“First time,” I admit, looking at the photographs that line the wall behind the bar. I see different men spread out across photos. I can tell just from the photographs on the wall that this club isn’t as bad as I thought it might’ve been. The photos show me that these men have honor, and a code. I can only hope that my assumptions are right based on what I can see. The last thing I ever wanted is for a power-hungry maniac to stand by my side, but time will tell with that. I may have spoken to Phoenix, but that didn’t mean that I know him.
I take another sip of my beer just as a man sits down on the barstool next to me. “You’re lookin’ a lil’ lonely sweetheart. How about I give you some company, hmm?” I look him up and down, unable to hold back my eyeroll.
“No, I’m good, thanks.” I mutter, bringing my attention back to my beer.
“Listen up, girlie. I don’t know who you think you are, but all the sluts have one job, to keep us happy. So, if I want you on your knees sucking my cock, or ass up high on the bed while I make you beg for me, you’re going to do it. Got it, bitch?” I cock an eyebrow as I look to this piece of shit, all the while I’m glancing around in my peripheral. That is the second I notice the patch I’ve been looking for marked ‘Prez’.
“Phoenix, you really gonna let this boy talk to your girlfriend like that?” I twirl around on the barstool and look at him, and I mean I look at him. He’s shirtless only wearing his cut, god knows why. but fuck, I’m not complaining. Skulls and roses mark his body in beautiful tattoo work, a huge skull covering his stomach with roses on the side and on his left arm it’s the same. He has the lightest blue eyes I’ve ever seen, the kind of eyes that when they look in your direction, you feel like they’re staring into your soul.
“Kenna,” he breathes, eyes raking over my body up and down in the same way I’ve been doing to him the last few moments. “What the fuck did you say to her?” He snaps to the biker to my side.
His target doesn’t say a word.
“I believe he told me I was a slut and that my job was to be his little fuck toy. I’m paraphrasing a bit, but it sums it up.”
“I didn’t know who she was, Prez.” He tries to defend himself, and I can’t help but allow my blood to boil. Phoenix starts to open his mouth, but I beat him to it, smacking his guy on the forehead.
“It doesn’t matter who the fuck I am, you idiot. No one should speak to a woman that way. I don’t give a fuck if she’s a club whore or not. It’s unacceptable. You respect women. You don’t tear us down like we’re fucking dogs. Scram,” I grumble, and he looks to his Prez.
“You heard the lady, beat it.” Phoenix smiles at me and the second he does, it makes me feel like we’re going to get along just fine.
***
Phoenix takes a hold of my hand and drags me along with him deep into the back of the club, opening the door, where an office is revealed to me. We both walk inside, and he shuts the door firmly behind him. As we were walking down the corridor I did notice drugs. I can’t say that I’m pleased with finding out he dabbles in them. He starts to speak, but again, I don’t allow him to.
“You guys run drugs?” I ask, looking him dead in the eye as I cross my hands over my chest and sit up on the desk against the wall.
“It’s better that we control what’s going on the streets versus these punks who don’t know jack shit.” I nod, not disagreeing with him. One of the biggest problems we have is the fact that the drugs are tainted. They’re killing tons of people, and no, it’s not because they’re overdosing. It’s because some idiot who watched Breaking Bad suddenly thinks that he knows jack shit and then starts putting product out on my streets, only it isn’t product - it’s a death sentence.
“What are you putting out?” I ask, needing to know what I’m dealing with, and what I’m signing up for. I’m no angel, and my father is no innocent. We both dabble in the very shady, and sometimes morally unacceptable businesses. Phoenix is thinking the right way. If drugs are going to be on the streets, it needs to be something that we’re controlling. We need to be able to monitor it.
“I respect you, Kenna Vernon. Instead of comin’ in here and getting’ to know me, you’re lookin’ at what I’m doin’ and how it benefits Miami. I have to admit, I seriously underestimated you.”
