Envy (7 page)

“So how are the club bunnies behaving with you now that their leader has gone?” I ask Lauren.

We’re sat in the clubs kitchen making some sandwiches, talking about Lauren’s first official day at Allure Magazine starts tomorrow and she’s freaking out. The conversation made me hungry so we moved into the kitchen.

Lauren laughs. “Better now that Dyson is no longer here.”

The sound of a sudden clang makes me jump. I quickly spin around with a hand clutching my heart to see what it was. I see Lauren frozen and her buttered knife fallen onto the floor.

“Lauren?” I ask, walking closer to her.

“Oh my god! I’m a horrible person.” Her eyes are wide and she looks pale.

“What are you talking about?” I ask. “Of course you’re not.”

“No I am.” She cries. “I’m joking about a woman’s death. Who would do that Tasha? Not a good person!”

I quickly walk right up to her and hold her tightly. “No, I started it. Sorry it’s not your fault.”

“You didn’t force me to say those things.” She sulks.

“Look, at the end of the day she was a bitch to you and nearly got you killed. It wasn’t your fault that she ran to Demon.” I point out. That whore nearly got my best friend killed by the very men who ripped us from our lives before. I’m not sorry she’s not around anymore. I manage to calm her down and we eat our sandwiches together.

“To answer your question, yes they do act different around me now.” Lauren adds when we have nearly finished our food.

“I agree.” I reply. “They seemed to have calmed down on the bitching.”

“And the sleeping around.” Lauren observes. “I wonder if Dyson told them to sleep around.”

“Maybe.” I think it over. “I was talking to Maci the other day, she’s one of the bunnies, and she did hint that they are free do to as they choose now. Maybe she was secretly telling me that Dyson was a slave driver?”

Lauren rises her eyebrows. “Wow.”

We wash up after ourselves because Laura and June will kill us if they find out we were in the kitchen and left them dirty dishes. When we walk into the clubhouse main room, our theory is put to the test as some of the club whores walk by.

“Hi.” Throttle smiles.

“Hey.” Canyon adds as they walk by. Throttle, Canyon and Flex had known Dyson the whole time they were here so if anyone was going to be mean, it would be them.

Lauren rises her eyebrows at me in response after saying her greetings to them. After all, Lauren has to make amends seeing as she’s with the VP. She can’t be holding her head high and act like she’s better than everyone else around here, even if she is better than some. When she’s top dog around here the women would want to feel like they can approach her just like they do with June and Laura now. However Lauren is a lot younger and I’m guessing some of the girls are already starting to warm up to Lauren more than they ever did with Laura, even if Laura is the current president’s wife.

It seems like a nice day outside, so we decide to grab a table in the sunny outdoors and we’re not out here long when the bunny I was talking to earlier approaches us.

“Hey.” Maci greets us both. Lauren’s back stiffens and I can see why she’s acting the way she is. After all these club whore and bunnies are after the men in the club and Grim is a very handsome man.

“Hey Maci.” I smile up at her and gesture for her to join us. “Maci, this is Lauren.”

“Oh I know.” Maci beams. “Everyone knows who you are around here Lauren. I mean, why wouldn’t they? You’re the VPs old lady and you’re flipping gorgeous!”

Maci’s words make me giggle and Lauren looks a little awkward.

“Shit, was I not supposed to say that?” Maci asks, looking at Lauren’s expression worryingly.

“No, it’s ok.” Lauren smiles. “I haven’t seen you much around here.”

Maci smiles a little. “I’m kind of new around here.”

“Maci is a new bunny.” I add.

“I still get confused by all these terms.” Lauren shakes her head.

“I know, it can get tricky but I was bought up around MCs so I’m used to it. They all have their different terms but here it’s pretty simple.” Maci explains. “There’s the biker men of course and they have their own ranking system. You obviously know the family system because you’re in it already and then there’s girls like me, the bunnies. We are the younger girls around here that want to be taken care of by the club and will offer services in return, however those services are not sexual unless we want to. We help the old ladies clean and help with gatherings and parties, babysitting you name it.”

“And of course the club whores.” Lauren adds to Maci’s explanation.

