Cocky's Fight (Devils Rejects MC Book 6) Read online

  “Little dude.” They share a fist bump and Shawn gives him a candy cane from the inner pocket of his cut. Jimmy runs ahead of us up the stairs that lead to the apartment. Shawn walks with me. Outside of my door is a real pine tree and shopping bags.

  “What’s all this?” I look at Shawn and he wears a guilty smile.

  “I have no idea. Looks like there is a card here for Jimmy.” He plucks a red envelope from thin air in Jimmy’s eyes, but I know Shawn planned this. I unlock the door and flip on the living room light. Jimmy is holding his hand out for the card. Shawn gives it over and Jimmy quickly rips it open even though he can’t read all the words. I need to get him back in preschool.

  “What’s it say?” I prompt him to try to read it.

  His eyes move back and forth, scanning the letters. A big smile crosses his face and his green eyes light up with pure joy. “Santa!” He cries.

  I take the card and read it aloud. “Dear Jimmy, I know you have been such a good boy for your Momma this year. My elves thought you deserved a special tree this year all the way from the North Pole. Your friend, Santa Claus.”

  “Let’s get it in here and decorated. Think you’re strong enough to help me get it in the door?” Shawn asks Jimmy and winks at me as my boy nods eagerly. I can’t help but smile even though I feel shitty on the inside. I have to put on a brave face and go on with my life.

  I watch the two of them laughing and having a good time dragging the bushy tree through the door. Shawn appears so proud as he gets the tree on the stand. I get some water while Jimmy does his best to bring in the shopping bags. My kid is so eager and full of Christmas magic. The sight brings a tear to my eye. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to buy a tree and everything to go on it. Moving into this apartment set me back. I had to pay deposits on all the utilities. Shawn wanted to help but I wouldn’t let him. Me and my stupid pride but he knows I wouldn’t say no to this because of Jimmy. The sentiment is sweet.

  He catches me wiping my eye. His shoulder bumps against mine. “I never forgot that you always wanted a real tree.”

  My mind drifts back to a long time ago and being ten years old. Shawn was fifteen and I had thrown a tantrum because we had a tiny plastic tree that wobbled on the table. You couldn’t even put anything under it and the only decorations was the popcorn strings that Shawn helped me make and my paper snowflakes. Charlie Brown’s tree in the Christmas special looked better than ours. Anyway, his old man, my stepfather got tired of my whining, tossed it out in the snow then lit it on fire. That was one of the worst holidays but also one of the best. To make up for it Shawn got some paint and painted a tree on the back wall of my closet for me. I think that was when I started to fall for him. He was my one tiny flicker of good in a world of bad.

  And after all this time here he is again giving me something to smile about when I am feeling like my world is falling apart.

  Chapter 3

  —Uno

  I watch Melissa run out of my hospital room and acceptance for what I can’t change washes over me. Letting her go was the right thing to do even if it hurt me to do so. There’s a new life waiting for me in Texas with Stephanie. I know she’s a crazy ass bitch but at the end of the day that woman is my crazy bitch and she will do anything to keep me. Even fake a DNA test and give me fake ass fucking cancer. Stephanie isn’t the only one who knows how to bribe people to get what she wants. I knew she was capable of some shady shit, but I never imagined her going this fucking far. That kid in her belly isn’t mine. Belongs to that cop she fucked behind my back but in the end it doesn’t matter. Melissa and her kid are better off without me and as hard as I fight against it, I do love Stephanie. It’s a fucked up mad love but it’s real. I feel it deep inside me to my very core. The woman is in my veins and I can’t even bleed her out. She’s a part of me. For better or worse, I love her.

  I could have said no to Steph. I could have stayed here and fought to be with Melissa, but truth is I’m not the man for her. Stephanie needs me. She’s got a target on her back and I will do whatever I can to keep her safe. I was resigned to the fact that we were over but when she pulled through for me in the end with Tiny, something inside me started to change. I remembered that for most of my life she was with me ride or die. She always had my back and I stopped having hers and that’s where I went wrong.

