Nova (MorningStar MC Novels, New Orleans Chapter #2)

Chapter 20

Chapter

Twenty

SIMONE

T he brewery calms after the arrival of Noah, the brother who crashed his plane today. A few of the members went with him to check the plane and clean up the area so it didn’t impact the local environment since the plane was leaking oil and gas near an important waterway.

I’ve been talking with several of the ladies in the club and drinking pretty much all evening, so when my phone rings, I answer without checking the screen.

“Hello,” I hiccup and then giggle.

“Simone!” Fuck, that’s my mother’s voice.

“Stop yelling I’m not deaf,” I say into the mouthpiece as I try to keep my hand steady.

“Are you drunk?” I roll my eyes at her judgemental tone.

“I’m on my honeymoon. I can drink my husband’s beer if I want.” I nod at the phone.

I told her.

Even my inner voice is drunk. I look around for Maddox and see him watching me from across the bar. He’s been talking to his brother, who arrived a few hours ago. I wave my phone over my head.

“It’s my mother!” I call over to him.

“What do you want?” I bring the phone back to my ear.

“I wanted to apologize for my actions at the baby shower.” Sure she does.

“Ok.” I’m still waiting for her to ask my forgiveness.

“That’s all.” Is she kidding?

“You have to ask if you want me to forgive you. You suck at this.” I giggle as Maddox takes a seat next to me.

“Let me talk to her, Dove.” I shake my head a little too fast, and the room spins.

“Nope, she has to ask. She can’t be such a cunt and then only offer to apologize without saying sorry.” He pries the phone out of my hand with a grin on his face.

“Dove, did you just say cunt?” I nod and get even more dizzy.

“I’m a biker’s wife, now. It’s required.” The ladies around me laugh, but my eyes stay on Maddox’s face.

“You’re way too good for me.” He leans in and kisses me, which brings the phone closer, where I hear my mother yelling about bikers being no good.

“Hang up on her,” I say on his lips.

“Oh, hello, Mrs. Gauthier. We’ll be returning to Toronto in a few days to pack up Simone’s townhouse and the cats,” Simone brightens up.

“My pussies!” The entire bar cheers her unexpected outburst.

“Yes, Dove, your pussies. As I was saying. My wife will be here in New Orleans should you need anything from her. However, consider this her two-week notice. I’ll be taking care of here from now on. Your presence in her life solely depends on whether Simone wants to see you.” The silence coming from my phone makes me think she hung up.

“No one has ever had the gull to speak to me like that.” He nods at her statement.

“Well, respect is earned, and you don’t deserve any from us. Have a good evening.” He hangs up.

“You are my fucking hero.” I kiss him and somehow end up straddling him on the couch with everyone whistling and calling for us to get a room.

“Dove, I will protect you with everything I have for the rest of our lives.” I lay my head on his shoulder and must doze off because I wake to Seer passing Maddox a phone.

“Hey Roger…WHAT? No, hold him. I’m on my way.” I sit up and look over his angry face.

“We need to head to my club.” I nod at the urgency in his voice.

“Need backup?” Maverick comes over to his brother, ready to help in any way he can.

“Always appreciate your assistance. Her ex is at the brothel causing problems.” He what?

“Tyler is here?” Maddox sighs as he helps me off his lap.

“Apparently. It’s only a fifteen-minute ride. Let’s go.” We rush to his bike, and we arrive before I can even think about how the world seems to be moving slower around me.

HQ is a bright red sign that flashes above the door of a plain-looking building. Maddox approaches the man standing at the door.

“Where is he, Roger?” They shake hands.

“Downstairs Boss. Betsey has him strapped to the chair.” Maverick curses under his breath as Roger holds the door open for all of us to enter.

“Simone, do you want to stay in my office? You don’t need to see anything here, Dove.” I appreciate him worrying about me, but I want to look Tyler in the eye when I tell him to go to fucking hell once and for all.

“I wouldn’t miss this for all the catnip in the world.” He kisses my forehead and then leads us down a stairwell that reminds me of an old creepy movie.

As we decided, I regret not staying in his office.

There are private rooms with various noises coming from all directions. Some are pleasurable, others painful, and I cringe when one particular scream echoes around us.

“Guess she started.” Maverick sounds cheerful as he pushes past me to hurry down the dark hallway.

“Why does he look like a kid running after the ice cream truck?” Maddox watches his brother and then laughs at my assessment.

“You aren’t wrong. It’s a simple answer, though. He loves watching Betsey work. You’ll see in a moment. She’s my best Dominatrix.” My eyes go wide.

“She’s fucking him?” He shakes his head.

“He wishes. No, she’s torturing him. When Betsey is done, Tyler is going to be a whole new man.” His grin turns evil as we hurry after Maverick.

There’s an open doorway up ahead with shadows moving around in the light spilling into the corridor. Another yelp breaks the eerie silence down here, and I glance at Maddox again.

“Are we feeding his body to gators when we’re done ‘cause a pig farm would be better. Less evidence.” Maddox turns to me.

“Dove, no one is going to die today.” I frown.

“But isn’t that what biker gangs do when someone disrespects their old ladies?” He drops his chin to his chest as his shoulders shake with a laugh.

“Dove, no more televsion for you. We aren’t criminals. Usually,” He leaves the sentence unfinished when another scream rips the air.

“PLEASE! I’ll leave and never come back, I swear it!” Tyler’s voice sounds so scared that I rush forward to see what the fuck is happening.

He’s strapped to a chair that has him hunched over, exposing his ass.

“Oh my.” I cover my mouth as I take in the scene.

“I didn’t give you permission to speak, pig! Must I gag you again?” Betsey swings her arm, and a long piece of leather with three metal spiked balls scrapes over Tyler’s exposed skin.

His back is red with long scratches scattered against a few welts.

“No, Ma’am!” Betsey swings again.

“You don’t deserve the privilege of calling me that. Coming into my house and disrespecting my girls. No one gets that right.” She spits in his face, and he starts to cry.

CRY!

“I’m so sorry,” he whimpers, and I turn wide eyes at Maddox.

“No, you apologize to Simone. It’s her you came here to hurt, isn’t it?” Betsey waves me over, and I stumble over my feet to obey her.

“Now, what did you have to speak to Simone about that was so important that you thought you could disrespect every person here?” She pulls his head back by his hair so hard that he gasps at the pain the angle causes.

It allows me to see his scared eyes.

“I’m sorry. I’ll never bother you again.” I shake my head, not believing a word he’s saying.

“Bullshit. The moment you leave, you’ll go back to the same shitty behavior. You’re not used to the word no.” I cross my arms against my chest.

“I swear! I don’t even want you.” I roll my eyes.

“I’ve known that since the moment I found your dick in Sandra’s mouth. Why are you here?” He sniffles as Betsey pulls his hair harder.

“Your mother was blackmailing us. She found out we were sharing her daughters and made us promote your father. She said we had to marry you both without prenups so she could control your money.” I take a step back and clutch my chest.

“Damn,” Maverick whistles at the information.

“Dove,” Maddox reaches for me, but I wave him off.

“You never wanted to date or marry us?” I need him to clarify how much of a bitch my mother really is.

“We just wanted to fuck you both. Neither of us was ready to settle down, and then Sandra got pregnant, and we had no choice.” I shake my head in disgust.

Betsey shoves his head down and drops the whip on the floor.

“Fucking pig,” she hisses, walking over to a sink to wash her hands.

“Well, Dove, what do you want to do with him?”