Yeah, what is Bri up to? You readers won't find out until her plan goes into action. I will tell you this though, her plan is explosive and game changing.
Bri POV
"Happy Birthday!" Dr. Boris trilled as she stepped into my office, holding a small cake and balloons.
"Thank you." I smiled and accepted her gifts. "You didn't have to. None of you guys did!" I motioned to the other balloons and gifts I had gotten from my coworkers throughout the day.
"I know, I wanted to though." She smiled. "Big plans?"
"Poolhall with friends and my boyfriend." I smiled. "Nothing too crazy." I pointed to my stomach.
"How's the morning sickness?" She frowned as she sat on the end of my desk.
"Its a bitch. Mostly hits at night when I'm comfortable." I laughed. "It's not pleasant and nothing settles me after it starts up."
"Fingers crossed it ends in the second trimester." She laughed.
"Yes, let's pray it does." I smiled. "You and your husband should come over one night. I would love to BBQ before I get too huge to move."
"I would love that." She grinned. "I will text you about it, right now I gotta grind down a nose."
"Lucky! I'm done for the day." I shook head. "Have fun."
"Oh I will." She smirked and left the office.
"Oh, it's salted caramel." I twisted the small cake in my hands before setting it back down. I stood up pulling on my jacket and grabbing my purse as I gathered the gifts and balloons in my hands.
"Bye Dr. H." Jessica cooed from her position behind the front desk. "Have a good rest of the day."
"You too Jess." I smiled. She was a receptionist and had more work done than needed at her age, but it was good work.
I walked to my car. Silently cursing myself for not thinking to take the truck or the Jeep. Instead I was driving the H mobile. She was back in my possession. Her back window replaced, though it no longer rocked my signature H. I popped the trunk and stuffed the gifts and balloons inside and rushed to close it before they could fly out.
#
I trekked through the house, letting the balloons go as I continued into the kitchen. I pulled open the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water.
"Kova." Giselle said as she appeared in the door way. "Happy birthday B."
"Thanks G." I took a small sip of water in an attempt to settle my stomach.
"You look green." She stood in front of me and touched my face.
"Feeling nauseous." I said weakly. "Hap here?"
"No." She rubbed my back. "Do you need me to call him?"
"No." I shook my head slowly. "I just need to lay down and relax a bit before we go out G."
"You really want to go out?" She asked as we walked to the sofa. "You should take it easy and we can watch movies and order take out or some shit we don't need."
I smiled at her as she pulled my shoes off and helped me undress. "It depends on how I feel when and if they come home. Sometimes the club shit takes longer than it should."
"Really?" She sat down next to me and pulled me close. "That is fucked up. I'll be honest with you, I like Koz. I know it's been a short time but shit, I like him a lot."
I laughed. "I figured you would." I turned the TV on. "You're alike and stuff."
She pinched my thigh. "I know but still. What happens if I go back?"
"If?" I looked at her and smiled. "There's a chance you won't go back?"
"I've been looking for places out here today. I found a spot that I love I just need to go look at it." She sighed. "I'm rushing this shit aren't I?"
"No." I smiled. "Not at all."
"You and Hap, that's been what? Three years in the making." She smirked. "I see the way that man looks at you, it's like in the cartoons, when they give the characters hearts for eyes and shit. He's fucking in love with your stubborn crazy ass Bri."
"Yeah, but I was invested from the first time I met him. I knew he was who I wanted to make a life with, regardless of his career." I bit my bottom lip. "He pushed me away, well tried to, but I stuck it out because I knew he wanted the same shit I wanted and look. We're solid, he's always on me about being smart and now he's making sure I don't do dumb shit because of the baby but it's out of love. The big bad biker is a softy behind closed doors."
"You think Koz will be like that, an asshole when needed but a lover when he's with his woman. I mean right now, don't get me wrong, the sex is out of this world, fast and rough, but sometimes I need the soft love making." She blinked at me. Her fake lashes catching the light casting shadows on her face.
"Herman is a damn teddy bear. He took care of me on drunken nights when Hap couldn't. He's capable of soft and caring when the time is right." I shrugged. "Stick it out and see where it ends up."
"I will." She gave a smile and ran a finger over her lashes. "I'm moving to Cali!"
"Yay!" I shouted and hugged her roughly. "B and G forevs! Just like old times bitch."
"Hell yeah bitch." She hit my arm lightly. "I'm that kid's godmother." She ran a hand over my stomach. "When are you even going to start showing?"
"Soon hopefully." I signed. "I have an appointment tomorrow if you want to come with me."
"Umm, you had me at appointment." She pressed a quick kiss to my forehead. "I'm down. I wanna see the little bean sprouting inside you B."
"Bean. Cute nickname for the baby." I smiled. "Happy picked out names, can you believe that?"
"Koz is hoping you'll name it Herman. Please don't do that to the kid."
"I won't. We're looking towards Hector, Estrella Sopia, Luciano, or Lucera." I blinked at her.
"No Katarzyna?" She laughed.
