Edited: 5/22/23

Tinsley:

I walk out the doors with Mac, Kenna, and Rylee. We take our usual seat in our booth. From my spot I can see Clarissa and Annabelle just perfect. I don't trust those two for the life of me. Kaiser's egg donor and conniving ex are up to no good. I can tell. I mean I can fucking sense it. It's plain as day. Or night. It's literally in our faces and most these people are too oblivious to see it.

"I don't trust them." Rylee suddenly speaks.

She glanced over her shoulders at the two women.

"Neither do I." Kenna agrees.

"If they're here to cause trouble. If they're here to hurt or harm my parents or...." Mac begins to speak.

"Or Kaiser. I swear I'll slit both their throats." I growl out. Rylee and Kenna turn and look at me in horror. Mac just sits there with a shit eating grin.

"I think someone's rubbing off on her." Mac says with a cheeky grin.

"She's got his temper now." Kenna says in pure shock.

"You'll do whatever it takes to keep the ones you love safe and from harm." I say with a shrug of my shoulders.

Mom comes up to us with four cokes and a sweet tea. I love mom. She's simply the best. I swear if they're out to hurt her. To destroy our family. I will kill for them. Definitely for Kaiser and most definitely for mom. She's like a mother I never had. No, She is the mother I never had.

"I thought you four needed a drink. Mind if I sit with you all because I am not sitting anywhere near those two." She says as she hands us each a drink.

"You never have to ask mom." All four of us reply back. She slides in beside me and I think I know why. Where my bench seat is, you can see the two clearly.

"I swear I want to strangle that damn bitch." Mom grumbles. All four of us snap our heads towards mom. All our mouths are gaped open and our eyes are Chihuahua like eyes.

"What? That bitch gets under my skin and so does Clarissa. Don't you four give me that look." Mom defends herself. This causes all of us to chuckle.

"I plan to keep an eye on a particular female." Mac responds.

"So do I." Mom and I say with a smirk. When four other ladies have gut feelings. The same exact gut feelings than you know to follow your instincts.

They don't lie.

Not like people do.

Their intentions are clear as day. Like it's written on their faces. I just hope Kaiser can see through their masquerades. If not I have no clue what to do.

"They have eyes on them all the time." Kenna says.

"So, it's not like they can get away with it." Rylee replies.

"Only place that doesn't have cameras is...." Mom stops abruptly.

"The bathrooms for obvious reasons." I answer.

"Their rooms!" Mac whispers.

"None of the bedrooms have them unless the occupants in them place them up." Mom replies.

"We have to place some in their rooms. Hidden. I know they're up to no good." Mac voices her suspicion.

"How the fuck are we going to manage that shit?" Rylee whispers.

"Tinsley....."

My head snaps up at the mention of my voice. Excuse me?

"She can keep those two occupied while I keep an eye on all three. You three can set them up in their rooms." Mom says.

"Do you think it's a great idea to have Tinsley occupy them. I mean we might end up with two dead bodies on our porch." Kenna says with worry.

"It's fine Kenna. I can do this. I think." I try to say with confidence.

What have I just agreed to. I should have just kept my big mouth shut. It gets me in a lot of my horrible predicaments. I should know by now.

"Great! We got the equipment in the small room by the stairs. We can get it done while you two do your jobs." Mac announces. We're doing this right now?!

What the hell?!

I watch as Mac, Kenna, and Rylee walk off towards the stairs. I huff out a breath and know it's my time to go towards the nuisances. The two thorns in my damn side.

"You got this Tins. I'll be near you at all times." Mom says with a soft smile.

I love how she's trying to reassure me. However, I can't get the antsy feeling that's crawling in my skin. This isn't going to be going how I please. I can already tell. I begin to walk towards the bar where they are now sitting. I decide to walk behind the bar because I'm seriously going to be needing a stiff drink. Once I have maneuvered behind the bar; mom comes up and sits three bar stools down from them. She gives me a small nod telling me she's got my back. Well my front. But you know what I mean. Right?

I pour a shot of Clase Azul Gold Tequila. The bottle Kaiser had personally bought just for me. I throw my shot back. The shot burns the inside of my throat. Liquid courage? Check. Courage The Cowardly Dog? Most definitely check.

Now time to do my part, I walk in front of mom and give her a bright smile.

