Page 5

Bryony

Considering I had to move state, you’d think it would be easy to find a house that suited us. But no. I was a picky bitch, apparently.

I’d no idea where to go, and some states were off-limits to me. California because of Hollywood. Maci didn’t do well with weather that was too hot, so Florida, Louisiana, and Georgia were out, for example. Although I had been tempted by Georgia. Plus, Ham loved snow.

I needed to make sure I moved to a good neighbourhood. I needed schools schools, shops, and all the other things somebody took into account when moving.

But I was dithering over picking a state. It was never as easy as someone might believe. Some we wouldn’t live in because we’d already been there, which ruled out North and South Dakota and Wyoming.

I considered the remaining states as I made my bed with fresh bedding. Dumping the dirty bedclothing in the laundry basket, I saw movement out of my window.

Soul was walking his bike down the drive, thick muscled thighs either side of the Harley. I wouldn’t say that Soul was heavily built; he was tall and lean, but he was packed with muscle. Right now, I had a very good shot of that as he was topless and just wearing well-fitting jeans. Soul was a handsome man with brown hair, short on the sides and longer on top. His eyes were brown, too, and he had a moustache and stubble.

In fact, Soul was a damned attractive package, but I knew I was older than him. And who wanted a woman with two kids?

Not many men, especially when they saw Maci’s wheelchair. Because that is all they see. Not Maci sitting in it, just the burden of a disabled kid.

I sighed.

Yeah, Soul was nice to look at, but that’s all it would ever be. A man like that would never fancy me, and then there was his club. I’d seen the TV programmes and lusted after Charlie. Who hadn’t? While I recognised it was a programme and mainly fantasy, I reckoned there were elements of truth to it.

I didn’t want my family being caught up in a freak MC war or being killed for taking my kids away. That was a nightmare. Nope, I could admire from afar, but not up close. It wasn’t worth the risk in the slightest.

Yet, for a moment, I could imagine being in Soul’s arms and feeling his lips on mine.

The children were playing in the yard. I licked my lips. Soul certainly was good finger vault material. My hand moved up my tee, cupped my braless breast, and I leaned back on the bed and laid down.

I pinched my nipple as I started imagining Soul’s mouth on me, all over me, sucking, and my other hands slid under my leggings and found my clit. I began rubbing as I envisioned Soul, naked, leaning over the top of me, kissing me senselessly.

“Jesus,”

I moaned a little as I rubbed on my clit. Pressure built, and my legs flopped open. I pinched harder again on my nipple and pushed upwards.

My orgasm was so close, and I could feel it but couldn’t get to it. I reached for my drawer and pulled out a bullet. Placing that on my clit and letting my mind drift, I felt the wetness between my thighs intensify.

My pelvis moved, rubbing against the clit, and my pussy was spasming as I lost control and spiralled over into my orgasm.

“Soul!”

I cried and bit my lip. My window was open, and I hope he hadn’t heard me. But I was too distracted as my juices gushed over my fingers and Ham called my name.

I quickly jumped to my feet, put away the bullet, and rushed into the bathroom before my kids could find me.

If Soul could make me come like that without touching me, what would it be like if he did? And once again, desire pooled between my legs.

Soul

I looked up at the open bedroom window and gaped in astonishment. Had I just heard what I thought I had? Had Bryony rubbed one out fantasising about me?

Bryony had definitely yelled my name. I’d heard her. I stared at the house, stunned, and then a smile crossed my face. Seems Bryony had noticed me as much as I had her.

Bryony wasn’t what was called a classic beauty. She had honey-blonde hair with blue eyes, and freckles across her nose. She was about five foot six and had curves in the right places. I loved nothing better than a lady with curves. Who wanted some stick-thin creature whose bones jabbed into you? Give me a woman with cushioning any day. Bryony was not overweight, though, but she was healthy.

She was pretty, not stunning, but had that girl-next-door look with an aura of innocence. How her idiot ex-husband had let her slip away, I didn’t know, but the man needed a kick up the ass.

I walked into the backyard.

Blue and Priest were heading over for a few beers, a takeout, and to watch the game. I couldn’t wait for them to become brothers. They were both good men, and I knew Warden was already looking for more prospects.

