Brawn and brazen ko ink.., p.6
Brawn and Brazen (KO Ink Book 3), page 6
Brant nodded and continued, “Also, watch the ref, of course he is not there to help anyone, he is there to call the winner. But, if he starts making calls against you right off the bat, the fight is gonna be rough. You need to win over the crowd not the ref, ignore him, he will do what he can to fuck you over. I saw it a lot, they were fixing the fights, but if the crowd sides with you, they will fuck the other guy over. Most of it goes on before the fight, the managers will wheel and deal with the heads of the fights. That is the only time they are going to see them. So when the time comes, make sure Harm is on his game, or you will be screwed.”
“What does it take with the people who run the fights?” Fin asked and Brant shrugged.
“I don’t know, man. I know that since my dad was involved, I was lucky. I mean, until that last fight where they found a new wonder boy. Then, I was out, and I got my ass kicked. Only thing having Hector as a parent got me. I would have been like one of the others whose body got dumped.”
I stood up straight, fucking pissed me right off what had happened to Brant, the boy’s mother had been a loser, his father, just as fucking bad. But the kid had their respect, he had made the decision to get himself out. And right now, he was working his way up, he would make it. They were all going to help him.
Reilly stepped forward and looked at the tape and looked at the pennies and shook his head. “Nothing you can do if they use these except beat their ass before they can get a shot in.”
Fin nodded and said, “Just need to make sure if they do use these, there is something we can do in order to minimize the damage.”
“How we gonna do that?” Xavier said warily. “I mean, not much anyone can do if the dude has a roll in his hand.”
“Yeah there is. This is not a regulation fight; I am not gonna tell you guys this is gonna be pretty, it is not. But if you know he has a roll in his hand, break his wrist. If you feel the salt on your skin, get him on the ground and hit his knuckles on the floor, it will crush it. Weapons, you will be carrying a knife as well. Harm will have one also. We already know they don’t allow guns, but we are wiring Harm as well, he calls the word, and we are inside,” Fin said. “The plan is to figure out who the fuck is running these fights and take them down, the head guy is not gonna be there so we are gonna need to play the game until the stakes are high enough to bring him there. So that needs to be big cash, and that will take a few fights,” Fin said in a warning tone and I nodded.
I knew what I was signing up for when I volunteered to go in as a fighter. Boys had been beaten, dumped, killed, and thrown away. There was a lot more to this than just fights, it was the tip of the iceberg, but they were going to take these fuckers down.
“Come on, boys, back at it. We need to be ready and you boys are close,” Reilly said and I nodded and looked at Xavier.
Fin nodded and they all left the ring and we continued. I didn’t see the little woman who had been standing in the doorway from the shop to the gym.
Petal
Shit, I was so screwed. I kissed Bry and now I wanted to kiss Reed, he was all muscular and sweaty. Damn, it was like testosterone overload in the gym. I wondered how the hell I was ever going to get anything done knowing what was right next door.
I turned and made my way back to my room, I had been checking things out, waiting for the additional supplies that were ordered and rearranging my stuff so when the time came, I was ready to go. I wondered what they had been talking about, fighting and shit. It sounded like they were doing something illegal, I mean rock salt on tape, yeah, so not a normal fight.
What the hell had I gotten myself into? Olivia told me all about the boys, the businesses but she hadn’t said a word about this. In fact, she had done nothing but sing her boys praises, they were amazing and thoughtful, not complete dicks like I thought, which had made me laugh because yeah, she had totally used those words.
I was lost in thought and didn’t hear someone enter into my room until a woman cleared her throat. I turned and saw not one, but four women in my stall. Okay then, I grinned and said, “Um, hey, I am not quite set up…”
“Oh no,” the pregnant one said and I looked at them curiously and waited for them to elaborate.
“Sorry, my name is Brooklyn, I am, well, my guys, uh.”
“Oh jeez, really?” The short perky woman said, “This is Brooklyn, she is with Fin and Tony, this is Zoey, the mother of Reilly O’Malley’s first grandchildren and she is with Reece and Michael, and this is Maria, who has no one and is going to end up alone and a spinster according to her mother. And I am Mia, the only good O’Malley child, because the boys are dumb.”
I grinned and said, “I am Stormy.”
“Petal,” I heard Falon yell from the front and I dropped my head and let it hang for a second.
“Sorry, Petal Denold,” I said and the women laughed.
“Listen, I heard my brother was a bit of an asshole,” Mia said and I rolled my eyes.