“Don’t make that mistake again. You’ll learn to never underestimate me. I’m just full of surprises,” I inform him, sliding from his desk and looking around the room. Still, I find photograph after photograph until one photo shocks me. In it I find a man who I knew all too well and standing next to him are two men who look identical and an older man. Hmm...that must be Phoenix’s father, and I knew he had a brother, but I had no idea that Ascher and Phoenix were twins.
“How did you know Phantom?” I ask, turning around to gauge his reaction.
“Our Pops were good friends back in the day. Grew up alongside him. Why, you know him?” Phoenix glances over to me and I tear my eyes from his own.
Did I know him?
I was supposed to marry him.
“I was his ol’ lady,” I comment lowly, looking back to the photo, staring into that cheesy grin that I miss so much.
“Fuck. I didn’t put two and two together. I knew he had a girl named Kenna….but never thought you and her would be the same woman.”
“Of course, you wouldn’t. Why would you? People have the same names all the time. In this case though, I am the Kenna.”
“It was a shame, losin’ him. He was one of the good ones.”
“Yep. A diamond in the rough,” I laugh. Phoenix walks over to his desk and pulls out a bottle of whiskey, unscrews the top and takes a swig for himself before handing the bottle over to me. We go at it a few times before I’m feeling warm and fuzzy all over, having a nice buzz.
“I’ll admit” I murmur in my alcohol induced hazed “I was a liiiitle bit nervous coming here. I kind of have a little PTSD when it comes to MCs, everyone kind of dies.”
“I’m not gonna die,” he states, his tone oh so serious. I can’t help but laugh at him.
“Puhlease, Phoenix. Everyone dies. I’ll die. You’ll die. My father will die. Your club will die. We all die, no matter how we try to escape it, our bodies will be rotting underground at some point.” I take another swig of the warm whiskey, allowing the alcohol to settle comfortably in my stomach. I’m starting to feel really good right now. I haven’t felt this relaxed in ages.
He takes the bottle from my hands and sets it on the table to his left, right as he grabs me with his opposite hand and pins me against the wall. “No, Kenna. You’re not catchin’ my drift. I’m tellin’ your pretty little head that I will not get myself killed. I’m not gonna die on ya’. I’ll be the one doin’ all the fuckin’ killin’. You got me?”
Wowza.
I don’t answer him. How am I supposed to after he just went all alpha male on my ass? I do the only thing I can, the only thing that I want to do to show him that I heard him. I slide my arms around his shoulders and bring my lips to his, kissing him with a hunger that I didn’t know I had.
Chapter 6
Phoenix
Her warm soft lips are on mine and there is nothing more I want to do than throw her down on this desk and fuck her. I’m not going to though. She came here to check out my club and what I dabble in. She didn’t come for a good fuck, at least not this time. Next time I’ll have her sprawled out on my bed taking my time on her but now? She wants to see what happens around here and I plan on showing her. Pulling away from her lips felt like hell, but I did it.
“A few things you should know about me. One, I will never fuck a drunk girl. When I fuck you, Kenna you will know what the hell is happenin’ every second of it.” She watches me with her eyes widening as if she wasn’t expecting me to say that. I’m sure she pegged me the same as all the other guys, but I was raised better than that.
“What’s two?” she asks with a drunken smirk. I slide my hands down her body, kissing her neck and letting her feel just what I can
do for her. When I reach the bottom of these tiny ass shorts she has on, I groan. Why am I the good guy? I could tear these shorts off and just take what the hell I want. Instead, I let my fingers skim the bottom of her ass listening to her moan as I press my lips to the base of her throat.
“Two is, I respect my woman. I respect who she is and who she was. You were with a brother and I’m not him. I don’t want to scare you into anything you might not be ready for but know that I am who you belong with.”
I lick her neck, suck her perfectly tan skin into my mouth and listen to the sexy ass sounds that she makes. Damn! I wonder what it will be like when I finally get inside of her?
“Prove it. Your boy out there was a rude piece of shit,” she says when I pull back and look at her.
