THE STRAGGLERS Book 2 OWN Read online

  Pamela threw her blond hair aside and forced a smile, stretching out her hand.

  “Congratulations on your victory, Sickle.”

  I saw her hand fall down along her body, without me greeting back and Snake gave me the most arrogant of his smiles and provoked me.

  “Even though it was an easy fight, almost practice, congratulations on returning to UFC, now we can have our rematch. Are you ready, Sickle?”

  I locked my jaw, grunting through my teeth:

  “Always Snake, I was born ready to defeat you. Where and when you want it.”

  Snake folded his social shirt, under the custom made suit and made a fist in clear provocation.

  “Why not now?”

  I shook my head, making fun of his atitude.

  “Not this time, Snake, our revanche will be an official fight, why such a hurry in being defeated?”

  He answered, getting his face his mine, staring me in a way that made me see red, thirsty to shed his blood.

  “We’ll see, Sickle, we’ll see.”

  Maggie put her arms around me and whispered, bringing me back to reality, Maggie is my anchor and will always be...

  “Let’s go, Big Guy.”

  Pamela pulled the hemline of her black bulgar dress and said it to Maggie, warning her.

  “I couldn’t avoid hearing that you’re pregnant, I really hope you can be happy with the coming of this baby. But unfortunately, I know this big boy longer than you. And that’s why I say, Hunter, I hope you don’t destroy your own happiness, we both know that your biggest enemy is yourself, and that you’re as good in the ring as you are in destroying yourself.”

  Maggie took charge and raised a finger towards Pamela, surprising everyone around her.

  “See here, girl, till now every time I was unfortunately enough of meeting you, I was polite enough and held it by myself, but now it’s enough! Are you really seing the man in front of you, yeah, this amazing man is mine, all mine, my man, my male, the father of my child. That’s why I’m telling you, never get near us again, we dismiss your shitty advice, don’t come across my way, because I’ll run you over, bitch. Do us all a favor: get back to the corner where you came from. Let’s go, my champion, let’s celebrate your victory.”

  We left Pamela and Snake there in the middle of the corridor, motionless by seeing my baby, my lioness defending me with claws and fangs from anyone who tries to hurt me.

  CHAPTER 16

  HUNTER

  I don’t know if I’m more sensible for having find out I’ll be a dad or if it’s just that I miss the boys mess, but today I decided to get out of the bar and go to the ranch to be with my brothers.

  The door opens and Samantha greets me on the porch with a wide smile. She’s wearing a short jumper and her hair tied in two lose braids, my sister-in-law couldn’t be more beautiful and feminine. I lean over to kiss her cheeks and caress her large belly, she gets on the tip of her toes and hugs me in a nice way, putting her arm on my waist and yelling to the guys.

  “Look who’s here?”

  Adam is flipping some hamburgers on the grill and throws a kitchen rag on his shoulder, coming towards me with his arms open.

  “Hunt, I missed you, why it took you so long to show up?”

  I hugged him tight, taking him off the floor and he complained about my grasp, joking with me.

  “You’re stronger, man!”

  “I’ve been training enough, the next fight is going to be hard.”

  Kayden came from the back of the house with a basket of apples and raspberries and handed to Samantha, complaining about the task of picking fruit.

  “I can’t wait for this kid to be born and I get rid off your crazy desires, it was really hard to get the apples you wanted, you know? I just want to know if I’m getting a piece of this fruit pie. What’s up, Hunt, my favorite ogre, how are you, man?”

  Kay kissed my forehead and looked me up and down, watching me with a content air.

  “What an idiot question of mine, of course you are great. Sleeping everyday day with that foxy Maggie, only if you weren’t crazy about being happy in life, with a smile wider then The Mask.”

  I protest slapping him slightly on the shoulder.

  “She’s foxy, but it’s mine, did you hear it, brat? Kay, I really need you to help me with a problem. Not only you Kay, I need everybody’s help, mainly you Sam, you’re a woman, you’ll help me do everything right with no mistakes. Talking about everybody, where’s Connie?”