  I made mistakes and damn if she hasn’t made them too. I just wish she could believe in the love I feel for her. She didn’t need to go to such fucking extremes to keep me. When I got shot it made me see things in a different light. I thought I was a dead man and while Melissa did cross my mind it was Stephanie that pulled me back a second time. Am I pissed at her? Fuck yeah, I am angry that she is up to her old bullshit of lying and scheming. I will deal with her in my own way in my own time.

  First, I have to get better enough to be released.

  Then it is game fucking on.

  Texas will be a new beginning.

  Chapter 4

  —Cocky

  I have always loved Melissa. Time and circumstances kept us apart, but now I have her back in my life and I will do whatever it takes to make her mine. I stepped back and let her explore her feelings for one of my brothers, but I wasn’t counting on her falling for him. I can see the hurt in her eyes though she tries to put on a brave face. I’ve waited years to be her man I can wait as long as it takes for her to realize that there will never be anyone else who will love her the way that I do. Every single day I will show up for her in some way to let her know that I care and that I am going to do everything within my reach to prove to her I am making up for the past. I can’t go back in time and change the past, but I can damn sure shape our future.

  “This was really great of you. The tree. The card from Santa, but Shawn, it’s too much. I can’t give you anything in return.”

  “I didn’t do it because I want anything from you.” I squeeze her hand in mine. “No.” I shake my head. “That’s a lie. All I want is this right here. Your time. Being a part of your life and getting to give you new memories and to do something special for Jimmy. It’s your first Christmas here. I want it to be memorable.”

  “And here I was worried that prison changed you. You’re still just as sweet as you ever were. Maybe sweeter.”

  “Don’t go around telling anyone. I have a reputation.”

  “Thanks for this.”

  “Don’t mention it. I did it for the little dude.” I move off from the kitchen and start stringing the lights while Jimmy and Melissa busy themselves with opening the ornaments. The kid cracks me up. Keeps hanging his decorations in clusters and Melissa goes behind him spreading them out. When it gets time for the star, I pick him up so that he can place it on the top. I give Melissa the honor of lighting the tree. I told her I only did this for Jimmy but that’s a lie. I think she knows that though.

  It’s getting late and I can tell Jimmy needs to get to bed. I grab my cut off the back of the couch and shove my arms through the holes.

  “Um, hey, quick favor. Could uh you sit with Jim Jam for a few while I run and put a load of laundry in? It will only take me like five minutes if the machine is empty.”

  “Why don’t I do it and you can get him to bed.”

  “You sure?”

  “Happy to help. Whatever you need, Lissa. I want you to know that you can count on me.”

  “I’ve never doubted that. Let me grab some quarters and a basket.”

  Melissa goes down the hall and I take the opportunity to ask Jimmy an important question. “What’s something you’d like to get your Momma for Christmas?”

  He taps his finger on his chin turning his head sideways to look at me. “Tocks and tandy.”

  “Socks and candy?” He bobs his head up and down. “All right. What about you? What did you ask Santa for?”

  “Fire truck. Dis big.” He holds his arms outstretched as far as he can.

  “You been brushing your teeth?” He nods. “Don’t pick your nose, do you?” He scrunc
hes his nose while making a sour face and I chuckle.

  Melissa returns holding the basket with a laundry detergent bottle stuck down in the side and hands me a roll of quarters. “Thanks. You can just stick my basket on top of the washer and put my quarters in the fabric softener box. I’ll get them in the dryer in a bit.”

  “No problem.” I bop her nose with my finger. “Keep being good Jim Jam and I bet Santa will bring you that fire truck.” I level the basket on my side, so I can open the door. I look back at Melissa and Jimmy, but they are already going down the hallway to the bathroom. I hate to leave them and hope that one day the three of us will be a real family and I won’t be the outsider looking in.