“Yeah, but don’t worry, I don’t blame your parents,” I said and the women chuckled.
“So, you are a piercer?” Brooklyn smiled and I nodded.
“Yep, do tats too. But, uh,” I pointed at the one they said was Zoey, “you are pregnant, you can’t…” I started to give her a lecture.
“Oh my, no not me. I have um...” Zoey’s cheeks turned pink.
“Please, she has her clit pierced and refuses to tell us about how it feels, especially since Reese is pierced too. Now if it was Michael I wouldn’t bother asking, ‘cause just ewww with the brother thing,” Mia said.
“I want one, but I want to wait until someone else get it done first,” Brooklyn said and smiled. “I am not the best with pain but I do think I would feel more comfortable with a woman.”
“Me!” Maria said and held up her hand. “I heard you were here finally and I have been dying to get something done.”
“A tat or a piercing?” I asked with a grin and the women laughed and Maria walked further into the room and looked at me almost shyly.
“Well, I was thinking about a piercing, but I am a little worried about the pain. I mean, of course I have my ears done, but I kinda want something, sexy,” she whispered and Mia clapped and pulled the door shut so the guys couldn’t hear.
“Okay,” I said and looked at her, she was gorgeous, and really I never told anyone where to pierce themselves because it was a personal thing. “So, I do all piercings, genital, lips, noses, tongues, if it can be pierced, I can do it. What are you thinking?”
She looked at Mia and the others and then turned back and cleared her throat. “Well, I kinda want to uh, enhance…”
“Her sex life, see she hasn’t been, well, laid in like a year and she is a worried you might have to dust off the cobwebs down there, but mostly she has never had an orgasm without a toy and yeah, she thinks having her clit pierced would help if the dude is less than stellar in bed,” Mia said and Maria turned red and looked at the ceiling.
“Okay, really? Can I please for the love of God, tell my own story,” Maria growled and then looked at me. “I have just heard it would enhance sex.”
I nodded and said, “Well, it will, but only if the guy still knows what he is doing, I mean, really, if he sucks in bed, piercing your clit isn’t going to do much, other than when you still use your toy.”
Maria deflated a little and groaned, “Dammit, I was afraid you would say that.”
“Well,” I said with a smile and then looked her up and down, she was hot, if you swung that way that is. “The clit is not the only thing you can get pierced that would enhance your sex life. I mean, I gotta tell you, it is a bit uncomfortable for a few days.”
“OMG, YOU HAVE YOUR CLIT PEIRCED?” Mia screamed and we all turned and looked at her. “Shit, sorry.”
“I heard that, damn, girl, you are just letting it all hang out, aren’t ya. Can I see it?” Falon yelled and I closed my eyes, especially when I heard thumping in the front of the shop. What the heck? “I am telling Mom!” I heard Falon yell and then Bry laugh.
“They are such boys,” Brooklyn said and then sat down in one of my chairs. “Okay, so give us the rundown of where she can get pierced that will not hurt her really bad.”
I realized this was my induction into the chicks of KO Ink, as Falon called them. I had never had many girlfriends since hanging out in tat shops was all I did when I was younger. I looked at them and smiled, yeah, I was ready to dance naked under the full moon and bite the head off a live chicken if that was what they did. Okay, joking, totally not biting the head off a chicken, that was gross. But the other, hell yeah. Things were looking up for me, I finally felt like maybe this was somewhere I could belong.
“Oh yeah, by the way, since the shop is closed on Sunday, you are coming to the family dinner,” Zoey said laughing. “You are now officially in the O’Malley’s circle according to Oliva and Reilly, so, girl, hang on tight, you are about to go for a wild ride.”
Chapter Seven
Bry
There was no way in hell Petal was prepared for this, hell, I was barely prepared for this. It was Sunday dinner at the O’Malleys, which meant a free for all in the house, it usually was loud, and completely out of control when we all got together in a small space. Especially the guys, football was going to be on the television. Here was the rub, there was two teams in New York, the Jets and the Giants. We were split half and half in the family with fans and it always led to an argument.
Add to it, Falon being a dick like he had been for the last week, and all bets were off. I was ready to kick his ass, and this may be the way I can get away with it, without my dad being pissed off. He had to know something was going on, because the bastard had been relentless, constantly taunting me and Reed, it was like he had a death wish. The worst part was, I was a little jealous of him, yes, I actually thought that, I needed my head examined, but still, it was true. Falon and Petal had settled into a somewhat easy relationship, they laughed and joked, usually at my expense, it was annoying. Especially because I knew what Falon was doing and it was working. He was trying to drive me nuts.
