The President's Wife (Snakes Henchmen MC 0.5)

I’m fortunate where my daughter is concerned. I’ve raised her to value herself, to never let a man get away with hurting her. Not to be ashamed if he does, to always come to us if she needs us, and to be headstrong. She’s everything I could ever have wished for in a daughter. I only hope I can be so lucky with my boys. Looking at Jett and the way he is with Max and VJ, I know I have nothing to worry about. Both Shepard and Jett will teach my little boys to be men, and I’ll show them how to treat women with respect. Because if they ever physically hurt a woman, I'll make damn sure they don't get away with it, sons or not. I will never put up with that kind of thing from anyone.

Not that I think for one second they’ll ever do such a thing, but you just never know. You can bring your son up with the best of intentions, teach him right from wrong when it comes to women, but they don't always follow the path you've set them on.

“We’re all proud of you, sweetheart.”

“Thank you, Daddy,” I watch Willow being pulled around everyone, hugged, congratulated. She’s full of smiles and happiness. As I watch her waving to me before jumping into her friend's car, off to party the night away, I pray I never lose her.

“Come on, beautiful, BlackJack's having a barbecue, and we’re invited.”

The last thing I want right now is to stand around with everyone, drinking, and eating. I just want to sleep this sickness off. However, I don’t say that to Shepard, I just lock Max in his car seat while Shepard puts VJ in his. I then climb into the passenger seat and lean my head back against the headrest.

I must have dozed off, Shepard is shaking me, letting me know we’ve arrived. I haven’t slept long, Taylor only lives ten minutes from the school, but my head is banging like crazy. My husband gets both kids out of the car, and I watch them run inside the house. He then takes my hand and helps me out of the car. Not that I couldn’t do it myself, but he’s behaving like a gentleman, I suppose.

Shepard yanks on my arm and forcefully pulls me against the side of the house. He pushes me back against the wall, his eyes dark and searching.

“What are you doing?” I’m not in the mood for this; I just want to get inside to my sons and make sure they’re not wreaking havoc. They’re young boys, don’t they all do that? VJ certainly does.

“What’s wrong with you? You’ve been off all day.” Damn. I thought I’d masked it quite well. I should’ve known I’d never be able to fool him.

“Just not feeling so great today,”

“Are you sick?” His hand comes to my face, and I smile.

I hold Shepard's hand to my face and lean into his touch. “I haven’t been feeling too good for a couple of days. It’s nothing serious, but I have a horrible headache today.”

“I’ll get the boys and take you home.”

“No, there’s no need for you to miss this. The boys will act up if you try to make them leave right now.” They love spending time with everyone, and they hate leaving. “Besides, Coral wants to talk to you.”

“There’s plenty of time for that,” He tucks my hair behind my ear. “I’d rather take you home so you can rest.”

“I’ll rest later. I really am fine.” I love him for worrying, but it’s annoying me. It takes me a little longer to convince him that the more he stands arguing with me, the more time he’s wasting that he could be spending with his buddies.

It’s probably stupid to force myself to stay here, and party with everyone when I should sleep this off, but I figure a couple hours won’t hurt. After popping a couple of ibuprofen from my bag, I don’t feel as bad. I even help Taylor when she asks me to pop to the store with her to grab meat for the barbecue. As I’m all smiles, Shepard seems to believe that I’m okay enough to go.

Not that he could stop me, of course. We don’t have that kind of relationship. I don’t answer to anyone, but I do listen to my husband when he’s concerned.

“You do know one of the boys could’ve done this?” I tell Taylor as we load the trunk of her car with beer. How much beer can twenty-eight men drink? I know most of the girls drink beer, but most of the guys don’t even have a girl. Those without old ladies don’t bring their whores to family get-togethers.

“They could have, but I needed to get out for a bit.”

“What’s wrong?” I narrow my eyes a little. Have I really been this neglectful of my best friend of late? I hadn’t noticed how down she looks. Her usually caramel colored skin is paler than normal. Her dark eyes seem sadder. “Taylor?” I grab her wrist, stopping her from grabbing another case of beer from the cart.