“Yeah.” Maci laughs. “The women who have always clung to the men around here and are so desperate to get their claws into them they will do just about anything, including abandoning their children.”

I stare at Maci, shocked at her outburst. The last time I spoke to her she did seem like an open book with no filter, but I didn’t expect that.

“Are you ok?” Lauren immediately turn towards her. I sit back and smile, See, she is perfect for her role in the club.

“Don’t mind me.” Maci shrugs it off. “My mother was a club whore. Not for the Kings, another club in central London and she always left me with anyone available so she could try and trap any biker available.”

“I’m sorry.” I frown.

“Don’t be.” Maci smiles. “I grew up and managed to escape her, she wanted me to be just like her but like many club brats, I didn’t like being away from a club so when I heard about The Kings of Rebellion, I asked to join. Like mother like daughter.”

“No, not at all.” Lauren snaps. “You’re not at all like that, I can already tell.” I really feel for Maci, she’s really young and I wouldn’t say she’s hit her twenties yet. I’m glad she chose to be a bunny and not a whore, she wouldn’t do well in that group.

“Like I was telling Natasha the other day as horrible as it sounds, I can now breathe that Dyson isn’t here anymore. She was always pushing the bunnies to do more and become more of a club whore and that isn’t me. I saw what it did to my mother and I hate her, I don’t want to become her.”

“That’s awful!” Lauren frowns. “Hearing that, I’m glad Dyson isn’t here any longer too.”

Maci looks up at Lauren, really studying her and then breaks out in a smile. “The girls around here said you were nice, I was a little afraid to talk to you but I can see they were right.”

“Thank you.” Lauren answers, looking a little honoured.

Well done girl.

“No problem.” Maci smiles back and I see her eyes shine through her tears. In that moment we all strike a bond and I know why. Even if I hadn’t had heard Maci’s story from her hard past, I would recognise it from the look in her eyes and the way she observes everything. Yes she’s young, but her troubled life has made her mature faster and for good reason.

“I was so shocked when I came here.” Maci laughs. “I’m treated so well here and because I’m not a club whore, I get respect. Something my mother never had.”

I never heard of the term of bunny before Dyson was killed by the Devils and that’s probably because when Lauren and I were new here. Dyson ran things within the whores and from what Maci has told us, Dyson didn’t want the divide. Most probably because she wanted the respect the young bunnies had.

“Yeah, we were shocked at that when we arrived too.” I laugh, remembering how hard it was to adjust at first.

“So why the Kings?” Lauren asks.

Maci bites on her bottom lip and I almost see a cloud cover her. She shuts herself off from us and by the look Lauren quickly flashed me, she knew it too.

“I just heard they were a good club.” She answers and decide to leave it there. She obviously doesn’t want to answer that question and it leaves me wondering why.

Today I’m home alone. Well, it’s not my home because this isn’t technically my home, even though Grim insists that it is, bless him.

Lauren has left in a nervous blur for her first day at the magazine, she doesn’t have to work in the office building all week which Lauren loves, but she has to make sure she has been in at least twice a week. You can’t argue with that. Grim wanted to go with her, so he followed her on his bike and told me he had business to deal with right after so I’ve got the house to myself until Lauren comes home.

I think this is the first time and I plan to take advantage. My hair is in a scruffy knot on the top of my head, I did used to have short hair but I wanted to change my look since the Devils and decided to keep it long as it grew. I have on my baggy black cotton bottoms on with a simple white vest top as I google the building Drew told me Franky thought was the perfect place for us. I still needed to thank Franky but he seems so busy lately that I haven’t seen him. Maybe I should get his phone number so I can ring or at least send a text message.

The building looks fucking amazing and as I stare at it on Laurens computer screen my eyes bug out and my mouth hangs open.

“Holy mother fucking shit balls.” I whisper. I grab my phone and ring Drew.

“Hey!” She sings down the phone.

“Have you seen the building?” I ask her.

“Yes!” She squeal. “It’s amazing right?”

“Amazing?” I ask. “It’s perfect!”

“I’m so glad you like it.” Drew sighs.