“We have to move,”

Maci said, making me jump, and I spun around.

How the hell did I not hear her coming?

Maci sat in her electric wheelchair, glowering at me balefully.

“What?”

“Mom says we must leave because you may be a bad man. That you might hurt us. Would you do that?”

she asked.

“No!”

I exclaimed, even as I tried to stop my smile.

Maci was deadly serious. This shouldn’t be amusing, but what was the betting Maci had been told to stay away and yet here she was?

“That’s the truth,”

Maci said thoughtfully.

“Naturally. It would be pointless lying to someone who can sense a lie,”

I replied.

“So, we don’t need to go?”

Maci asked.

“As far as I’m concerned, no. But your mother knows best,”

I answered diplomatically.

Maci poked her tongue in her cheek. “Ham doesn’t want to. And I do not think Mom wants to either. This is great.”

“What is?”

Ham demanded. “Maci, don’t you ever learn? You were told to stay away, and you’ve ignored her again!”

“But I asked Soul if he wants to hurt us, and he said no!”

Maci replied.

“And you believed him!”

Ham sneered.

“I can tell if he is lying,”

Maci snapped, looking upset.

“Yeah, and he’s got the same ability as you. What if he has learned to hide a lie?”

Ham demanded angrily.

Maci opened her mouth and shut it again.

“And this is why we need to move. You can’t control yourself. You’re so stupid!”

Ham yelled.

“Hey! That’s enough!”

I boomed. “Your sister is a little girl. You are older than her and should be looking after her. Constantly yelling at Maci doesn’t help anyone.”

“What would you know?”

he demanded.

“What is going on here?”

Bryony asked, her head popping up over the fence. I noticed how her eyes lighted on my bare chest before she looked away. But her tongue popped out and wet her lips.

“Maci snuck out again!”

Ham accused.

“It seems so,”

Bryony replied, and I caught the disappointment in her voice. Maci clearly did, too, because she winced.

“Sorry,”

she murmured.

“Sorry doesn’t stop you, Maci. You knew my thoughts and feelings and have still disobeyed me. Please come home right now, and you too, Ham. I apologise for any disruption,”

Bryony stated stiffly, avoiding my gaze.

“But Mom. I asked Soul, and we don’t have to move!”

Maci exclaimed.

“What?”

“I asked him if he wanted to hurt us, and he said no. We don’t have to move,”

Maci explained.

“You did what?”

Bryony demanded, and even I caught the anger in her voice.

Maci crumpled in on herself.

“Bryony… she just wants to know people who share psychic abilities. Nobody would hurt her,”

I tried soothing shit over. And instead, made it all worse.

“Okay, tell me, have you ever hurt someone on purpose?”

Bryony demanded, and I froze.

Maci looked at me with her big eyes, and the answer stuck in my throat.

“Say no,”

Maci urged with a smile.

“No,”

I whispered, and Maci reared back.

“Liar,”

she cried.

I sighed and ran a hand over my face. Ham already had a hold on Maci’s wheelchair and was pushing her away. Maci sent me a betrayed glare.

“In the future, if my kids end up here, please tell them to leave!”

Bryony hissed.

I nodded dumbly as she disappeared. What else could I do? She’d gone straight for my jugular and asked the one question that would damn me out of hand. Fuck this, why was I so bothered, anyway? It wasn’t as if we had anything between us. Sure, I liked how she looked, but actually, Bryony was coming across a rather judgemental bitch. Who needed that?

Somewhere in the back of my head, a little voice taunted that I did.

Bryony

The knock on the door took me by surprise, as it was nearly ten at night. I didn’t talk to any of my neighbours, so had no idea who was here. When I peered through the peephole, I blinked in utter shock. What the hell?

“Open up, Bry. I know you are in there. It’s a Saturday, and you’re the one bitch who doesn’t go partying!”

Madden shouted.

I glanced up the stairs. The kids were asleep, having been worn out through all the emotional shit they’d gone through today.

I yanked the door open, shoved Madden backwards, and shut it behind me.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

I demanded.

“I gotta talk to you!”

Madden declared.

