappeared."
Anger settles in my gut. "What exactly has he been saying?"
"That it's convenient how Derek just vanished right after threatening Violet. That maybe certain brothers took things too far. That the club could be exposed if anyone starts digging."
I set my beer down hard enough that foam sloshes over the rim. "Where is he?"
"Back room, shooting his mouth off to anyone who'll listen."
I'm already walking before Cruel finishes talking. The back room where we hold official business is thick with cigarettesmoke. Viper's yapping his jaws with a few of the younger prospects, his voice carrying clearly.
"...club's supposed to come first, not some lawyer's piece of ass. We've all got women, but we don't let them change how business gets done..."
"Got something you want to say to me directly, Viper?" I ask from the doorway.
The room goes silent. The prospects suddenly find their boots fascinating, while Viper turns to me with that smirk he's been wearing more and more lately.
"Just wondering if we're going to have problems from your girlfriend's ex vanishing into thin air."
"No problems," I say simply. "Derek got the message loud and clear. He won't be bothering anyone again."
"Because he's dead."