“How could I not?” I laugh. The place is big, not massive but bigger than what I had in mind. It’s one large room with huge pretty white framed windows. The place even has an underground storage unit and extra space upstairs. So all in all, it has three levels and is gorgeous. Did I mention I’m not paying?

“I know right? My dad wants to meet us in a few days actually to talk things over with us if that’s ok?” She asks.

“No, I was just thinking that I need to thank him so that’s perfect.” I answer.

After we get excited about what we could do with the place, we end the call and I sit alone with a huge smile on my face as I look at the computer screen. I can’t believe this is actually happening!

A couple of hours later, I’m a sweaty mess. I decided to get off my ass and clean the house. It’s pretty much clean and tidy anyway, but I don’t want it to look like I’ve been doing nothing all day while Grim and Lauren have been out. I turn off the vacuum cleaner and store it away, out of nowhere there’s a knock on the door. I stand still and look at the door like an idiot. Another knock makes me jump.

“I know you’re in their babe, I heard you cleaning.” I hear Devlin from the other side and I breathe a side of belief. I don’t know why I got a little scared, I’m perfectly safe now. However, try telling that to my fast beating heart. But then I remember what I’m wearing and what I look like. FUCK!

“Tasha!” I hear him shout.

“What do you want?” I shout through the door.

“Open the door and see.” He demands.

“I’m not decent.” I admit.

“You naked?” He asks shocked and I can’t help but smile.

“No, the opposite.” I still laugh.

“I’m confused.” He admits. “Are you hungry?”

At his question my stomach growls. He’s not going to go away, I could let him in a run for my room to change. When Devlin knocks loudly again I decide to open the door and fuck the consequences. When I open the door I look to the floor in embarrassment.

“What’s the matter?” Devlin asks.

I look up at him, eyebrows raised in question.

“Seriously? Look at me!” I point out.

“Tash you look fine.” He walks past me and into the kitchen. I shut the door behind him and follow as he continues talking. “It’s nice to see you natural. I don’t think you could ever not look beautiful.” His words make me stop. I can’t believe he just said that.

“Just give me a couple minutes.” I say as I speed walk to the bathroom.

I splash cold water on my face to freshen up, tidy my high bun and decide there’s not point changing my clothes so I give myself a fresh spray of perfume and leave to find Devlin where I left him. I find him making himself at home, getting out plates from the cupboard and reaching into the bags her bought in with him.

“What have you got there?” I ask as I stand behind him.

“Grim told me you were alone so I left them to it and bought you something to eat.” He simply answers. I’m speechless, I don’t think anybody has done something so sweet for me and yet, it’s so simple. I don’t have the words but by his smile he knows what I’m thinking. He can read me so well. I watch as he takes out the Subs, muffins and cookies. My mouth waters as I follow him to the table. I haven’t had anything to eat since I had toast with Lauren this morning. I wonder how she’s getting on, I would send her a cheeky text but I don’t want to disturb her.

“So I saw the building for the salon.” I say, deciding to break the silence.

“What’s it look like?” He asks.

“You haven’t seen it?” I’m shocked, I thought he would know.

“No.” He laughs. “I left that to Drew and my dad.”

I take a bite out of my sandwich and moan from the taste. “God this Sub is good!” I open my eyes and see Devlin gazing at me. I swallow the food and place it back down on the plate.

“Sorry.” I laugh.

“Don’t apologise.” He smiles, taking a big bite out of his own. How can a man eating look so sexy? Once we have finished eating, Devlin decides that he wants to get a drink and head outside.

“Did you tell the girls we kissed?” He asks me with a mischievous grin. I feel my cheeks burn as I look away. I nervously laugh as I feel him looking at me.

“Of course I did. They already knew we left together, I woke up to a phone full of texts.” I answer, still looking down at my hands as a distraction.

“Yeah, that dance wasn’t fooling anyone was it?” He asks. Devlin’s voice sounds deep and husky.

“No.” I breathe. The atmosphere becomes thick with what I’m assuming is lust. I love flirting with Devlin and the attention he gives me even more. He makes me feel beautiful but once he sees my hidden scars I know he won’t think the same of me. As soon as he looks at the deep scars in my most intimate areas, he will be disgusted and will want nothing more to do with me. I don’t if I should take that chance and get closer to him keep him at arm’s length so he will never see me. I can’t make up my mind.