  Sam and Adam exchange looks and I’m suddenly apprehensive to know what’s going on that I still don’t know.

  “Damy, what’s up with that face? Where’s Connie, did something happened that I don’t know?”

  Kayden talkative as always, took charge in telling me what’s going on.

  “Connie got a few days off the fire department and took off, no news till now.”

  I widen my eyes sacred and turn to Adam so he can explain me what the fuck is going on.

  “Damy, why didn’t you say anything? Connie lives for his work, what happened to him to disappear like this without saying anything?”

  “I’m don’t quite know, he didn’t want to open himself to me, but I know that he and Sam were always talking secretly, and she doesn’t want to say anything, then, be my guest to try to get some information out of this stubborn woman, I’ve tried already and didn’t get anything.

  Sam shakes her head and looks away from my eyes and Adam’s.

  “It’s nothing, he just needed some time to himself.”

  Kayden buries his hat even lower in his head blowing a raspberry and before going to turn the light from the barn, he disagrees with Samantha.

  “Don’t say this kind of things, Sam, if it wasn’t a big deal, Porky Pig wouldn’t have...”

  Samantha interrupts Kayden lament.

  “You see? If even you, his brothers calls him Porky Pig, imagine the people out there? Connie needs some time for himself, to breathe away from all and everyone, from his memories.”

  Kay shrugs and goes to the barn and I sit with Adam in the living room, asking him how are things here.

  Sam insists on me eating a little of her famous meat stew and I’m too weak to resist.

  “I’m going to eat just a little because Maggie is waiting me for dinner.”

  While I ate my second helping of stew and Adam went to answer an emergency call at the police station, I was able to get something from Sam about what is happening to Connie.

  “Sam, what happened to Connie that he wanted to isolate himself this way?”

  Sam stirred the rest of the vegetables of her stew, putting carrots aside on her plate, she stared me.

  “Don’t tell the boys what I said, you know how difficult it’s for Connie to open himself. He met a girl, she works at the night club on the road that goes to Walter’s ranch. He was really excited about her, they were going out for a while and the thought that things were starting to get serious between them, but then the caught her making fun of him to another stripper, because of his stutter, Connie got depressed, the got a few days off work and decided to isolate himself a little that’s all.”

  “I don’t like this, Sam, the last time Connie was like this, sad, isolated from the world, he didn’t sleep for several days, he had to take anti depressives, it was heavy. Has he spoken to you?”

  Sam shook her head and bit one of her nails to disguise her worry.

  “No, he only called when he got there, tomorrow will be a week that we last spoke.”

  “I’m going to try to talk to him, I hope he answers me, thanks, Sam, for taking all this with such care, I know that enduring a pack of problematic wolves it’s not easy.”

  Sam smiled and kissed me on the cheek.

  “My problematic wolves, I love you like you were my brothers. You, Connie and Kay are special to me, you welcomed me when I needed the most, if you didn’t defend me from Igor, from his cronies, even the FBI, I don’t know what would have happened to me.” />
  Damy came back after a few minutes saying that it was a heated fight between Sally and Tony, a drunk bikers couple, that every once in a while, causes troubles at the bar.

  I explain to Damy and Sam what I intend to do, and Sam guarantees me that she’ll be in charge of organizing everything I need. And as soon as Kay comes back from his nightly stroll with Sky, I’ll ask him to help me with Maggie and he promises he’ll do everything right.

  “Don’t worry, ogre, I’ll do everything right like we agreed to.”

  Kay and everything right are two things that don’t go together.

  Ah! Geez. God help me so everything ends well.

  During the last few weeks Penelope and Tiffany also gave me valuable help, mainly in getting Maggie’s documents without her noticing it.

  Uncle Garret called me saying he was on his way and I hang my clothes on the hanger, checking everything for a last time to see if it’s all right.

  MAGGIE

  Tiffany’s schedule for today debugging the store and decided to invite me to a girl’s afternoon with Penny and Latoya. Hair dresser, manicure, massages and more massages, I got out of the spa with my soul and body light as a feather for having been so well taken care of.