“What are you thinkin’, darlin’? You want an easy kill, or should I make him remember his manners when it comes to somethin’ that belongs to me?” Her breathing is sporadic and the chemistry between us can’t be denied but I can’t be the one to rush this. She must see what I’m doing is for the greater part of the city. I want this to work but I am not willing to put my city on the line for it.
“Make him remember it,” she winks. I chuckle and lean back in, kissing her softly. Something in her eyes tells me she wasn't expecting that from me, but this is what she wanted. I know it is. Why else would she show up unannounced? Grabbing her hand in mine, I lead her out of the office and back toward the main room. She watches intently as we move, taking in everything she can.
“I’m an open book, Kenna. Anything you wanna ask, just ask. My only rule is you ask me, so you get the truth, yeah?” She looks up at me with a smile that could get a motherfucker killed and nods her pretty head. My chest tightens as I let it all sink in. Holding her hand, her smiling. Fuck, a man could get used to this when it comes to a girl like her. As soon as we step into the main room, I stop.
“We got a little situation that needs handled. This is Kenna Vernon. Some of you know of her, some don’t. She gets the same goddamn respect that I get. You offer her any less and it’s like disrespectin’ me. Got it?” Most of the guys nod their heads and agree but there are a few, like Micky, that want to cause shit. Those are the ones I single out.
“We’re gonna show Kenna what happens in-house style when you disrespect me.” As the words come out of my mouth, the guys go crazy. The girls scream and jump up and down. They all know what it is, but Kenna just stares up at me with those gorgeous eyes that hold so much more than I can ever know. She has a past and she has things that haunt her, but I can be the one to make her look at a future. Not what she lost. What she can gain.
“You’re gonna love this shit,” Leo walks up with his hand extended to Kenna. Strangely, she looks to me as if to ask permission to talk to him. Something about that sparks more emotion inside of me than I thought I had. She’s being respectful of me.
“This is Leo. He’s my VP.” Kenna smiles and grabs his hand in hers before he says,
“Yeah, someone’s gotta keep this bastard in line. It’s nice to meet you, sweetheart.”
“You too, Leo,” she says before looking back at me. “What is happening now?” I grin at her unable to stop myself. She’s not only beautiful as hell but she’s observant and smart. I can tell by that little glint in her eyes that she is thinking and running situations through that head of hers.
“We handle all our problems with other members in house. We don’t take disrespect lightly. Regardless of who you are, you were right. We don’t disrespect women, it’s not who we are.” She cuts me off there.
“You are into prostitution, though aren't you?”
“I am but at the same time, I keep the girls safe. I make sure what they are doin’ is monitored by the club. No one raises a hand to any of my girls, Kenna. They choose this, and I protect them. I don’t force them into anything and I don’t treat them as less.”
“Yeah? For what price?” She snaps. I can see the fire in those eyes and God help me I fucking love it. The power she holds within her is going to blow this city apart when she lets loose and I can only hope I’m there to see it all happen.
“Ten percent. I don’t steal from them, darlin’. Ask any girl around here if you don’t want to take my word. I was raised to be a better man than some in this lifestyle. I’m shunned for it. Some even hate me because of it but I have to stay true to who I am.” Her attitude slowly slips away and the real Kenna shines brightly in her eyes once more. That’s the one I want to see more of.
“You ready for this?” Leo calls out catching my attention. I smirk at Kenna and nod my head.
“Get Micky out here,” I tell Leo as I pull Kenna toward the back door. When we step out into the humid air, I take a deep breath as she gasps. The guys have the ring pulled out and ready in the middle of the yard.
“What is that?” Kenna asks surprised by what she sees.
“In-house punishment.” She glances up at me, her eyebrow raised. Why the fuck does she have to be so goddamn hot?
“You have a boxing ring?”
“I like to stay in shape,” I shrug. “Besides, this is a great way to learn self-defense. I train some of the girls out here too as well as the guys. It happens to be the best thing to handle any shit too.” I wink making her giggle.
