Chapter 16

Axel
I'm sitting in Viper’s office with Tank talking things over about expanding the tattoo shop Tank, Viper and I own when we hear shouting coming from the bar. We get up to see what's going on and see one of the club bunnies Nicki yelling at someone. The closer we get we see she is yelling at Merigold. " You don't know who I am," Nicki said to her. Merigold is learning back in a stool " You are right I don't know who you are nor do I care." she says. I see Rowdy coming down the hall from the gym on the other side of the bar. We stand still and watch to see if we need to get involved.
" I'm Nicki and this is my club and you don't belong here. You aren't wanted." Nicki says. I look at Viper " You gonna jump in?" " Not yet. Merigold seems to be holding her right now," he says. He is right Merigold isn't even flustered and doesn’t look like she is backing down. Nicki is going to shit a brick when she realizes who she mouthing off to. " Whatever you say, Nicki," Merigold says and turns back around to the bar. But Nicki isn’t going to drop it. " You think you can come in here and try to steal our men. You think you have them wrapped around your finger. I got news for you none of them are going to want your fat ass. They want a real woman." Nicki says.
Merigold doesn’t even lift her head from what she is doing. " That's their problem, not mine. They don't like what they see, they don't have to look. I'm not here to impress anybody." Merigold answers the picture of calm. Nothing Nicki is saying is bothering her. That's our girl. " If you think by hanging around all the time. Always hugging Prez that he is going to make you his Old Lady you got another thing coming. He likes his women thin and good-looking like me.” Nicki says running her hand up and down her body. “ If anyone is going to be his Old Lady it's going to be me," Nicki says.
Merigold turns around to face Nicki doubles over laughing. When she starts to slide off her stool she has to grab the stool in front of her to keep her from falling over. " Trust me the last thing I want is for Viper to make me his Old Lady," she says, still laughing wiping tears from her eyes. " If he wants you more power to him," she says when can finally stand up straight. I am having a hard time containing my laughter. " But I thought Viper had better taste than a cum dumpster like you," Merigold says. Nicki's jaw drops.
Rowdy is on the other side holding his ribs. Tank beside me is bent over. The Prospect has his head on the bar shoulders shaking. Viper has a smirk on his face. I don't know how much more we can handle before we bust up laughing. " I'm not going anywhere no matter what you think or say. But thanks for the laugh. Excuse me." Merigold says and starts to walk away.
Nicki grabs Merigold's shoulder " Bitch I said you need to leave. And you need to listen to me if you know what is good for you." Before anyone can make a move toward them Merigold grabs Nicki's hand and swings around and punches Nicki in the nose so hard I swear I heard a crunch from here. Then she drops down and sweeps Nicki's legs out from under her. Nicki lands on her back with a thud. In a blink of an eye, Merigold is on Nicki and punched her in the face again. When I see her fist drawn back getting ready for a throat punch.
"Merigold stand down," I shout at the top of my lungs. She freezes mid-punch, hops up on her feet, and gets off Nicki. Rowdy comes up behind and pulls her to him. Tank helps Nicki up and hands her a towel he grabbed from the bar to help stop her nose from bleeding. She walks over to Viper and curls herself around him. " Viper honey did you see what she did to me? She doesn't belong here. Make her leave. she attacked me for no reason." she whines.
Viper looks at Merigold " Oh I saw alright." he says. She lowers her eyes to the floor. He continues " I saw and heard the whole thing." He looks at Nicki. " Every single word. And I saw you grab Merigold. She only acted in self-defense." he said to her. Merigold's eyes shot and stared at Viper. " Merigold I left it up to you but I think it's time," he says. Merigold doesn’t look happy about it but agrees “ Yea, ok. But you better deal with shit like this or I will. As you saw I have no problem standing up for myself.” pointing to Nicki.
Viper looks around there are a lot more guys here than I thought. Viper pulls away from Nicki and crosses his arms and looks at her. " What I want to know is who do you think you are to talk to anyone like you did? Who do you think you are to put your hands on anyone here?" he says with authority. " But she's a nobody. She isn't one of us. She is an outsider. She shouldn’t be able to talk to me like that or put her hands on me. I’m part of this club." Nicki whimpers.
Viper walks to the middle of the room where everyone could hear him. " That's where you are very wrong Nicki. Everyone, I want you to pay very close attention. And hear my words. Merigold is not now or has ever been a nobody. She is my sister. Daughter of Raider. Club Princess." Nicki’s eyes bug out of her head and her jaw drops. There are mumbling from every direction. Viper puts his hand in the air for silence.
" So Nicki it was you that shouldn’t have put your hands on a ranked member. Merigold’s rank is just as high as mine. And Nicki she just handed you your ass. If Axel hadn't stopped her you would be having a harder time breathing right now with a crushed windpipe," he says. I see Merigold stand taller and smile at this. " Merigold before I send Nicki to get checked out and her punishment do you have anything you want to say?" Viper asks. Merigold smirks " Hooah! Bitch. Oh and next time you touch me I won’t be so nice."
Nicki goes to the back to get cleaned and see what the damage is. I'm pretty sure her nose is broken. As soon as she is out of sight the room explodes in laughter. Tank pulls Merigold into a hug " Our Princess can kick some serious ass. " he says. That she can and majorly proud of her. Viper comes up to her " Hooah bitch. Really." " You asked if I had anything to say," she says. " Alright, Rocky come here." Viper says and hugs her tight. It is good to see him like this with her. You see the love he has for her. Rowdy is looking at her with pride and lust in his eyes.
Everyone settles down at the bar and Rowdy and I go to Merigold. " Let me see your hands, baby girl." She places her hands in mine and I see bruises forming on her knuckles as I rub them with my thumb. Every time I touch her I get a jolt that makes my cock jump for her." Prospect. Ice pack." Merigold looks into my eyes and blushes, " It's not that bad." I place the ice pack on her knuckles and just hold her hand. Rowdy comes up behind " You ok baby?" She leans into him. I don't think she realizes she is doing it. It is like an automatic response. She looks up at him and smiles " Yea. I'm good."
We stay like that for a while. " Alright, Merigold. After what I saw I have to ask. And what I heard you say I have to ask. Have ever been military trained?" Ace asks. She looks over my shoulder at him and smiles " By the best Army Rangers around." she says. Viper looks at her " Alaric, Mac, Tony, River, Andrew, Matt and rest their soul Jace Sr., the twin’s father, and Jax. our best friend. They were worried about me every time they got deployed and I was on my own. They wanted to make sure I could defend myself." The bar is silent for a minute out of respect for the fallen. Viper clears his throat " I will be forever grateful they did. They taught you well. " Everyone raises their drinks " Hooah."