“You ok?” He asks. “Something went on in that head of yours.”

“What?” I snap out of my thoughts, sitting up straight.

“Don’t start lying Tasha, as soon as I mentioned that dance you drifted away.” Devlin explains. “You can’t fool me.”

I lean back in my chair and look Devlin over. He really can see right through me and I can’t decide whether that’s a good thing or not. Devlin stands from his seat opposite me and takes the one beside me. He leans in close and lets his finger glide from my ear lobe to the middle of my chin.

“That was the best night of my life.” Devlin whispers. “I know you enjoyed it too, so don’t let whatever’s going on in that head of your ruin it.”

I smile because I just can’t help it. “I did.”

Devlin nods, breaking into a huge smile. “I knew it.”

I laugh and Devlin does too. Our faces still so close that when my head dips down, I bang my forehead onto his and suddenly back away but Devlin stops me. His hand is behind my head, tangled into my hair and holding me in place. Our laughter dies and we look into each other’s eyes.

We stay like that until I dare to look down at Devlin mouth. I really want to kiss him. I look back into his dark eyes and see his now looking at mine and without thinking my tongue licks along my bottom lip. He looks up into my eyes and there’s one second where everything freezes. It’s just Devlin and me, I have no worries or fears. I’m just here. So when Devlin drops his mouth onto mine, I don’t think. I return the kiss with as much desire as Devlin is giving to me.

His other hand joins the one already in my hair, both tangled into my messy bun as I melt into him. Devlin’s deep growl does crazy shit to me and I just wish that our chairs weren’t between us. Devlin breaks away and leans his forehead onto mine. “Fuck you drive me crazy.”

I don’t know what to say, so I stay quiet and it seems like that’s the best because Devlin leans closer again and kisses me gently.

“Tasha?” I hear Lauren from inside the house. My lips break away from Devlin’s at the sound of her voice as she shouts her again. Devlin’s hand grips my jaw to stop me moving too far away and as Lauren comes outside, he tugs on my bottom lip with his thumb.

“Devlin!” Lauren asks in surprise.

Devlin looks down and checks the time on his phone. “Shit.”

“I didn’t know you were coming around.” Lauren carries on as she walks into the garden.

Devlin quickly stands, not noticing Lauren anymore but looking right at me.

“Babe, I need to go.” He leans down to me and kisses me so fucking hard, all the air is wiped out of me. “I’m taking you out soon. No questions asked.”

Devlin gives me a naughty grin and then one quick kiss before he leaves. He gives Lauren a quick kiss on the forehead too before walking past her and letting himself out.

“Did I interrupt?” Lauren asks.

I hadn’t realised I staring at Devlin leaving until Lauren speaks.

“What?” I ask.

“You two looked pretty cosy.” She smiles.

I look down at my hands again to hide my burning face.

“How was your first day?” I ask.

“Amazing.” She answers. “How was yours?”

“I didn’t have a first day.” I point out sarcastically and when Lauren tilts her head to the side and gives me her, don’t lie to me face, I give in.

“Fine. I was innocently cleaning when Devlin bought me dinner.” I answer.

“That was sweet.” She smiles. “And not at all what I would expect.”

“Well I could say the same for Grim if I hadn’t seen it for myself whilst I’ve been living with you both.” I remind her.

“True.” She nods.

“We kissed.” I spit out.

“Yes I saw.” Lauren giggles. “I’m happy for you.”

“There’s no need to be.” I shake my head. “I can’t let it happen.”

Lauren’s face falls. “What?”

“I can’t let him near me Lauren, you know that.” I remind her.

“Yes you can Tasha.” She pleads. “You more than anyone deserves to be happy.”

“Are you forgetting what they did to me?” I ask. “You’ve seen the scars they have left me with.” Lauren stares at me for a few seconds and then kneels down in front of me. She reaches up and wipes the tears away that I didn’t even know were falling.

“Yes I have and you should wear them with pride.” Lauren looks up at me. “Do not be ashamed Natasha, do you hear me?”

“I hate them.” I cry. Lauren holds me as I fall apart in her arms.