“Wipe your damn eye.”
She took the paper from him and licked her lips.
It was the first time he didn’t find anything sexual in her movements. Melissa oozed sex. She was like him. They both liked the adventure, and they both had the need to explore other people.
She started to wipe her face, and he noticed how she took her time, making each movement slow. Whenever she touched her face too hard, she winced. By the time she was finished, he was so damn pissed and angry. The left side of her face was black and blue, and that only came with a fist.
“Who did it?”
“You know who did it.”
“Wallace?”
“Who else?”
“Motherfucker.”
“He wants me to marry him,” Melissa said.
Pea paused. Councilman Wallace was on the books at the club. Melissa slept with him in order to keep him sweet and compliant. Pea had never asked her to. She’d wanted the challenge, and she also liked the fact that his wife couldn’t do a damn thing about it. “He’s already married.”
“And now he wants to marry me.” She sat at the table, and he watched as she started to cry. These were not those fake tears that she tried to use on Penny. The tears were real. “He’s going to divorce his wife, and he wants me to divorce you.”
Pea didn’t like the way her words felt. It was like he’d been kicked in the gut. “What did you say?”
“I laughed and told him there was no chance of that ever happening.” More tears fell down her cheeks. “I’m scared, Pea. He said if I don’t marry him, he’s got enough on you and the club to put you away.” She turned to look at him. “There’s nothing I can do.”
“Well, fuck,” Pea said.
“He hit me when I laughed, and he told me to get things ended with you. He wants me by his side, and if I don’t cooperate with him, the cops will be coming to call.”
Pea nodded. “Okay. Saint!” He called toward his Prez, who entered the room seconds later. He asked Mel to repeat everything she had said to him.
“I don’t know what to do. I didn’t mean for this to happen.” She was all out sobbing, and Pea just couldn’t stand it. Going to her, he knelt down and pulled her against him, trying his best to offer her comfort.
“Don’t, Mel, don’t tear yourself up about this. We can handle this together.” He kissed her head, and only when she had stopped crying did he speak again. “We’re going to go and handle this. Go upstairs, take a long bath, and do not open the door to anyone. I’ll be back to let you know what happened, okay?”
“I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Nothing is going to happen to me. I’ll take care of it.” He waited for her to leave before turning to his Prez. “Tell me you have a plan.”
“Councilman Wallace is on our payroll, Pea. I’ve got a plan. Come on.”
Pea followed his Prez outside of the house and made sure it was locked.
They all stood together as Saint pulled his cell phone out.
He was ready to take the fucker on.
“Wallace, hey man, sorry to bother you at such short notice, but I need your advice on a piece of property. I’m tied up all day. Can you swing by the club tonight?” Saint nodded. “Excellent. See you then.” He hung up the call. “Round the boys up. We’re going to end this shit tonight.”