  The laundry room is a building away from Melissa’s. I don’t like the idea of her out here late at night alone and leaving Jimmy asleep in the bed while she does it. What if someone attacked her, a fire broke out, or worse Jimmy woke up scared and went wandering in the dark searching for her? I want to say something to her about it, but I know her, and she’ll take offense. Think I am dogging her parenting skills. I’m not but I worry. I’ve always worried over her since the day she came into my life. I took care of her every day after school and hated every minute of it—until I didn’t. When I was twenty and she was fifteen her hormones were raging, mine were too but I never touched her. I wanted to, but I knew better. I damn sure didn’t want anyone else to have her either though.

  I am starting out the door of the laundry room when Carmen, one of the clubwhores, shoves me back inside. I forgot she lives here. “Hey you. You’re a hard guy to get alone.” Her fake red nails stroke my jaw and I take a step back. She’s nice enough but I’m not interested.

  I shrug. “I’m a busy guy.” I took over the garage after the shit that went down with Zo Zo and him hurting MaryAnn, Cupid’s old lady. Carmen has been chasing my dick for a while now and every fucking time I turn her down.

  “You don’t look busy now. What are you doing here anyway?”

  “None of your fucking business.” Bitch is starting to piss me the fuck off. I’m a nice guy to a point but I won’t tolerate her disrespectful bullshit. She fucking knows better too. “Only woman who will ever have a right to question me will be my old lady. I’m only going to tell you once to get the fuck out of my way, cunt.”

  The bitch drops to her knees. “I just want to blow you, Cocky.” Her lashes flutter at me and I grab her by the shoulders. Melissa picks this exact moment to walk into the laundry room. Her hand flies to her eyes, getting the wrong idea.

  “I’m sorry,” she blurts out and turns on her heels.

  “Lissa, wait. It’s not what you think,” I call out after her, shoving Carmen to her ass, and giving chase. I catch up to her halfway down the sidewalk and jerk her backward by her shoulder. “It wasn’t what you think. That crazy cunt was throwing herself at me—”

  Pressing her hand to my mouth she cuts me off. “You don’t owe me an explanation. You’re a grown man. If you want to fuck around that’s your business not mine, Shawn.”

  “I wouldn’t disrespect you like that. I meant what I said.”

  An exasperated sigh leaves her parted lips. “It’s late. I’m tired. I don’t want to have this conversation right now.”

  “Will you ever…want to have it?”

  “I don’t know, but don’t put your life on hold for me. Do what you want to.” This time I don’t stop her when she walks away. Fucking Carmen. I should go ram my dick down the back of her throat and teach her a lesson, but I get int the truck I borrowed from the garage to haul the tree over and head to my room at the clubhouse. I was working for Reaper at his construction company, but when Hades gave me the garage, I couldn’t refuse the offer.

  I never can get shit right with her.

  I let out a sigh and drive off like a wounded animal to lick my wounds.

  —–

  Hades has called everyone to church. A lot of changes are happening, and we are all stretched thin. With Uno patching over to the new charter, Black Rebel Devils, in Texas we are down by two men, three if I count the prospect that he’s taking with him. The other man we lost was Zo Zo but he no longer counts or matters. That sick bastard got what was coming to him. I took over Zo Zo’s garage and Terror has been given the responsibility of the Cherry Room in Uno’s place. Boogeyman and Shelly are busy with their tattoo shop. I don’t think Amber is too keen on the idea of her old man looking at tits and ass all day which is why I am proposing a switch. He can take the garage and I can take the club and put myself closer to Melissa.

  There are several topics on the floor today. We need to bring in some new blood. Finalize this merger for the new charter. We are having a going away party for Uno once he is released from the hospital. I like the dude but I’m not sorry to see him leave Melissa’s life. He is a complication I don’t need getting in the way. He’ll only hurt her. He’s never going to truly walk away from Stephanie and not with her giving him the son he has always wanted. Tiny Leone left behind a daughter who is young, insanely wealthy, and without protection. The girl isn’t our responsibility, but things have taken an interesting turn. Stephanie, Uno’s ex-wife, is now the head of the Leone Cartel. Hades has basically told Uno that he is to take her back and be our inside man, forcing him to Texas. I didn’t tell Melissa this because I couldn’t. It’s club business.

