Spun (Kings of Chaos 1)

“Shut your mouth, bitch!” Fuse snarls.

“Pipe the fuck down,” Wizard booms.

“You going to take her word over mine?” Fuse yells.

“I’ve known her since she was born. You’ve been here what, two years? And your track record isn’t exactly clean. How about we take it to the Pres, and see what he thinks?”

“No need for that.” Fuse holds his hands up. “Just get her freeloading ass out of my house.”

“Fuck you. I pay my dues, same as everyone else.” With Wizard as a buffer, I can’t stop spilling the venom I’ve held in for too long.

Fuse’s eyes widen. “You know, you might want to get yourself connected to a brother. People might mistake you for a whore.”

I growl. It’s the way of our world. Men rule and women take a back seat. It’s a new age mafia. I’ve thought about leaving, but I have nowhere to go and no person to leave with. The world is cold, and while I have many skills, none are worth much. Better to stay where I have the support and a roof over my head.

“You’ll be seeing the Pres. You can go willingly, or I can make you,” Wizard says. His jaw turns to granite.

I hold my breath, gazing from one man to the other.

Fuse clamps his mouth shut.

You don’t step up to the Wizard unless you want to get put down. He’s as vicious as he is beautiful. Despite the age difference between us, I’ve always found his chiseled face, neatly kept black beard, and icy blue eyes damned attractive. He’s capable of great violence, but I’ve seen just as much kindness as he helped fill the hole my parents left.

“Nevy, let’s go get the shit you need. We’ll be meeting about this later. You,” Wizard points to Fuse, “sit tight until I tell you differently.” He shrugs off his cut and holds it out to me. “Put this on.” His icy blue eyes soften as he looks into my eyes.

I bask in the gentleness he hides so well. I pull on his cut; the leather is warm, worn, and smells like him. I fight the urge to inhale deeply. When he places his hand on the small of my back, I know I’m safe. We walk inside of the house, and I survey the turned over stools and curled black carpet. Chill bumps raise on my flesh. My brain is sluggish as I try to make a list of things I can’t leave behind. Clothes can be replaced or picked up by a prospect. What I need are the files I keep in a safe beneath my bed, my purse, and the money I’ve saved. I learned early on to live simple and not get too attached to things. I hesitate outside the room.

“I ain’t gonna let shit hurt you, babe. You know that. Go ahead and get your things.”

I glance up at him and draw strength from his steady gaze. Taking a deep breath, I hurry inside. I snatch my lockbox and purse, placing them on the bed along with his cut. I rip off the tattered remains of my T-shirt. There’s no time for shyness. All I feel is a frantic need to leave the house. Fuse is named for his short temper. A man gone off whiskey with a habit of making poor decisions can make a lot of bad choices. I grab a T-shirt out of the dresser. After slipping it on over m

y head I turn to face a stoic Wizard. “I’m ready.”

“This all you want?” He arches an eyebrow.

I shrug. “It’s all I need. The other stuff can be picked up later or replaced.”

He nods.

I sense his approval. Most of the girls I grew up with got as far away from the life as they could. They’re in college or hooked up with one of the brothers. Me, I couldn’t settle. A large portion of the men I don’t find attractive, and the others are too hot headed. It doesn’t bother some women if their old man strays with strange, or club mamas, but it sure as shit would make me want to cut a bitch. So, I stay alone and slightly vulnerable. It’s never been made plainer to me, shit needs to change.

“Come on, I’m taking you to the club and calling a meeting. I know I’m not your family, but I’d like to stand in your father’s stead. No one disrespects one of our girls like that.” Wizard shakes his head. “I can’t stand that shit. If I’m my brother’s keeper, his actions are mine and I won’t be a party to bullshit like that. Dumb son of a bitch has always had a few screws loose.” He nods toward the door.

I grab my things off the bed. It’s time to go.

Wizard leans against the back wall and watches as the brothers crowd in. Fuse is on the hot seat and I want his nuts in a vice. The thought of him putting his hands on Nevada drives me crazy. It’s bad enough that she has shitty parents. Now, these new motherfuckers seem to think she’s fair game. I crack my knuckles. I’m here to show him that’s not true. You let the foundation get weak and the house will come down.

The door closes and Stone stands. “You all hauled your carcasses here because one of us decided it was okay to put a hand on one of our own.”

The room grows quiet.

“Fuse, you’re accused of accosting Nevada Weber, daughter of Hulk. How do you plead?”

Fuse fidgets in his seat. “This is bullshit. She’s not claimed, and she’s been staying in my house, showing off that tight little body. I was giving her what she’s been asking for. I can’t disrespect Hulk when he clearly doesn’t give a shit.”

Pushing away from the wall I walk forward. “I do. She’s been under the club’s protection from the day she was born. I’m ashamed that something’s happened to make her feel unsafe here. I want blood for this.”

Stone stands. “You claiming her?”