Page 14 of Colton (Raging Barons MC #17)

-:- NYX -:-

I quickly open the door to the truck and give Alf a warm smile. “Good morning, Alf. Thank you so much for allowing me to use the truck.”

“Hey, it has done nothing for a long time, so best it is used. I’ve sorted everything out, so you are covered to drive it. Don’t be worried about the truck. I bet the ladies will want you to take them all over the place, now that they know you have a set of wheels.” Alf laughs at his own comment.

I giggle too because I can agree with him. I bet they want to go places all the time, but I have to get my chores done first. “They are hilarious. You know they are going to cause me stress don’t you?” I laugh more to myself than Alf.

“Yeah, I suppose they are. But they are great people. They will be friends rather than a job given time.”

Turning slightly in my seat I look at Alf. “Yes, I think you are right, they are lovely. Now, my mother is dead, my father is in Europe and not coming back. Mind you, that is not a loss at this time, but these ladies seem to fill a hole in me I didn’t know I had.”

“I know about holes, so you grasp onto the people that make you happy, the ones that fill that void.” Alf is so serious that I know he has suffered a loss, but I don’t prod for more.

Arriving at the house, we park the truck and head to the back door, which is where I enter and leave. I stop in my tracks and Alf bumps into me because of my sudden halt. “What the hell are they up to now?” I murmur, more to myself than Alf.

“Oh, fu...” Alf starts to swear, then cuts himself off, realizing what he was about to say.

In front of us, in the backyard, is a large tent. Now that was not here on Friday when I left, but it’s sitting here now and I can hear the ladies laughing inside it. “Oh, my...” That is all I manage to say before I shake myself into action.

“What are you doing?” I nearly bellow as I rip open the opening to the tent and stomp inside.

Now, you would never imagine what I am seeing, not in this lifetime!

They have rugs on the ground, with loungers all set up with multiple throw cushions.

They have tables laden with fruit, cheese and other things that I’m not even half registering in my shocked mind.

It’s like something out of an Arabian Nights story. A boudoir or harem!

The four of them look at me, then Alf, not a sign of embarrassment.

In fact, they look damn excited. Sandy gives me a huge smile.

“Look, Nyx, we are having a girls’ weekend plus a few days, mainly as we enjoyed the weekend so much.

Anyway, take a seat and we’ll get you a drink and something to eat. Do you want anything, Alf?”

A male chuckle erupts from behind me, and I turn to give Alf a shocked look. But when he states in a darn clear voice, I know he’s going to leave me to it. “No, thank you, Sandy. Heather is picking me up in a moment. You all have a nice time. See you later, Nyx.”

Now, before I can say anything Alf pushes the truck keys into my hand and nearly sprints out of the tent, leaving me facing the women who are looking amused, too.

The morning progresses with me being fed and given so much to drink I think I’m going to bust. Looking at the faces of the four of them, I can’t get angry or upset with them.

They remind me of little girls playing tea party.

You know when they would fill up the tiniest of cups and hand to parents to sip dirty water, mainly.

My attitude softens and I see how much they love each other, and how much they are relying on each other.

Yes, it softens me enough to speak out before I think clearly.

“Let me get my chores done, then tomorrow I’ll take you to the garden center. ”

Shit, they excitedly chatter between themselves. Trying to escape the tent, I hear Joan. “Let’s get this tent down and gone, then we can get all the shrubs and stuff we want tomorrow. Oh, this is going to be great.”

Shit, shit, shit...I hope they are not going to do a Walmart trick on me and disappear in all directions. Sometimes I need to think before I speak.

I leave the ladies bringing in all the throw cushions and organizing the return of the tent. They did it all, so they can undo it. That’s what I told them, much to their disappointment I have to add.

Laundry sorted, kitchen cleared, sandwiches made for their lunch along with bags of chips and cookies. They are quietly eating and resting some. While they are occupied, I nip outside and make a call to the lawyer's office.

“Jenkins and Stephens, how may I help you?”