"Oh god no." I snorted. "Pretty but too difficult to say."
"Agreed." She nodded. "Let's watch a movie until the guys get home."
"I really doubt they're going to come home tonight." I pouted. "I just think it's too good to be true. If they come home it'd be the first time I spent a birthday with Happy. Usually we do the day before or the day after."
"You don't seem bummed out about it. Why?" She studied my face again.
"It's our thing, and birthdays aren't a huge deal for me. I already did the major ones. 16,18, 21, 25. Next one is 30." I sighed. "I'm not bummed, let's watch a movie and order pizza. I'll call him and see what's happening."
"Ok." She nodded and smiled at me.
SOASOASOA
Happy POV
"Shit." I ducked out of the way as shots rang out ahead of me. We were caught in another one of Jax's brilliant ideas. Going after an enemy out of impulse, putting all of us in danger for no reason. I sighed and pushed forward, Bri's mercs flanking me. She was right, they were good and moved with quiet purpose, bodies dropping around them.
I felt my phone vibrate against my leg as I fired my gun. The gun Bri had given me, the one that was engraved. 'Kill or be Killed' it read. I ran my finger over the engraving as I positioned myself behind Esai and Lucas.
"Go." I yelled and they filed into the room, guns pointed at our mark. August's right hand man. They quickly tied him up and cleared the room and we heard Jax's team running towards us.
"Got him?" Jax asked as he tried to regain his breath.
"Yeah Prez." I nodded. "He's all yours."
"Thanks Hap." He patted my back.
I leaned against the wall with the others and zoned out as Jax, Chibs, and Tig questioned the guy. My mind was on Bri and her alone. It was her birthday and I wasn't there with her. I was letting her down I could feel it. I shook the thoughts and refocused on the task at hand. I would have to make it work with Bri when I got home.
"Need a knife?" I asked Jax with an evil smirk.
"How about you handle this?" He moved out the way and I stepped forward. Slowly drawing my knife from its sheath on my right hip.
"You wanna talk or do I gotta persuade you?" I ran my knife across the man's throat, hard enough to bite into the skin and draw blood, but soft enough to avoid slicing his throat.
"I don't know anything!" He yelled.
"I don't believe you." I pressed the knife harder. "Tell us what we fucking need to know."
"I don't know!" He shook his head. "I just know he met with some white bitch with an accent ok!"
"Russian?" Jax asked.
"I don't know maybe! I just know it was a long meeting and I wasn't allowed in it." He winced as I pressed the tip of my knife into his arm and twisted it. "She pulled away in a red SUV!"
"Eagles." Esai spoke up. "Bri is black, white, her dad is white, and her mom is red. Different colors for the factions."
"Shit." Tig whispered. "Russian and Black gearing up to wage war against us?"
"Maybe." Jax shook his head. "End this shit Hap."
"Alright Prez." I nodded and took a spot behind the guy. One quick motion and blood sprayed from his neck before becoming a slow trickle.
"Clean it up." I said to Artillery. "I'll pull the van around back."
"Ok Boss." He shrugged off his backpack and pulled out a tarp. "I got this, it'll be quick."
"I trust you." I gave him a tight smile before I left the room and the house.
#
It was two in the morning when I finally walked in the doors. Giselle was sitting on the sofa ensconced in whatever late night show was on the TV. The volume was low but the TV made shadows dance on the walls in the room.
"She pissed?" I asked as I stood in the archway removing my boots.
"No." She said, her focus never moving from the TV. "Expected it. Said you two either spend the day before or the day after her birthday together anyways. She's soaking in the tub. Baby has her feeling sick."
I nodded slowly. "Yeah. I'll check on her then."
"Cool." I heard her say as I walked away towards the room I shared with Bri.
"Bri." I said as I rapped on the bathroom door before I walked in. "You good?" I looked at her form in the tub. She looked relaxed. Like she was sleeping almost.
"I'm fine. Just sore and nauseous." She looked at me through one eye. "You're covered in dirt and blood. Are you good babe?"
I looked down at myself and I indeed had blood on me. I hadn't noticed it before. "Yeah, I'm fine. Your mercs did good." I pulled off my clothes and stood only in my socks and boxers.
"I know." Her voice was barely over a whisper. I strained to hear her. "E, he texted me."
"I'm fucking sorry I didn't get to spend your birthday with you." I sat on the edge of the tub and took her hands into mine.
"I love you Hap. It doesn't matter." She shrugged. "Our tradition is the day before or the day after." She smiled at me.
"I love you." I toed off my socks. "You have your appointment tomorrow, can I go?"
"Yes babe. Of course." She laughed. "Switch spots. I'll bathe you." She waved her loofa at me.
"Sure." I stripped off my boxers and handed her a towel. Wrapping her in it I stepped into the tub and scowled. It smelled girly. "Smells funny."
"G added menthol to it." She shrugged. "Vanilla menthol."
"So I'll smell like a cigarette?" I shook my head as she trailed the loofa across my chest.