“Hey, Lynch! Grab my girl a drink!” Lynch nods quickly and heads back inside to grab her something as we stand and watch the guys finish up with the ring. Kenna turns to me, questions dancing in her eyes.
“Ask me, Kenna,” I urge her. She blows out a breath before she does.
“The drugs? I get it. There is so much shit tainting the streets these days and we want that control. Not everything you do is legal, and I get that. Are you into guns?”
“Occasionally. The club makes most of its money from our legal ventures.”
“Legal ventures?” She cocks her head to the side. I just smirk because not many people are privileged enough to know this shit. We don’t share it freely, but this is Kenna and I need to arm her with enough knowledge of me for her to decide.
“Leo has two shops in his name. The club set them up and runs them. The liquor store over on Seventh?” Kenna nods. “It’s ours. It’s in Lynch’s wife’s name. Hell, even the fuckin’ youth community center was set up by yours truly.” Her eyes widen at the last one. I don’t brag about what I do and I sure as hell don’t advertise it to others.
“You did that?” Her voice sounds a little more unsure, but I can’t help but chuckle.
“That was all me. Future plans are for a women’s shelter. It’s not common knowledge and I’d like to keep it that way, but my mom was beat before she met my dad. Guy nearly killed her. My dad took her in and they fell in love.” I shrug my shoulders.
“That’s beautiful, Phoenix. I had no idea that you were into all of that.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me that’s kept out of other people’s business.”
“The prostitution would have to stop,” she says surely.
That doesn’t bother me. I can stop that at any given time. “One stipulation for that,” I tell her. Kenna looks up at with question in her eyes.
“What’s that?”
“Let me find them someone else that will treat them right. I won’t throw them out to fend for themselves.” Not an option. That isn’t me and I sure as hell won’t do it.
“Deal. Now show me how a real man defends my honor,” she smirks. I slide my cut down my arms holding it out to her. She takes it and folds it over her arm as she watches me carefully.
I lean in and kiss her once more, just for good measure before winking at her. “Let the best man win.”
Chapter 7
It ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. - Rocky Balboa
Kenna
Phoenix jumps up to into the ring just as a man approaches my left handing me a Corona. I know I’m a little more than drunk right now but fuck if this backyard boxing ring isn’t
sobering me up quick.
“Thanks,” I murmur to Lynch, who nods in response.
I do have to say, Phoenix has already surprised me, and I didn’t think that was possible. I came here tonight to figure out just how he runs the Devil’s Ash MC. What I didn’t come here for was a kiss, to get felt up or to like the dude but look where we are.
I bring the bottle of Corona to my lips, sipping the amber liquid slowly as I watch the men huddle around the ring, hoots and hollers echoing around us. Even the girls come up, cozying up to any man that they can as they anxiously await the fight that is about to break out.
“I know. I don’t have to say jack shit. We all know why Micky got his ass in this situation, cause of that damn big mouth of his. So, let’s settle it, man to man!” Phoenix booms, causing the crowd around him to scream and shout in unison.
I see a girl toss tape to Phoenix, who quickly wraps his hands. He then tosses it to Micky, and I can’t say that I’m not surprised.
“What, tough guy? You not gonna open your mouth now? You’re so fuckin’ good at doin’ it”
“Told you I didn’t know who she was,” Micky comments back to him, I take another sip of my Corona, watching the show unfold before my eyes.
“Phoenix is gonna lay into him good for what he said about you,” Leo mutters, standing right next to me.
“As he should. He needs to set an example. If this jackoff Micky gets away with it, others will follow his lead. Once is a mistake, but twice is a pattern and something tells me that this one doesn’t have many mistakes. He’s a man of repetition, right?”
“You are one smart chick, Kenna Vernon.” I smile to myself at his words, it doesn’t hurt to know that I’m right in my thoughts. I’m caught inside my mind when I hear the unique sound of bone hitting bone. There’s nothing like it. It sounds like a fist hitting a punching bag, with a snap like a twig that follows shortly thereafter. It’s my first indication that someone broke something. I can only hope that it isn’t Phoenix who’s hurt.