“Hello, this is Nyx Broadhurst. My father has informed me that your office wishes me to come in and sign something. But I have no idea what that is all about?” Now, I’m making out I know nothing because I don’t trust my father these days, and if I’m going to know the truth, I have to play things close to my chest.

“Oh, let me check for you. Please hold.”

Tapping my fingers on my thigh, I try not to become agitated. I’m sure something is amiss with this as my internal radar is triggered. This has to do with Momma’s house and my inheritance, I’m sure.

“Hello. I can make an appointment for you to see Mr. Jenkins. It is regarding your mother’s will, your parents’ home, and your inheritance.”

Well, she is not telling me any more than I know already. “Is it urgent that I see Mr. Jenkins?”

“It would be better sooner than later. I can book you an appointment for tomorrow late, or it will be three weeks before you can see him.”

The woman never said who she was, but you know, whatever. “Okay, what time tomorrow?”

“Four, and it’s the last appointment for the day.”

“That is fine. Please make the appointment.” I thank her after she states she has the appointment made, and I head back inside to see what the old biddies are doing now.

NO…oh, I only turned my back for a few minutes. “What are you all doing?” I ask and I have to tell you it is with some exasperation in my tone.

“We’re making cakes. I’m making red velvet,” Sandy looks at me as she replies. But her tone is ‘what do you think we’re doing?’

Carol holds a large wooden spoon in the air, splashing cake batter around as she does. “I’m making country carrot.”

“Devil’s food cake,” Tina has her batter in a cake pan and is placing it in the oven.

“What about you, Joan?” I ask with a resigned ring in my voice.

“Zesty lemon. We all love Betty Crocker cake mixes, so we thought we’d have a baking afternoon.” Joan pushes me toward the sink, which is piled with dishes. Well, it seems I’m the maid who cleans up after them.

How can anyone get so glued up with cake batter as these four I don’t know? Tina has it in her hair. Carol is now at the empty sink, which I might add took some clearing, and has her teeth out rinsing them under the tap!

I close my eyes and think to myself... Why me? What did I ever do to deserve these four? Oh no, I had forgotten they would need to put the frosting onto the cooled cakes. This is going to be a shit show I’m sure.

“Now, go careful when you do the frosting. We don’t want it all over the kitchen, do we?” I remain calm but the way Joan is slapping frosting onto her cake has splatter landing on her blouse. “Joan, be careful now. You have some on that pretty blouse you’re wearing.”

Joan gives me a dirty look. “It’s an old blouse. You don’t think I’d wear new things to bake in do you?”

“Hey, don’t be nasty to Nyx. She’s only saying you’re a dirty bitch when you bake. Honestly, you have it on your blouse, up your arm...” Before Tina can dodge it, a splat of frosting hits her chest, and she quickly responds by flicking frosting back.

Chaos, utter chaos, that’s what this is. All four are now sporting frosting. The kitchen looks like a frosting bomb dropped, and I’m dripping frosting even though I stood back to let them get on with it. “STOP. ENOUGH. GET IT CLEANED UP, NOW!” I bellow .

They all stop and look at me like kids caught doing naughties. I hold back the laugh that wants to develop because honestly, these four need to sort themselves out.

“Sorry.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Nyx, sorry.”

“It was fun, but sorry.”

All four apologize, but they don’t look sorry.

They still look like naughty children trying to get out of punishment.

“Okay, so you are all sorry. Now, you will all knuckle down and clean the kitchen until it’s spotless.

I’m going to the store just up the street.

I’ll grab some pasta for the lasagna and when I come back it better be done. ”

I’m getting nods from them all, and as I turn to leave, I hear one of them whisper, “It’s all your fault.”

Shaking my head, I quickly frog march myself to the store at the end of the street. It’s only a small store but they will have what I’m needing.

After purchasing the pasta sheets, I walk out of the store and bump into Ruth. Now, I’ve not spoken to her since the incident at Club Whisky.