"No. It's supposed soothe or some shit." She laughed. "I'll make it manly." She squirted some body wash on me. "Rainforest, manly rainforest."
"No." I laughed, feeling a wave of relaxation hit me. "Girly."
"You bought it." She handed me the bottle. "Old Spice babe. You're walking around smelling like an old man."
"I'm considered an old man by most people's standards." I blinked at her and tossed the bottle on the counter.
"You fuck like a college kid though." She laughed. "Old Man Hap."
"Shit. I forgot to give you something." I dunked myself under the water to rinse off the soap.
"You're going to have to stand and rinse dingbat." She said as she watched me stand up, she stood and handed me her towel.
"Nah. Too much fucking work. I'm tired." I smacked her ass and walked towards my forgotten clothes and dug around in my cuts pocket to get her present. "It's nothing extravagant or shit, I saw it and thought of you."
She turned the gift over in her hands a few times before opening it. "It's perfect Lowman." I watched her slip the brass knuckles on and weigh them out. "Aw! Look at the crown on them! Killer, they're the best. Every time I slug a bitch I'll think of you."
"Happy birthday." I pulled her in for a hug. "Keep 'em close."
"Gonna keep them in my bra." She laughed. "Did Koz come back?"
"No, he crashed at the clubhouse." I grimaced knowing she was going to take it the wrong way. "He was sleep when I left him."
"I wanted a present from him." She scrunched up her face in the cutest way as we climbed into bed.
"Greedy bitch." I pulled her closer. "Sleep, before Jax decides to call. If we can't hear the phone we don't gotta answer to him."
"Preach." She nipped my neck. "I feel nauseous still, so I may run outta bed later. Giving you a heads up."
"Thanks, I swore last night someone set you on fire, never seen you run so fucking fast." I laughed. "Night babe."
"Night Killer."
SOASOASOA
Natalie POV
Mornings came and went. I was free to roam the house this week. Although I was under constant surveillance. It was driving me fucking nuts. I was stuck in a house with no friends. Yeah bushy brows talked to me, and yeah Bri's ass stopped by twice. I was alone, and loneliness created paranoia. I was slowly crawling out of my skin.
"Hungry?" Bushy brows asked.
"No." I shook my head and plopped down onto the sofa beside him. A hand on my belly as Luna kicked. She surely would be an athlete.
"How many months?" He pointed at my belly.
"Six." I smiled. "Can't wait until she gets here."
"Me either. Babysitting is horrible." He scoffed. "Miss Bri wants to handle you herself."
I gulped. "What?"
"She's going to handle you herself." He smiled a big smile.
"Oh." I felt tears well up. "That's fitting."
"Yes it is." He nodded. "You stupid girl for helping her mom. Her mom tortured that poor girl her whole childhood, tried selling her to old man, for marriage. You know?"
"I didn't know." I wiped harshly at the tears falling from my eyes. "She never told me."
"Hard past." He spoke softly. "Her father then make her marry old man. She did it for her dad but it hurt her so bad. When she visited Russia I always hold her while she cry and talk. She's like my own child, you hurt her, I want to hurt you but no can I because she said no."
"Sorry." I frowned.
"Tell me something girl." He started. "Was the money worth losing your life?"
"No." I shook my head aggressively and stared at the ground.
"Thought so." He stood. "Think before you do next time."
I watched him disappear down the hall. Letting the guilt wash over me. I was a shitty person.
SOASOASOA
Kozik POV
I couldn't go back to the house. I didn't want to see the look on Giselle's face when she saw what the croweater did to my neck. I didn't know why the fuck I even cared about her feelings, I simply just did. She worked her way into my veins.
"Koz." Tig shook me from my thoughts. "If you think too hard you'll blow up."
"That's the plan." I smirked and took a sip of my beer. "What time is it?"
"A little after six." He looked at his watch.
"Already?" I shook my head.
"Bri kick you out?" He asked. "Hap kick you out?"
"No." I laughed. "Hiding from feelings, that blonde I brought that day, I fucked up, I now feel bad. Shocking I know."
"She was smoking hot." He smiled. "I probably would catch feelings too."
"Yeah, well, I gotta explain these bite marks and shit to her but I don't feel like it yet." I pushed my beer aside and reached into the small cooler for a water.
"Good luck." He punched me in the side and walked off. I shook my head as my phone started to ring.
"Hello?" I asked. I perked up at the sound of Bri's voice. She was talking a mile a minute and I was struggling to get a word I'm edge wise. "I'm fine!" I finally blurted out. "Yeah, I'll be back later tonight. Got some shit to take care of."
She said her goodbye and my phone line went dead. I slipped it back into my pocket and frowned. I was going to be in trouble with both women when I went back. No way out if this shit, unless I learned how to do make up or wore a scarf. Neither of the two was going to fucking happen. I just had to man up and deal with my feelings and my fuck up.
Would you look at that, Koz is getting all caught up with Giselle. So excited to watch that unfold.
Thank you for the continued support and reviews. It's truly, truly appreciated.