"What would you like to drink Mom?" I ask cheerfully.
This surprises both of us.

What the hell?

"Hennessy. A shot please." She answers as she pats my hand.

I reach up to the top shelf where her bottle is resting. I pour her a shot and pray to God she can handle her liquor. I mean she's supposed to be watching my back; not be shit faced. She downs her drink and passes me her glass. Prospects start to come to the bar and ask for drinks. This gives me the perfect opportunity. Once all the prospects have gotten their orders; I start to head towards my two unwilling victims. I feel like a lioness hunting her prey down. I stop in front of both women and give them a friendly smile.

"What can I get y'all to drink?" I ask way too sweet.
This makes me want to cringe on the inside. Can I make this any more obvious?

"A coke please." Annabelle says with a smile.

I walk to our cooler and grab her a can of Coke Cola. I slide it to her with ease. I look over at Clarissa and she looks at me with hate. Bitch I can't stand you either. So, we have a mutual thing going on. I hate you, you hate me, and we both love Kaiser.

"Tequila sunrise but instead of orange juice I would like it with pineapple juice." She says with a hint of anger.

"I'm not a bartender but I believe that's called a tequila sunset." I respond back to her.

"I don't care what it's called. That's what I fucking want." She snaps. I watch as Annabelle walks off with her coke in hand. She sits five seats down directly next to....

Mom.

Oh shit!

"My drink?" She orders yet again.

I roll my eyes and put crushed ice in the glass. I slowly pour in the pineapple juice and tequila. Once I have the amount I need, I put a few splashes of grenadine. I stir it gently and place a slice of pineapple on the rim. I place her damn straw into the glass and slide the bloody thing in front of her. I watch as she takes a sip of it.

"Tins is one of our best bartenders. Even though she doesn't work here." Mom says with a chuckle.

"Mom, I only help out when I am needed back here. Everyone knows I can't stand half the drunks that come up to this bar." I respond back to her.

Clarissa has so much hate filled in her eyes. Her eyes are casted directly at me. I swear I wish she'd choke on that damn straw.

Stupid bitch.

Annabelle is talking to mom. However, mom's expression says it all. She wants to stomp her face in with her boot. This causes me to chuckle.

"What's so funny?" Clarissa demands.

"Nothing, continue to drink your bitch drink." I snap back.

"Keep laughing because it'll be funny when Kaiser is in my bed. Because it is bound to happen. I mean I am his first love after all." She says with a wicked smile.

"Last I heard he doesn't want anything to do with you." I growl back.

"Is that so? Why else would he be okay with me being here? I mean I am in the room next to his?" She chuckles out.

"Why are you here." I question. The more she talks the more she makes me angry.

"For Kaiser. Isn't it obvious." She says with a sinister smirk.

"Stay away from him." I snap.

"Afraid of some competition?" She questions. I don't answer. I grab a beer from the cooler and slide it to a prospect whom asked for one.

"I would be if I looked like you." She adds to the fire.

"If you hurt him in any way or shape or form. I swear I'll gut you like a fucking fish." I threaten through clenched teeth.

I watch as her hand grips her glass tightly. Before I could process what she was doing; her drink that was in that glass is in the air. It lands in my hair, on my face, and sticking to my shirt. I now smell like her fruit ass drink. All reasoning I had has went straight out the front door, down the road, and out of town. I jump over the bar's counter and spear this harlot out of her chair. We both land with a big thud to the floor with me on top of her.

"Oh shit!"

"We have a fight!"

"FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!"

I'm on top of her with my fist connecting to the side of her face. I ball my left hand into a fist and throw all my weight into it. My fist connects to her nose. She grips my hair and jerks my head to the right side. With her free hand she slaps my face. I try to hold her down but she bucks me off of her. When we both stand up, she charges at me. I move a bit slowly and she barely hits me. But I still manage to hit the floor. She straddles me and begins to punch me. I try to block her hits but a few break through my defenses. I eventually am able to grab her head. Once her head is securely in my hands, I head butt her directly in her nose. She grunts and her hold on me has loosened. I ball my hand into a fist again and connect it into the side of her face. She rolls off of me and I am now on top of her again. I have the upper hand this time and I am not letting her have it back. I grab her shoulders and begin to slam her head against the wooden floor. Through all the cheering , the noise, and our fighting; I didn't see the church doors open up. Nor did I see the girls come down from being upstairs.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?" Kaiser yells.

