Page 8 of Ripper’s Property (Savage Knights MC: NW Chapter #4)

Rory

I finish glossing my lips and strut out of my room, eager to see the look on Ripper’s face when he finds out his little toy is getting the boot.

“Morning, princess!” Skeeter greets me, pulling me in for a hug.

“Good morning.”

“You want some breakfast, babe?”

“Nah, I’m just gonna grab some coffee.” I’m not really hungry this morning. My stomach is still twisted up from last night. My nerves are taking up all the empty space.

“I’ll get it for you. Two sugars and vanilla creamer?”

I nod. That’s exactly how I like it. My guys take such good care of me.

In spite of me hating being locked in this place, I do love my wardens.

All of them are kind and loving. And dangerously good-looking.

Skeeter is no exception. He’s one of the youngest brothers, having just been patched in last year.

He’s twenty-two, closest in age to me out of all of them, but he’s as big as all the rest. A beast in height and strength.

Painted like a dark angel from neck to fingertips.

I’m sure his tattoos go below the belt too, but I dare not ask.

Shiloh would know. She’s his favorite sweetbutt.

His regular in this place, and I know she’s hoping to be more.

Honestly, out of all of them, she’s my favorite.

She’s the only one who I think is old lady material.

The rest are just a bunch of sluts who solely rely on their pussies and tits to get them what they want in life.

Intelligence and kindness don’t exactly factor into their personalities.

And their respect for me is about as low as Cherry’s.

“I’m sorry for what I said, Ripper.” My feet come up short as I enter the kitchen and see Cherry trying to snuggle up to the man who was such an asshole last night. “It won’t happen again. Please, let me make it up to you.”

I almost turn and walk out but stop when I see him grip her wrists and remove them from his body. The look on his face has me swallowing hard. I’ve never seen him so angry. Now, I’m curious as to what she did to set him off.

“You don’t get another chance, Cherry. No one disrespects my girl.

She’s the queen in this club and you seem to have forgotten that fact.

” He doesn’t seem pissed at all having to let her go.

In fact, he’s pissed at her. “You’re out, and if anyone else ever thinks of disrespecting my girl again…

” He glares at the other sweetbutts who are all looking like frightened deer caught in the beaming lights of a hunter’s truck.

“You won’t just be kicked out on the street; you’ll be going out with one less limb. Understood?”

They all nod and his glare lands right back on Cherry.

“Now, as for you, you’re going to give my girl an apology and then you’re going to go pack your shit and drive as far away from here as you can because if you ever cross my path again, it will be your last day breathing.

Now, go over there and apologize to Rory for being such a jealous cunt. ”

Her head drops to the ground, and she turns, slowly coming towards me.

If she hadn’t been so rude all these months, I’d feel bad for his brutal treatment and the embarrassment she must be feeling, but she came into the club, into my home, and acted like I was dirt.

Beneath dirt. And then she fucked the man I’m in love with, so fuck her.

She deserves to be tossed out. But I am surprised that Ripper’s so eager to see her go.

I thought there’d be a twinge of irritation that his toy was being taken away.

“I’m sorry, Rory.”

Cherry’s head lifts from her twisting hands, and the look in her eyes has my stomach tightening.

There is pure hatred in their depths. It’s such a contradiction to her soft voice and shaking frame.

It’s all a show. For Ripper and the guys.

She’s trying to appear meek, to appear like she’s truly remorseful, but she doesn’t actually regret the way she treated me.

She just wants to get out the door alive and with all her assets intact, but deep down, she truly hates me.

Even more so since I’m the reason she’s being kicked out.

I’m not bothered though. The feeling is completely mutual.

“I’m sorry for the way I treated you.” She keeps up her little act.

“Ripper was right. I am jealous. Everyone adores you so much and I’ve never had that in my life.

Things were rough for me growing up, and I’m sorry if I took that out on you.

” She turns toward Rip. “Please don’t hate me, Ripper.

I have feelings for you and wanted you to look at me the same way you look at her. ”

I look toward the man she’s pleading with, but his face is still locked tight, glare still frigid. He’s smart. He’s always been able to read through the bullshit, which is something I appreciate about him despite my anger.

“You’re delusional if you ever thought you held a candle to my girl.

Never gave you reason to be jealous because there was never anything between us.

You knew where I stood from the get-go. Told you it was just about sex, so you should never have assumed otherwise.

And after the way you treated Rory, none of us would ever want you as an old lady or otherwise. ”

I mirror Cherry’s shock over what he just said. I’d always assumed he had feelings for her.

“Guess you coming to my room every night had me believing there was more going on between us,” she states, sounding stronger. “All those nights you wrapped your arms around me and fell asleep. I clearly misread the situation.”

She cuts her eyes to me, and I know she’s trying to hurt me.

It’s as if she’s aware I have feelings for him, but I’m not going to give her what she wants.

I’m going to tuck the pain down and wait until I’m in private to let it loose and destroy my heart.

Right now, it’s time to put her in her place.

“Maybe if you weren’t such a bitch, you might’ve had a shot. But Ripper knows he deserves better than someone with a vicious tongue and a propensity for telling lies.”

Her glare sharpens and it pisses me off further. The bitch truly thinks she’s better than me.

