Clotille poured a glass of lemonade for both of them and then chitchatted with her mother. Every few minutes, her mother would look at her watch, and it was beginning to drive Clotille crazy. "Do you have to be somewhere?"
"No. Why?"
"You keep looking at your watch. I can leave if you need to go."
"I have a committee meeting. It's a charity that helps abused women and children. But the meeting's not for another hour. Let me get some more lemonade."
When her mother left, she picked up her phone and checked to see if Rock had called or texted. He hadn't. Disappointment ran through her veins. She then sent him a text.
Clotille: Visiting @ my mom's. She seems cool. Sorry I didn't act 2 excited this morning about going back. I love u. I definitely want 2 go back with u 2 make a life with u. Before I can, we have 2 talk. When u get back 2nite, I have something VERY important 2 tell u. Then u decide if u still want me 2 come with u. Sorry for the long text. Let me know u got it. I ♥ u.
She waited with bated breath for his response, but it never came. He's so pissed at me.
"Here you go. Freshly squeezed. By my maid, not me." Mrs. Boucher laughed.
Clotille heard footsteps behind her and she craned her neck over her shoulder to see Armand walking toward them. She stood up and went to him when he entered the room, giving him a hug. To her surprise, stiffness greeted her, and she pulled back. "You're looking good," she said.
"Thanks." He sneered at her, then went over and lightly kissed their mother on the cheek. "Have we come to any conclusion here?"
"What are you talking about?" she asked.
"About you getting your fucking ass back to Aspen where you belong."
Clotille's face turned white and her stomach knotted. "What? I told you I'm not going back to Frederick. You told me you were cool with my decision and that it's my life."
"You really are a stupid bitch, aren't you? Do you think for one minute that I'd let you ruin mine and Maman's life because you can't keep your legs closed? You love slumming it with white trash. You always have. So you spotted him at Frederick's and you left Frederick for him?"
A sudden coldness hit at her core and she jerked her head back. Looking at her mother, she saw the cruel eyes that were all too familiar. "You both lied to me. You pretended that you supported me just so you could gang up on me and convince me to go back to Frederick. Well, I'm not, and I don't have to stay here and listen to you." She whirled around and began to walk away, but Armand grabbed her wrist and yanked her back.
"There's no way you're ruining this for me," he hissed. "I'm sick of your fuckups and your spoiled brat ways. You're just like Dad. You've both brought shame to our family." His lips curled up. "I believe you have a visitor who wants to see you."
The room began to spin and she grabbed onto the arm of the love seat to steady herself. Heaviness weighed her down as she tried desperately to calm her racing heart.
"Hello, pet." His voice crawled all over her. "It's time for you to come home. You've been a very naughty girl, making me come all the way to Louisiana to fetch you." He paused and fear crept around her nerves as her knees buckled. She sat on the arm of the love seat, her heart sinking with every word he uttered. "And shacking up with that dirty biker. Tsk tsk. Yes, you've been very bad. You'll have to be punished."
Clotille pulled herself up and ran to her mother. "Get out of here or I'm going to call Rock." Frederick kept approaching. "I mean it." She fumbled in her pocket, trying to take out her phone, when her mother gripped her wrist like a vise. She stared at her mom.
"Frederick, come take this ungrateful little bitch and punish her good and hard." Her mother's words sucker punched her, the woman's face a mask of anger and cruelty. Her too-red lips looked like a gash across her face. "Since you're spreading your legs freely, it might as well be for a rich man rather than a dirty biker. You've always been a bad, spoiled girl."
Frederick grabbed her roughly and pulled her to him. He whispered in her ear, "You fucking cunt. Did you really think you could leave me?"
Scanning the faces of her brother and mother, she knew they wouldn't help her. They'd rather sell her to a life of hell than give up their lifestyle. How can this be my family? I wish Dad were here. She stifled a cry and willed herself to be calm, but as hard as she tried she couldn't stop trembling.
Her mother stood up. "Frederick, take your naughty girl out of my house. I have a committee meeting I have to go to." She passed by Clotille without looking at her.
"I'm not going with you!" Clotille made a dash for it, but Armand reached out and jerked her back. She screamed and struggled, but the more she screamed the brighter Frederick's eyes grew. Then Armand had her arms pinned behind her back, and she watched in horror as Frederick took out a syringe. She squirmed until he hit her hard across the face. The intensity of the blow stunned her, and he quickly injected her.
Soon everything faded away.
Chapter Twenty-Four
"Problems with your woman? Not givin' you enough of that Southern charm the ladies around here are known for?" Bones nudged Rock with his elbow before he threw his third dart at the board. "Fuck yeah! Bullseye." He raised his arm in the air.
"Fuckin' luck, that's all." Rock picked up his three darts, each one landing further from the bullseye. He grumbled inaudibly and leaned against the wall. He took his phone out again and called Clotille. Again, no answer. He sent another text. "Want another drink?" he asked Bones.
"Is getting me drunk the only way you can beat me, bro?"
Rock scowled. "Do you want a fuckin' drink or not?"
"Fuck, will you chill? Yeah, get me a Jack and a beer." He picked up three more darts, then sat on one of the stools.
As Rock walked toward the bar, a pretty club girl came up to him and curled her hands around his arm. "Honey, you don't need to be getting your own drinks. Just tell me what you want and I'll bring it to you," she drawled.
"No worries. I can get my own." He shrugged her off and placed his order at the bar. Why the hell isn't Clotille calling or texting me back? I know I acted like an asshole this morning, but this isn't her style. Anyway, she told me to text her back. Is she playing a fuckin' game with me? And what the fuck does she wanna talk to me about? I don't wanna hear why she married Luc. She's been tryin' to explain that shit since we've got here. I just wanna start new. Damn, Clotille. Answer or fuckin' text me! A bad feeling circulated through him, his insides tensing the longer he didn't hear from her. He ambled back to Bones.
When he arrived, Chas, Axe, Wheelie, and Chicory were drinking at one of the tables and talking with Bones. "I'm just telling the guys how I'm beatin' your ass." Bones took the drinks Rock handed him. "I'm also sharing what a fuckin' pussy you are with your long goddamned face ‘cause your woman's not putting out."
Before Bones finished his laugh, Rock had him by the throat, his back flat against the wall. "Don't fuckin' disrespect my woman. You don't know shit." He tightened his grip around Bones's neck until Chas and Wheelie pulled him off.
Bones gulped air and coughed as he threw daggered looks at Rock. "What the fuck is your problem?" He lunged for Rock and the two of them threw a few punches until the surrounding brothers pulled them apart.
"Will the two of you fucking calm down? What the hell?" Chas shoved Rock away from Bones.
"I don't like what he's saying about Clotille. And I'm fuckin' worried about her ‘cause she's not answering my calls or texts. Shit!" He kicked over a couple stools, then tipped over the bar table. Several dudes from the Devil's Legions came over to see what all the ruckus was about.
"What the fuck's going on?" Catfish asked.
Axe and Wheelie went up to the host members. "It's cool. Our brother's just worried about his woman," Axe said.
"Need some help with it?" another member asked.
Rock shook his head and they sauntered away. "Something's not right," he said after the dudes were out of earshot. "My gut's telling me that."
Bones came over and gripped his shoulder. "Wouldn't have ribbed you if I knew your mood was because you were worried. Sorry, bro." Rock tilted his chin. "Why do you think something's up with her? Maybe she's just pissed or teaching you a lesson for something you did."