I slide off of her body and stand up. I can't form words when I spot him stalking towards up. I freeze in my spot. Only part of me that can move is my head when I glance over at Clarissa. Clarissa gets up from the floor and hold her head. She shoots me a glare and I can the damage I've done. Her face is bloodied. Oops, that's a lie. I really don't care how her face looks. It might be an improvement.

"Kaiser. Son calm down." Mom tells him.

"Calm down? I come out and see these two fighting. Someone tell me what the fuck happened." He orders.

"She-she-sh-eeee attacked me." Clarissa cries out.
Oh that bitch. This was her plan all along and I'm the idiot that fell for it.

"Let's get you checked out." Kaiser says as he helps a 'wounded' Clarissa towards the medical side of the clubhouse.

He turns and looks over his shoulder at me with an unrecognizable expression in his eyes.

"Last warning Tinsley." He snaps.

His threat breaks me slowly piece by piece. With tears in my eyes, I sprint pass them and up the stairs. I open my door and slam the door closed behind me. I lock it quickly and I slide down the door and place my head into my hands. I let my tears fall freely. He fell for her shit after all. After staying on the floor for a while, I start to crawl into my bed. Soon I fall asleep from the exhaustion from all my crying. I'm woken up by pounding on my door.

"Tinsley open up!" His voice yells. I don't move.

"Tinsley!" He yells again.

I don't answer. My body is numb and I feel empty. So damn empty. I didn't think I could ever be this empty. The emptiness is worst than when I was with him.

"Tinsely open the fucking door." He screams louder.

"Fuck off Kaiser!" I yell back. I just want to go back to sleep.

"Tins please open the door." His voice lowers as he pleads.

"Fuck off! I'm trying to sleep!" I yell back at him.

"Tins. Please open up." He begs.

I don't answer. I reach my ear bud from my side table and connect my phone to it. My music drowns out his voice. I roll over on my side and my back faces my door. I peacefully fall back asleep. I wake up hours later to Mac knocking on my door.

"Tins it's me." I don't answer her either.

"Come down and eat babe. If I don't see you in five minutes down stairs; I'll come in and drag you out by your feet. Five minutes Tinsley." She threatens.

I hear her footsteps softly further down the hall. I throw my covers off my body and quickly throw my hair into a bun. I know if I don't make my presence known downstairs in five minutes; she really will be up here dragging me out by my feet. I unlock my door and open it. I glance around to make sure the hallway is safe for me to exit. I slowly make my way down the stairs and into the kitchen area of the clubhouse. Kaiser's eyes snap to mine. Regret mixed with guilt is swirling in his eyes. I move my eyes from his and grab a plate. I place a salad on my plate and grab a drink. I walk out of the kitchen with my food and drink. I begin up the stairs and make it to my room. I use my foot to close the door but it doesn't close. It has caught something instead. I turn to look and see a shoe blocking my door. When I glance up from the said shoe, I see Kaiser in my door.

Of course.

"I just want to talk to you for a second." He softly says.

"I don't. Please leave." I whisper. I place my plate and drink on my desk. I pull my chair out and sit with my back towards him.

"Please." He begs. I don't answer and just twirl my fork into my salad. He doesn't understand my silence because he is still here. The typical male for you.

"Please Tinsley." He calls out again. I huff out a breath. He seriously isn't going to go away.

"Fine! You got one minute." I grumble.

"I'm so sorry!" He begins.

"I don't care. I'm tired of hearing I'm sorry every day. Skip the apology already." I snap.

"Hear me out." He responds.

"Right?! Like how you heard me out earlier?" I question.

"I... Just let me explain." He begins again.

"Times ticking Kaiser." I point out.

"Fuck the time. I over reacted and should have let you explain. I'm sorry." He whispers out his apology again.

"Last warning Kaiser." I say to him his exact words to me.

I watch as he visibly flinches. Instead of talking or yelling; he stalks towards me like he's on a mission. He crouches down in my face and kisses my forehead. He backs away towards my door.

"I'm sorry." He says with a sad voice. He closes my door softly and I'm sitting on my chair replaying what the fuck just happened.

Did he just?

What just?

Damn it Kaiser!

Word Count: 2833

Vote, Like, Comment ❤️