  Hunter invited me to dinner, today he’ll close the bar just for the two of us and will make a new dish to include in The Sickle’s menu, pork ribs with special sauce that he won’t tell tell the recipe even under torture.

  My fiancé is a special guy, one has to own up, because any person looking his physical appearance of MMA fighter, would never imagine he could be so sensible in buying a delicate woman’s dress.

  I zip up the dress carefully and look myself in the mirror, even though the sweeping is already visible on my belly and my rounder hips, because of the pregnancy, the outfit wasn’t bad at all.

  It’s a baby pink dress in a Chanel cut, classic, going bellow the knees. I straighten the delicate pearls on the bottom of the dress and watch it the light satin give me a feminine look, jovial.

  I put on the golden high heel sandals with thin straps that Big Guy also gave me and I’m ready to dinner with my favorite ogre.

  The phone rings insistently and I see that is Kayden, I quickly answer it.

  “Hi, Kayden, how are you?”

  “Fine, Maggie, I need to talk to Hunt but he’s not answering, do you know where he is?”

  “At the bar, he said he’s making us a special dinner, I’m heading there in fifteen minutes.”

  “Ah! Good, then wait for me that I’ll take you, then we can catch up on our way there.”

  “But are you still going to leave the ranch? I’m going be late, you know how your brother is a pain with tardiness.”

  Kay laughs and makes fun of Hunter, calming me down.

  “No, I’m already on town, I’ll be there in ten minutes tops.”

  Surprisingly Kayden arrived at the set time and waits for me at the door, honking.

  “Let’s go, Maggie, if you are late don’t say it’s my fault.”

  Kayden is a character, from Hunter’s brothers, he is the most fun, even though I love Connor and Adam, Kay has a light soul that it’s almost impossible not to fall in love with. We talked about horses breeds, rappers and basketball on our way to the bar, getting at the door, I saw that the inside lights were turned off, what might have happened?

  Kay calmed me down, opening the door and offering me his arm for support.

  As soon as the door closed, the lights were on and I looked around, I raised a hand to my mouth to muffle my scream of surprise.

  Chairs on a row on both sides leading to an improvised stage. A red carpet was placed right by the entrance door and all the way was decorated with artificial bouquets and flower petals. He even thought of that, remembering the first time he gave me flowers and I almost died sneezing, because of my allergies. I squeezed tight Kayden’s arm, he removed his hat and held me tight, whispering in my ear:

  “Are you ready to get married today, Maggie?”

  I nod, swallowing dry and fighting back tears when I saw Hunter dressed in a led gray suit, on the altar with Adam and Samantha.

  On the other side were Penelope and her husband, Tiffany and her fiancé, all dressed socially to my wedding.

  Looking around, I still need sometime to understand what’s going on, all these last days that Hunter had been anxious, tense, always having mysterious conversations on the phone, it was because of this, he organized our wedding and he gave the gift of this magical night.

  As I walk by Kayden’s side, my heart beats faster and faster, I smile to our friends and as Kayden shakes Hunter’s hand and we are facing each other, I feel as if my heart could jump out off my mouth, such are my emotions.

  Hunter looks me intensively, his eyes are trying to study my reactions, and I smile to him, it’s like as if he got a weight out off his back, he straighten himself and takes a deep breathe, speaking with his hoarse voice that always makes me mad.

  “Hi, baby.”

  “Hey, Big Guy.”

  Hunt clears his throat and bites his lips, showing people around.

  “Dinner is still up, but not only for the two of us, we have some guests.”

  “I can see that, as long as there are still ribs for me, it’s alright.”

  “Are you ready, Maggie?”

  I smile because of his question and he does too.

  “Ready for what, for dinner or to get married?”

  “For both.”

  I hold Hunter’s shaking and sweaty hand, claiming my man down, my ogre that I learned to love.

  “Yes, I’m ready for both, my love.”

