Chapter 9

Zero

I'm barely keeping it together. I know I should let it rest, but I can't drop it.

I need to know her name.

I don't know why, but my gut is riding me hard on this.

My instincts are telling me it's important. Storm stood up to me in the garage giving me no other option but to drop it.

When Falon and I walked away from them, she gave me shit about not frightening the girl off too. But whether they agree or not I'm going to get my answer.

We park outside the Inn, 6 hours out of DC. We are well past ready to go down for the night.

Falon is huddled on a bench, talking with Jade, Chadley and Venus. Storm is talking to his new bff, and I don't like it.

I'm the Enforcer. If there's even a thread that she's a danger to my club I need to know.

How the fuck am I supposed to do that if my VP keeps giving me fucking warning glares?

Wisp marches over to them, her short form making up the distance fast. She's changed into a jean but still has that bust contraption she calls a t-shirt on.

Texas moves in slow, keeping a few steps behind her with an unlit cigarette dangling from his lips.

I move closer to them.

Maintaining a wide gap, as not to alert Wisp to my presence. There's no way I'm staying hidden from Storm when he keeps shooting me warning glances from across the lot.

Wisp goes to stand forcefully between Storm and the homeless girl, screaming,

“Is it not enough that she gets your helmet and rides on your back. You also gotta ignore me now.” She shoves his chest when he keeps quiet.

He doesn't move, just crosses his arms over his chest and tilts his head down.

Texas moves naturally to stop her, but I signal him to stay put with a shake of my head.

This is long overdue.

“Planning on spending the night with her while you at it, ha? Well let's forget about Wisp for a second. Oh wait, let's forget about her for the night ‘cause she is just a bed warmer. I am so done with your shit Storm. I know about your trips to Liston Hills and I'm done.”

Everyone is quiet, waiting for the other shoe to drop. The homeless girl drops it, when she pulls down the hood, and my cock beats to come out behind my zipper.

And ain't I just the motherfucker of good timing.

I walk towards them, mindful of my hard-on happening behind my denims as her face becomes clearer.

Still watching the scene play out but not comfortable standing so far, I stop only 3 feet away.

The others are also staring, but forming a circle to surround them. We might want to watch things play out but it doesn't mean we want extra eyes and ears on our people.

The girl is pale, her eyes are black, pitch fucking black and so big under thick eyebrows.

She has a dirt mark staining her cheek and It takes every bit of self-control not to walk up to her and wipe it off.

I swallow, hard, and as if she hears it, she turns to face me. Everything fades away, all my brothers, all the girls besides her.

Her eyes tell me so much. They are the eyes of a person haunted, a girl who has seen things that no girl her age should see.

A protectiveness I've felt only for certain people shrouds me as I watch this girl, who is a puzzle I am yet to perfectly fit in place.

She breaks our connection and looks at Wisp’s short form. I take time to profile her. She’s around Falon’s age, but life on the streets could've aged her, especially going from her voice. She's been there a while so she could be younger, much younger. She’s thin and very tall, like 5ft 9in.

The same raspy sound I think of, says,

“You his girl?”

Wisp and Storm are too busy staring daggers at each other to pay the girl any heed.

“Lady, you Storm’s woman?” she says louder, making me harder and I'm sure some of my other brothers too. Fuck, who talks like that. Her voice is hypnotic.

Wisp spins around, all her attention now focused on the homeless girl, shit, I hate calling her that. I wish she’ll give us a name.

“I was, now he’s free,” Wisp practically spits in the girl's face.

Then Wisp does something bad, she sticks her nose higher and takes a step closer to the homeless girl, sniffing her,

“And have a fucking bath, you reek like dogs' shit.” Wisp pushes past Storm who doesn't seem to care about her. antics. He has been done with her for some time, she just wasn't getting the memo.