“You know.” I step right up to her, inches from her face.

“If you ever want to find a man, you should try not to be such a lying, conniving bitch. You seriously underestimate us. We look into everyone who walks into this club. Dig into their pasts and scrounge up every single detail about them.” Her nostrils flare.

I guess she thought I was spineless since I had never stuck up for myself before.

I honestly didn’t want to waste my breath.

Never been one for drama. But now that she’s trying to manipulate her way out of her consequence, destroy me on her way out, it’s worth my time.

“You aren’t some neglected girl off the street, Cherry.

Or should I say Priscilla. You were a spoiled little rich bitch, a country club brat, who was totally bored with her life.

You came here searching for some excitement.

You wanted a bad boy and a chance to walk on the wild side.

Maybe teach daddy a lesson. Show an ex-boyfriend that you found yourself a real man.

But you failed to realize one thing. There’s only one true queen of this club, and you’re looking at her.

Should’ve thought about that before you treated me like shit. ”

The guys all grunt their agreement, and I feel a hard body press against my back.

I know who it is from his rugged scent. Now that he doesn’t smell like Cherry, it’s a smell I’ve grown addicted to.

But it doesn’t negate the way he acted last night or how deep he let things go with the bitch.

Crawling into her bed every night, cuddling with her.

I’m furious as hell, but in the enemy’s presence, I will maintain a united front and let his arm stay wrapped around my waist.

“You need to leave now,” I state, and then turn toward the other girls.

“If anyone else wants to join her, feel free. And by the way, from now on, have some fucking dignity. If you want to spread your legs for these guys, do it behind closed doors. I’m done with you treating this place like a strip club, shaking your naked tits around all the time.

Have some fucking class.” Besides, guys like the chase.

The reason none of them are making the cut to become an old lady is because they’re too easy.

Shiloh’s the only one who doesn’t throw herself at the guys. She’s so beautiful she doesn’t need to.

The girls nod and scurry out of the room. When the last one exits the kitchen, I pull out of Ripper’s hold.

“And you guys need to do a better job of picking your sluts. They’re getting bitchier and bitchier. And quit leading their asses on. If you have no true intentions with them, you better make it fucking clear so they don’t get their hopes up.”

I point my glare right at the one who made Cherry think she was about to take the throne out from under me. If it weren’t for Ripper making her feel special, letting her have special privileges, and acting like a couple, she would’ve known her place. He led her on.

I turn and stalk over to get my coffee. It’s time for school, and I’m actually looking forward to staring at my computer screen so I don’t have to think about the brutal truth of what I just learned. It wasn’t just sex between them. No matter how he spins it, he gave her a special piece of himself.

The jealousy is at an all-time high, and I need to get out of this room before the tears start to flow.

“Didn’t know she was givin’ you shit.” His voice cuts through the pounding in my ears. “Never would’ve touched her if I had known. Do any of the others give you shit?”

What? Is he trying to figure out which girl he’s clear to fuck? I’m done with this conversation. I just want my coffee and to lock myself away.

“Nope. You can fuck any of the other sweetbutts you want.”

I reach for a mug, but Skeeter stops me. “I got you, babe.” He gets right to making it for me until Ripper steps up.

“She’s not your babe, and if you call her that again, I’ll knock out your front teeth.”

My head whips around. “What the fuck’s your problem, Ripper? He’s just being nice. And you’re one to talk. You call me babe all the time.”

“That’s because you’re mine.”

There’s a sudden shift in the room. Every Knight stiffens like they’re on guard.

A few, including Skeet, create a barricade at my back as if they’re ready to go to war for me.

Now, my pounding heart is beating like a violent storm.

I’m not sure what the hell that’s supposed to mean.

I’m not his daughter. Only my real father has the right to claim me as his.

“Rip,” Raid warns, and Ripper looks up. His eyes are even darker now. He stares at Raid for what feels like the longest second of my life. “We should handle this matter in church. Not in front of our princess.”

Ripper’s jaw locks tighter, but he tips his chin.

I don’t understand why it’s a big fucking deal.

The guys call me every nickname in the book.

Babe, doll, princess, baby girl, sweetheart.

He’s never taken issue with it before. Now, all of a sudden, he has a problem with it.

It’s not like they call me a brat like his girlfriend did.

“Fine, we’ll discuss this in church. But every single one of you…” He points his glare on Skeeter. “Better remember to keep your hands to yourself. No one touches her.”

And here he goes treating me like a child again. I’m an adult and if I wanted to be Skeeter’s babe, I should have that choice. As the way things are right now, I’m going to die a virgin.

“The same rule applies to you.” I step forward, looking right up at him. “Don’t call me babe and don’t put your hands on me. Now, move. I’m going to be late for school.”

I turn toward Skeeter, taking my coffee from his hands and lean up onto my toes.

“Thanks, handsome.” I give him a kiss on the cheek then turn and give Dragon and Raid kisses too.

And Dagger. Cage. I go around the kitchen giving each and every one of my protectors a kiss except for the one who broke into my room, read my diary, and then threw my crush in my face last night.

The one who’s been playing house with Cherry doesn’t deserve my kindness. He gets a glare on my way out of the room because like hell I’d give him my tears.