  The following minutes ended up being magical, Mr Quinn Garret, a friend of the family, presided the ceremony and before we could exchange rings, we heard a cry that was becoming louder and louder, attracting the attention of everyone.

  Hunter turned himself to the back and stared at the middle of a bikers group, the cause of the the commotion: a short and stubby guy, with a huge mustache, tattoos and piercing everywhere.

  Adam made a face and signaled him to shut up.

  “Shh, quiet Larry.”

  I improvised my vows, after all I was caught by surprise with this wedding, but even though simple, they were sincere and got to my love’s heart.

  Hunter held my hand and once again surprised me, by undressing his huge heart saying the most beautiful vows I girl could hear in her whole life.

  “Maggie, I didn’t write or rehearsed my vows, I was too worried thinking if you would accept marrying me or if you would go running as soon as you saw me, then I’m going to speak from my heart: everyday I wake up and every night I go to bed, I thank mother nature, and God, for having allowed me to leave the abysm and find you. I would be a lucky guy having a beautiful, sweet and fantastic woman like you by my side, but it seems that someone up there really likes me. To complete my happiness, happiness this that I never thought I was worthy of in my life, you will give me a child, a baby. Everything I ever dreamt in my life, but I thought it was too good to be truth: a wife and a child to love, care and protect. Then I can only ask you to let me continue to love you and in making me each day deserver of that amazing life you gave me, that is you and our son, or daughter, I love you, baby.”

  Hunter’s arms wrapped my waist and we dove in each other’s lips in a kiss full of passion and surrender. The perfect moos was only broken by Hunter growling at Kayden, hearing a cry amount the guests becoming louder.

  “Kay, fix this, control yourself, Larry.”

  Kayden got near Larry and gave him a handkerchief, Larry hugged him by the waist and apologized to Hunter, making everyone laugh.

  “My bad, Sickle, you know I’m an emotional guy, I couldn’t resist it.”

  Hunter whispered in my ear, almost making me burst out laughing.

  “Larry is the president of our bikers club, since Sally left him to be with Tony, he can’t go to a wedding without making a scene.”

  After the ceremon
y, Hunter’s family came to greet me. The first was Adam, Hunt’s older brother.

  “Maggie, I’m really glad now you’re a Vaugh too, it’s good to see how happy you make my brother. Welcome to our family.”

  Kayden kissed my forehead and joked with him for having kept the secret so well of Hunter’s surprise.

  “It’s a good thing you accept it, he was really worried of you saying no.”

  I replied by kissing Hunter’s hand with love.

  “Only if I was crazy, who else would make the post perfect steak like your brother does.”

  Hunter with his arm around my waist complains happily.

  “So, you only accept marrying me because of my talent in the kitchen?”

  “In the kitchen and in other intimate rooms.”

  Hunt pulled me to his chest and murmured in my ear, nibbling my ear.

  “You’ve been really bold lately, baby, I’ll fix this bad manners of yours tonight.”

  “I’m anxious for that.”

  And Hunter kept his promise... After dinner with our guests, we danced and I threw the bouquet, that ironically felt on Larry’s lap, we went to a hotel in Oregon.

  Hunter booked a suite in the Madison Hotel and took me to the bedroom like a perfect gentlemen, carrying me on his arms. As soon as the door closed, the gentleman gave space to the male, making me excited by entangling his fingers on my hair and pulling me in a firm way to make me face him.

  “Today you made me the happiest man in this world, baby, now I want you to take off your clothes slowly to your husband, Mrs Margareth Vaugh.”

  “Yes, with pleasure, my husband.”

  Hunter went to the nightstand and turned the music on, taking off his socks, shoes and jacket in seconds, laying in bed with his arms crossed behind his head.

  I slowly unzipped and lowered the straps of my dress, letting the top part tangle on my waist, showing my white lace bra.

  I dragged my hand through my clavicle, my breasts, caressing my nipples nicely hard.

  I moved my hips to the sound of the blues playing and let the soft satin dress slide down my body, falling in a puddle of satin, by my ankles.