“Jack and I... I mean me, I...” She looks up at me, tears now falling from her eyes. She’s starting to worry me. “I had a miscarriage a couple of weeks ago. I kept it between Jack and me, but I’m struggling. The doctor said I’d never be able to have another child.”

“Oh, babe,” I grab her and pull her into me. I rub her back as she sobs against my shoulder. How the hell did I not know about this? I should’ve been there for her the way she’s always been there for me! “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It happened so fast, Lyn. We were going to tell people about the baby when I got past the twelve-week mark. I didn’t make it past ten.” She wipes her eyes roughly. “There were complications, too much scar tissue left behind. I’m so frustrated with myself, Lynette.”

I rub her arm, not knowing what to say. I’ve never lost a baby, and I can’t even begin to imagine what that feels like. My heart hurts for her. Taylor has wanted another baby since Dominic was small. Now knowing she’ll never have another one... I can’t even imagine the hurt.

“Jack hasn’t spoken to me about what happened. He acts like nothing at all happened. He blames me, and I can’t take it.” She sobs so hard against me, and I’m going to kill BlackJack. How could he make her feel like this was her fault?

I drive us back to Taylor’s place, she’s too upset, and I don’t fancy getting in a car wreck right now. She manages to pull herself together before we get there. A couple of the guys come out and unload the car, while I grab BlackJack and drag him into a quiet room.

I slam the door behind me and fold my arms across my chest in anger.

“Wanna tell me why you’re looking at me like you want to kill me?”

BlackJack is no small man. In fact, he’s fucking huge in every way, but even big bad bikers hurt sometimes. Jack is hurting bad, I see it in his eyes.

“Taylor told me about what happened.” He says nothing, just looks at me curiously. “Why are you blaming her? Do you have any idea how much she already blames herself for something she had no control over?”

“I do not blame her!”

“Really? They why in the hell does she think that you do? She broke down to me, Jack. She feels like she failed you, that you can’t bear to be near her, and right now, she needs you as much as you need her.” He says nothing to me, just walks right past me and out the door.

I sigh to myself while rubbing my temples in hopes of relieving the pressure behind my eyes. There’s no chance of that, though, when my husband is yelling like it’s an Olympic sport. I suppose I best see what the hell is going on now.

Will this day never end?

&nb

sp; Chapter Fifteen

Shepard

I warned every one of my men what would happen if they went against me where Coral was concerned. I warned them all to stay away or risk getting a bullet through their fucking brains. She stood there not five minutes ago, telling me how in the few short months she’s been home, she’s been seeing one of my men. Yeah, that went down like a led balloon. How the hell has she been seeing anyone without me knowing? And one of my men? Where the fuck has my head been that I'd be so out of the game?

I encouraged Coral to tell me who she’s been seeing. She begged me not to make a scene, and to, please, let her be with him. She’s in love with him, she told me. He’s in love with her, she said. Doesn’t she realize men will say anything to get in a woman’s panties?

Stryker, she told me. Stryker is the one she's in love with, the one who made her promises of love, and a life she’s always dreamed of. Who the fuck is he to make her those kinds of promises? She deserves more than this life!

As I pin the cunt against the fence in the backyard, kids are screaming all around me, and Coral begs me to let him go. Stryker stares me down like the tough son of a bitch he is.

Stryker is one of my most loyal men. He’s strong, powerful, quiet for a biker, doesn’t have much to say unless it’s worth mentioning, BlackJack and Taylor's honorary son. A kid they took in after he tried to rob BlackJack a few years ago. Jack saw something in the kid and brought him into the club. He was patched in real quick. I know both BlackJack and Taylor are more than likely looking in on this right now. Taylor will want to rush me, to push me off the man whom she calls her son, even if he is only a few years younger than she is. I know Jack will be holding her back because he knows not to interfere in what I’m doing.

Stryker is a good man, and I know deep down that if he told Coral, he loves her, then he means it. Won’t change the fact I’m going to rearrange his face for what he’s done! He should have come to me the moment he realized he felt more for her. Because if he’d told me he’d fallen for her, then I would have given him my blessing. I’m not a fuckin’ monster. I wouldn’t stand in the way of two kids in love.