“Bree your supposed to be in the bedroom,” I grumble. Needing to beat the hell out of Keys, but not wanting her to see it and scare her more.
“Guess you haven’t had enough time to train her,” Keys says while coughing, his voice hoarse.
Fuck it. I’ve had enough. “You asshole!” I yell and strike out. My fist connects with his jaw, and his face goes sideways, his lip spraying blood. The hit feels good, so I go in for another before he has time to recover. Keys proves why he’s good to have at my back in a fire-fight, he blocks my punch and charges with his body. We go backwards crashing me into a coffee table and the vase of flowers that Bree put on it. I hear the glass break as we crash to the floor. Vaguely, I hear Bree scream, but I’m too busy flipping Key’s over, and slamming my fist into his stomach.
The bastard moves to kick me. I manage to avoid the majority of that, but he lands a hard hit, returning the favor by busting my lip too. Blood fills my mouth, and I spit it at him. We trade blows a few times, and I finally manage to get the upper hand. He’s breathing heavy and still sitting on the ground. When we catch our breath, I’m up and manage to kick him. “Get up, motherfucker.”
“I’m done Shaft, man,” he says, but if he thinks it’s going to end that easily, he’s got another think coming.
“Who the hell do you think you are insulting Bree?”
He throws his hands up. “Will you listen to yourself? Insulting Bree? Who the hell is she? A piece of pussy! That’s it.”
I haul him up by the collar on his cut. “She’s mine. Mine. And you will not disrespect my old lady,” I growl my fist crashing into his jaw, and it’s a hard hit. So hard, I find myself hoping it knocked his fucking teeth loose.
“Jesus, Shaft. Are you even listening to yourself? You’ve known this bitch for what? A few days?” his voice sounding incredulous.
I tower over him, my voice booming throughout the small apartment. “What happens between me and my old lady, or even how soon it happens, is none of your fucking concern.”
“It is when you’re setting yourself up, asshole. Your old lady? Shit, she’s not even out of school,” he spits at the floor and wipes his chin on his forearm.
“She’s mine. I’ve claimed her motherfucker, I’m keeping her, and you need to show her respect.”
“The only thing you’ve claimed is a kid who’s going to get you killed,” he stresses.
“Killed?” Bree asks, and I watch as she comes to stand in front of Keys. “What do you mean I’m going to get him killed?”
“You’re a Chrome Saint’s Princess. Do you really think your grandfather is going to sit still and watch a man twice your age lay claim to his innocent little girl?” he scoffs.
“Yes, if I’m happy. I’m not a Princess, either. You don’t even know me.”
He chokes out a winded laugh. “You’re the key to taking over the reins of Chrome Saints. You’re a Princess.”
“The key?” Bree’s eyes are an ocean of questions.
“Someone lays claim to you, that’s like putting themselves in the running to be the next President,” he elaborates.
“I don’t see how. I thought those kind of things were voted on? Besides it’s just a stupid club, what does that have to do with life?”
“Christ. She doesn’t have a clue, Shaft man. And this is who you’re claiming as your old lady?” he laughs, and then he turns to Bree with his hate. “You can’t be that stupid, bitch. Do you even know how your Grand-daddy makes his money? Or hell, Shaft for that matter?”
I don’t think I just hit, busting his nose and letting the sight of the red blood calm me, at least a little.
“Call her a bitch again, and you’ll be breathing through a tube. Brother or no brother,” I promise.
“You’d choose a piece of tail over family?” He attempts to get up from the floor.
I don’t move to offer him a hand up, the fucker doesn’t deserve one. “Bree is my family. You haven’t got this, but you need to start.”
“She’s going to get you killed,” he says sounding like a broken record, telling me shit I already know.
“Some things are worth dying for,” I vow staring at my woman, knowing I’d do just that for her. She’s worth it. I’d burn the world down and spell her name in the ashes when I’m through.
“No! Jax? He’s wrong. Pops wouldn’t kill you,” Bree pleads mostly at war with herself. She doesn’t want to think her Pops can be a bad man.
“Bree—”