“At this time of night? Go away and come back at a decent hour. Which means after ten in the morning.”

“We need to talk, Bry. Just invite me in,”

Madden said.

I stared at Madden in surprise. “No. Come back at a decent hour, Madden. The kids are asleep.”

“Bryony. I’m not here to see those little freaks—”

“Shut your foul mouth,”

I snapped. “I don’t care what you are doing here, but we ain’t doing this shit.”

“You’re my wife—”

“Ex-wife! You couldn’t divorce me quick enough to bang whatever plastic Barbie you had on the go. Now leave.”

“We gotta do a photo shoot,”

Madden stated and folded his arms over his chest. I gaped at him in shock. The fuck I had to do anything.

Madden tossed his head, which flicked his layered hair out of the way. I recognised this stance. This was his ‘look at me, I’m gorgeous, rich, talented, and famous’ pose. It didn’t work on me anymore. I’d seen it far too many times.

“Madden, get lost. Do me a favour, forget me and the children exist.”

“I’d love to, but I need you,”

Madden replied.

“What have you done now? Because something’s happened.”

“Some bitch is releasing a bad story about me. I need you and the kids to shore up my image,”

Madden demanded.

And there it was! Always something with him. Madden never wanted to be a real dad to the kids. Nope, something negative was written about him, and he’d trot the children out for positive articles.

“You’re not using them or me to get yourself out of whatever shit you’ve caused this time!” I hissed.

“I’m their father!”

Madden yelled. “You do as I say, Bry! I pay for fuckin’ everything.”

“Damn right, you do! You made Maci ill. Madden, you are the one who can’t keep it in his pants! You cheated on me six months after we got together. And you think I owe you? I was the idiot who was so in love with you. I thought everyone was lying because they were jealous. That’s what you told me, wasn’t it? Right up until I caught you in bed with the two maids!”

“Maybe you should’ve put out!”

Madden shouted back.

“I was nine months fucking pregnant with Maci, you prick!”

“Yes, you were fat. I didn’t want to fuck you,”

Madden agreed.

As usual, when talking to him, I felt like my head was spinning.

“I should have put out, but was too chunky because I was due to drop our baby?” I hissed.

“Yeah. You shouldn’t have got knocked up, Bry. One damn brat was enough,”

Madden snapped, dropping his movie star stance.

His eyes turned piggy mean like they used to, and his mouth screwed up petulantly. There he was, the real man. A spoiled, petty, shallow guy who threw tantrums to get his own way.

“Nice. That’s your daughter you’re speaking about. Oh, and you know she’s yours because you had them both DNA tested in an effort to get out of paying child support. The judge wasn’t too amused, if I remembered correctly. What damn idiot admits he knew his wife was faithful but demands a DNA test all the same? You do!”

“Shut up. You always thought you were so much smarter than me!”

Madden yelled.

“Because I am!”

“Shut it, Bry, and do as you’re told, or I’ll stop paying for those leeches,”

Madden threatened.

“Leeches?”

I shrieked.

“Bloodsuckers,”

Madden agreed.

“You can’t refuse to pay. You were ordered by the court, and when you refused, the judge ensured it was taken by order from your bank. Remember what he warned the last time we were in court, and you were messing around? He threatened to take the maximum amount from your movie payments, royalties, and businesses.”

“My lawyer says he can’t do that,”

Madden retorted.

“Go ahead and test him. I’d be happy taking thirty million off you per film.”

“Fuckin’ bitch. Why can’t you just get on a plane and have a few photos taken with us looking friendly? Why is everything so awkward with you, Bry?”

“Because I put the kids first, unlike you!”

“They’re freaks!”

Madden bellowed.

“That’s enough!”

a voice snapped, and I spun around, shocked. Leaning over the fence was Soul, Priest, and another guy I didn’t recognise. All three of them had mobiles out, and I wondered what the hell was happening.

“Who are you?”

Madden turned aggressive after seeing the phones aimed at him.

“Just a friendly neighbour whose night your selfish, cruel, spite-riddled argument disturbed. Why don’t you fuck off, bud?”

Soul demanded.

“Yeah, like you’ve got a horse in this race,”

Madden sneered, and then he straightened. “You banging her?”