  Reaper and Harley are finally getting married. Rebel Black had no choice but to give his blessing once he was given the head of Tiny Leone. He’s also gaining a new daughter-in-law. One of his sons is being setup to marry Ainsley Leone, Tiny’s daughter. That’s a whole other story and not mine to tell. We all hated the man, but we all agree that the girl can’t be left unprotected. We can’t get away from this business with the cartel, so we might as well get control of the situation.

  Boogeyman grins at me. I know something smart is about to leave the fucker’s mouth. “Quit dreaming about your sister and cast your vote.”

  “Stepsister,” I remind him.

  “What’s that saying…the closer the kin the deeper in.” He chuckles, and all the guys bust out laughing.

  “Fuck you.”

  His hand comes down on my shoulder and he leans in close, his furry lips brushing my ear. “I would but I’m not into kissing cousins.”

  “Asshole,” I mutter.

  “You know how to make your stepsister jealous? Plow your cousin.” Cupid jabs at me and I shove my chair back.

  “Enough,” Hades’ growls at all of us. “Besides, haven’t you ever heard, put her to the test, incest is best?”

  “I hate all of you pricks, but aye, I am for giving Terror the garage.”

  “Then it’s settled,” Hades’ announces, adjourning the meeting.

  Chapter 5

  —Melissa

  “Grab that bag for Mommy.” I point to the pink and white polka dot bag that has some diapers, wipes, and a nursing pillow for MaryAnn inside.

  “Otay.” The bag is nearly bigger than him as he lifts it with both hands.

  We’re stopping by to see MaryAnn now that she is home with the baby. Her birth was a few weeks early so her little girl was kept in the preemie ward at the hospital for two weeks. I think Sara said MaryAnn decided to name her Emerson Hope. Since Jimmy had a cold, I wasn’t going to take any chances going to visit them in the hospital. I know how delicate the baby’s immune system is right now. And after Justin and his lung issues I would feel terrible if her baby became ill from us passing along germs. We get out the door and as I am locking it, I get a text from Shawn.

  Shawn — What are you and little dude doing tonight?

  I stare at the message not wanting to respond. We haven’t talked since the laundry room incident. He was helping me out by putting my wash on while I got Jimmy to bed and when I went to check on the load, there he was with Carmen on her knees right where anyone could walk in and see. I don’t know if It was to make me jealous or if he thought I wouldn’t find out. Either way the scene left me feeling confused, angr
y…hurt, but most of all jealous. I didn’t want her touching him but that makes me a hypocrite. I was seeing Justin and it isn’t like I haven’t told Shawn several times that he should move on. So what’s my problem?

  I shove my phone back in my bag without answering him right away. I don’t want to encourage him but at the same time I want the attention. I’m selfish and needy as much as I try to pretend that I am independent. The drive to MaryAnn’s doesn’t take long. I’m so excited to meet her little one. I get Jim Jam out of the car and he takes off racing and runs straight in without knocking. I catch up to him and Cupid has him in a headlock giving him a noogie.

  “I’m so sorry. Jimmy, you know better than to go barging into someone’s house without knocking.”

  “He’s all right,” Cupid says with a grin. “MaryAnn and the baby are in the nursery. Go on in and this squirt can help me in the kitchen. I was just about to fix my evening snack of milk and cookies.” My little guy stops squirming at the mention of cookies.

  “Thank you,” I mouth at Cupid and move through the living room. MaryAnn has been busy decorating and getting things exactly how she wants them. They finally sold Cupid’s other house, the one his ex-wife committed suicide in. I can’t blame them for not wanting to live there. That’s bad energy.

  The door to the nursery is open. It’s gorgeous. The baby’s room is decorated in pink, white, black, and gold with a Paris theme. MaryAnn is seated in the glider nursing. I gently tap on the door and she smiles up at me and waves me in.

  I put the gift bag down next to the changing table and sit cross legged in the floor on the white fuzzy rug. “You are still glowing.”

  “You’re just being nice. I am so tired. This one is up every two hours like clockwork for feedings. But I am very happy.”

  “Good. You deserve all the happiness in the world.”

  “Speaking of deserving.” Her brow arches. “Have you talked to Uno?”