Page 18

Lynx

“Pres?”

“Hello?”

I feel a tap on my shoulder, pulling me from my thoughts.

Looking around the room, I realize I have been in a church meeting with my brothers.

My thoughts are in a hospital room, wondering if Jessikah will be able to overcome not only all the physical abuse she suffered, but if her emotional state will also be onboard with the healing process.

“Sorry, my mind is somewhere else,” I mumble, sitting straighter in my chair and leaning forward.

“We understand. The police are still all over the house and claiming the club is the one that killed those people. The man across the street claims he didn’t see anything and that his cameras were broken,” Skoden states, looking at the paper he has in front of him.

Before he continues to brief us about the police situation and warning us to keep our noses clean.

“How’s Jessikah?” Sue asks. Looking around the table, I see all the men’s eyes are on me. They are waiting for an update.

“She woke up today. Hasn’t said a word. But…” I take a deep breath. How can I tell these men she looks scared. Scared of what, though? That she is going to disappear? That she will walk away from me?

“But…” Brownie asks, his eyes look as weary as mine.

“But she looks so scared. It makes me think that in the future, she will walk away from me and never look back. I didn’t protect her. I was so lost in the paper in front of me…” I let the rest fall silent. They all witnessed Neo go off on Jessikah.

“Can we all go and see her?” Slick asks, looking around the room. All the brothers are nodding their heads. They want to see her.

“Yes, we can all go and see her in the morning. I want you guys to know she means something to me. More than something. I can’t see my life without her in it.

But my fear is her mental state. I am afraid before I can prove to her that I will always make sure she is protected and doesn’t have to worry about anything, she’ll cut me loose.

Her eyes tell me I will have a huge uphill battle to keep that from happening,” I state.

“We will always make sure she knows and feels she is protected,” Sue states. The slapping of the table brings me out of my head.

The meeting ends, and everyone starts to leave. I don’t. I stay in my seat and place my head on the table. Life has been so stressful lately and it all started with a misinformed search.

Sherlock: Your girl is part of R.O.Y.A.L. Do not let her out of your sight. The ex is looking for her and he is El Jefe for the Mexican Cartel in California. Protect her like you would your mother! Which means she had a life-or-death situation, and they scrubbed her from existence. Keep her safe!

Fuck, where were you before this all happened. I could have better prepared Neo. I could have made him aware of things to look for.

“Pres, can I talk to you?” Neo asks, as he knocks on the door and waits for me to tell him to come in.

“Come,” my voice is thick, but this conversation needs to happen.

“I wanted to apologize to you. I should have done more research. I shouldn’t have jumped to a misguided conclusion and let my mouth get away from me. I could have handled things so many ways,” Neo states, his head hung low.

“Listen, I should have prepared you a little better for the different aspects of domestic angels. There are so many organizations that protect women, but they have to have the support of the justice system. This situation should have gone so differently than the way it did. Moving forward, we need to make sure we have all of our ducks in a row before we jump to any conclusions. One false accusation can lead to a life being taken,” I state, tap the table, and stand up.

“Lynx, I would like to apologize to Jessikah again since she’s awake. Maybe, I should wait though?” he states.

“Tomorrow morning, Neo. You are part of this club. You come with us.” I leave the room, heading toward mine.

I don’t feel like drinking. In fact, the only place I’d like to be is beside Jessikah.

She has become my unicorn. The one woman in the entire world that makes my heart want what it wants.

When I first met Jessikah, it was like the universe opened its arms and said this is yours.

Protect, love and cherish everything together, because time doesn’t stop.

***

I roll over and look at the clock. It’s twelve o’clock in the morning.

The party is still roaring, but the music has been turned down.

I can hear people mingling in the halls.

The females giggling before they moan. The men are laughing before they grunt.

The club bunnies are working overtime tonight.

“Come on, Neo. I’m the only one who meets your needs,” Spun’s voice can be heard outside my door.

“No, you twisted bitch. It’s because of you I got a woman hurt, no I got two women hurt,” Neo growls, slamming something against the side of my door.

“What the bitch couldn’t handle a few guys?” Spun states.

“What did you say?” Neo asks, as I swing open my door and stare at Spun. Neo has her pinned against the wall by the throat.

“No-no-nothing,” she sputters, her eyes going wide.

“What? Got nothing to say now?” I bark, my tone sharp. My fist clench and my back straightening.

“I-I-I di-di-didn’t say anything,” she sputters, her mouth falling open as Neo squeezes tighter.

“Cat got your tongue, bitch?” Neo asks. I tap his shoulder, letting him know to loosen his grip so she can speak.

She closes her mouth and refuses to speak. She shakes her head back and forth, trying to fight.

“Neo, take her to the bunker, strap her to the chair, and leave her there. The ladies will deal with her when they are ready.” Neo nods. Spinning her around and pulling her arms behind her back before turning her and marching her toward the back door and out into the pitch-black night.

The club bunnies will deal with her, but first I think she needs to stew. She needs to sit in a cool dark place and wonder when someone will come. She will be watered and fed, but the only thing she will think about is who’s going to come and end her suffering.