“Madden!”

I exclaimed.

“Dude, if I were, I’d not admit it to a chump like you,”

Soul retorted.

“Yeah. Bry would probably open her legs for a bit of rough.”

Madden laughed.

“That’s enough. I don’t give a fuck how famous you are. I wonder what your legions of fans would say if they saw the videos we took,”

Priest replied.

Madden paled, and I leaned back against the wall.

“Yeah, you seem a right cunt, and this is still being filmed. I suggest, Mr Big Shot, you leave. Bryony and the kids owe you shit. FYI, asshole, those children ain’t freaks. Any decent man would be proud to claim them as his own. Says a lot about you. Bryony raised two good kids despite their setback at having your DNA,”

Soul sneered.

I hid a smile at his harsh words. But the expression on Madden’s face made him look like he’d hit him with a wet fish.

“Leave, Madden. The answer is no,”

I said softly.

“This isn’t over. You’ll pay for this,”

Madden threatened and stomped down the stairs.

I whipped my phone out and dialled a number I knew off by heart.

“Bryony?”

Duke Evans asked, surprised.

“I’m sorry, Duke, I just had a visit,”

I replied.

“You’re kidding me?”

“No. Can you deal with him?”

“On it. I apologise, he’s getting out of hand again,”

Duke replied.

“Apparently so.”

“Lisa is pregnant and is due any day,”

Duke added.

“Lisa? Which was one was that? Never mind, it doesn’t matter. But Madden isn’t fit to be a father,” I said.

“No, and Lisa seems to think she’s going to get the same deal you did. Problem is, she’s whacked out on drugs most of the time. Madden’s getting full custody,”

Duke explained.

I hissed in a sharp breath. “I feel sorry for that kid.”

“Don’t be. Madden will have fuck all to do with him. I’ve got nannies and shit lined up. Stay safe,”

“You too, Duke,”

I murmured and cut the call.

Three men stared at me, and I gazed back at them.

“What’s your digits?”

Soul asked.

“Sorry?”

“Your number, Bryony, to send you these videos. They won’t do us any good, but if you end up in court, they’ll help,”

Soul replied.

“You are aware you could make a small fortune with them? The media would pay a lot for them,” I said.

“And? No offence, babe, but I don’t need money that would cause a woman and kids pain. But they’d be helpful to you if you need them. They’re great blackmail material if asswipe doesn’t behave,”

Soul suggested and jiggled his phone at me.

“Thanks,”

I responded, surprised.

Most people would have taken the video and sold them to the highest bidder. It was pretty decent of them to offer them to me free… or were they?

“Did you want payment for them?” I asked.

“No. Give us your damn number Bryony, sheesh!”

“Fine! Fine!”

I rattled off my number, and moments later, I got three beeps to say I’d received messages.

“Sorry for disturbing your evening, thanks for the help,”

I said and opened my front door.

My phone beeped again as I lamely waved goodbye, and the door shut behind me.

I leaned my head against the wall and exhaled. Trust Madden to cause trouble. It was a good job I was moving away.

I checked my mobile and saw all the videos had been sent from three numbers I didn’t know.

As I opened each message, I saw a name at the top and then the video attached. The third guy had been called Blue.

I saw a second text from Soul and scrolled down.

‘Save this number. If you need me, call.’

Damn. Had I misjudged him, after all?

Soul

We’d heard the commotion next over the roars of the crowd of TV and had caught most of what turned into a hell of an argument. What a self-centred prick Madden was. How had someone like Bryony been married to him? She admitted to being rich but lived in a normal neighbourhood.

That said a lot about her. She wasn’t into the trappings of the rich and knew what was important. Madden clearly didn’t have a damn clue. I wondered if he’d be back to pester her.

When Priest and Blue left, I checked out the name she’d called in relation to Madden. It turned out Duke Evans was Madden’s agent. I bet the poor guy had his hands full with an arrogant bastard like Madden.

There was no denying Madden was a good actor, but he was a poor excuse for a human being. Bryony was far better off away from him. As were those kids. I couldn’t imagine calling my own children freaks. What a total asshole. If Madden came back, I’d be watching. He deserved to meet Keres.