“Hi, Nyx. I have wanted to speak to you. If you have a minute to spare?” Ruth looks nervous, so I give her a tiny nod and wait for whatever she has to say.

“I’ve parted ways with Zoey. I thought about what happened at Club Whisky and she was wrong to act as she did.

I have, or should I say had been friends with Zoey since we were small children.

I didn’t want to lose her friendship, and that’s why I never told her to stop what she was doing.

I would like us to continue being friends, Nyx, if that is possible. ”

“You had a lot of opportunities to step away from Zoey. By not facing up to her, you actually were aiding her behavior. I would have liked to be friends, but I think acquaintances would be best from this point. I’m thrilled you have stepped away from Zoey, before your reputation gets so bad you cannot recover from it.

I hope you have a good life, Ruth.” I don’t wait for her to respond.

It’s my choice who I’m friendly with, and I don’t need to step back into a friendship that was not working.

After I thank the ladies for cleaning up and making sure everything was as it should be, I check the tent removal has been completed, and the company left nothing behind them. Now to get the lasagna in the oven. Garlic bread is prepared and on a tray, covered with a clean tea towel.

Walking into the living room, I’m happy to see them all watching some chat show on the TV. “Okay. I’m going home. The lasagna is in the oven and garlic bread needs popping into the oven later, remember. I will see you tomorrow. Once chores are done, we’ll go to the garden center.”

After getting waves and goodbyes, I make my way to the truck and home. What I did not expect was four older teenagers hanging around outside the apartment complex. I sit and watch them for a few minutes, as they are searching everyone’s person as they enter. Now, that’s not happening.

Picking up my purse I take out the stun gun. Something is going down here, and it’s not looking good. Taking my phone from the purse, I decide to text Colton. I need someone to know something might happen to me.

Nyx: Sorry to bother you. There are kids of about 18 outside my place. Something is wrong. I have my stun gun so I hope I’ll be ok .

It only takes a moment or two before I get a text message in return.

Colton: Don’t pass them. Stay where you are. I’m on my way.

Nyx: I’m in a truck.

Colton: Lock yourself in. I’m coming.

True to his word, Colton, along with four other guys arrive within ten minutes. All on bikes, and looking fierce. Colton jumps off his bike and rushes over to where I open the door to the truck.

“Are you okay?”

I give him a nod. “Yes, they’ve not approached me at all. But Colton, something is wrong as they are checking people as they enter. I mean hands-on checking their person.”

Hearing a scuffle, I look over and see one of the men that arrived with Colton has wrapped his hand around one of the idiots' necks and has him pushed up against the wall. The others cannot do anything, as Colton’s other friends are standing between them and what is going on.

My eyes must be nearly popping out of my head at this point. Suddenly, one of the idiots as I’m thinking of them, lunges at one of the MC men. Yeah, that’s what I’m going to call them, only because they were with Colton. A fight breaks out.

Colton pushes me back to the truck. “Stay in the truck.” Now, I have little choice because he’d closed the door before I could even answer him.

I watch in shock and awe as the five MC men, including Colton, beat the hell out of the four teenagers. Something is going on, and it’s not good when you can’t walk in and out of your own apartment block without being in danger .

A van arrives and the four teenagers are thrown into the back, and I mean thrown. I wouldn’t want to be them in a few hours when all their pain hits.

“Open the door, Nyx.”

Quickly opening the door, I give Colton a questioning look. “What the heck is going on?”

“Looks like some shit with kids. But we’ll find out.

The brothers will ride past to keep their eyes open for any more coming to cause trouble.

You’re safe. I’ll make sure of it.” Colton half steps into the truck and grabs a hold of me, kissing me thoroughly before helping me out, locking the truck, and ushering me to the apartment block.

“I’ll catch you later, Nyx.” Colton smiles, then jumps on his bike and they all leave.

The noise of the bikes has the ground throbbing, and if I’m honest I quite like the feel of that, and the sound they make.