“Come on,” Reed laughed and opened the door. “She will probably try to leave before we get in there. Falon already warned her about dinner, I am sure she is prepared. I mean, being at the shop is no worse than Sunday dinner.”
I snorted, that was bullshit, and I knew it. The shop wasn’t nearly as crazy as this was going to be. I could see all the cars; they were all here. Shit, we had been working off our frustration on the renovation at our house. It was our house now, Reed had moved in last night, and I had to say, all of the changes looked awesome. It was just the frustration of Petal running hot and cold that pissed us off. Today though, we had a plan, she wouldn’t escape us this time, there was nowhere to go.
Reed entered into the house and I almost turned and left. I could hear the entire family and I wasn’t in the mood for them at all. They were already loud, which meant dad had gotten out the hooch. Shit, I knew it especially when I heard Falon say loudly.
“Petal, come here my lovely and meet Ranger and his son, Rucker. He is single you know.”
I rolled my eyes and entered into the house and it was bedlam. Everyone was here: Mia, Xavier, Cal, Sean, Michael, Reese, Fin, Tony, Ms. Maddie, Ranger, Rucker, Jet, Harm, hell, with everyone here the place seemed to be so small, which was crazy because my parents’ house was huge. I finally saw Petal and Falon sitting in the corner, she looked like a deer in the headlights. I wish I could tell her it was going to get better, but honestly, it wasn’t, my family was nuts.
Ranger was laughing and shaking his head. “Nice to meet you, and ignore him, he has terminal diarrhea of the mouth, it is embarrassing, but true.”
“Come on, you know you love me. Hey, Ranger here, he works for New York’s finest, but we don’t hold that against him.”
“Stop it, they are going to throw you out in the trash again, and last time the smell ruined dinner,” my mother snapped to Falon and then smiled at Petal and asked. “Honey, can I get you an iced tea or something stiffer like some wine, I just opened a bottle, we always have to on Sundays with these boys?”
“No thank you, Olivia.” Petal laughed. “Although I reserve the right to change my mind as the day goes on!”
“Of course, dear, all the newbies say that.” My mom turned and saw Reed and me and her face lit up and she said, “Oh Bry and Reed, you are late, I wasn’t sure you were coming or still working on the house.”
Everyone turned and looked at me and I rolled my eyes, there was only one person who I wanted to focus on, and she was looking directly at me. “Really, Ma, like Dad calling us ten times this morning to make sure we were coming wasn’t a hint we needed to get here today.”
My mom shook her head. “You know how he worries; it has been weeks since you have been here. He just wanted everyone around today for our special announcement. We had to wait for everyone to get together for this, you know, something happy right now will go a long way. You boys have been too wrapped up in that whole fighting thing.”
“Fighting thing?” Petal asked and I wanted to groan.
My mother smiled and laughed and waved her hand. “Oh yes, see, Ms. Maddie here was shot a few months ago by some very bad men who were making kids fight in an underground ring and everything. Well, Tony and Fin obviously got involved because of course they love Ms. Maddie and the police were having a hard time connecting the dots. No offense, Ranger, it is not your people really. Anyway, then Zoey accidently ended up being assigned to a case where the boy was also involved in said ring. The guys don’t like any of this coming anywhere close to their neighborhood, and it is now. So they have decided to bust them and hand them all over to the police. It is very exciting, but that is how we met your brother too, he came out here to help protect us when things got a little hairy. You know, Kink grew up here, his mom is in our little gang of women, but she moved to Florida. But that is kinda it in a nutshell, except that Reed is going undercover as a fighter, to get information, and the other guys are going to be his backup.”
Petal’s mouth opened up and closed a few times before saying. “Because Tony runs a security agency?”
“Oh no,” Mom said and laughed. “See, my boys, Reese, Kink, and Tony grew up together, they were always hanging around at someone’s house, it was so cute. They had real pride in the Bronx and so they moved back here and saw some nefarious people had moved into the neighborhood. But Ms. Maddie runs Southside Haven, for kids, and that is where she was shot. They knew they were going to have to step up and help the neighborhood out, you know, crime free. All my boys have degrees in something other than what they are doing. Like Bry, he is an architect, he is well known in that industry, although he prefers tatting now, he designs buildings, but his passion is art, he expresses himself with tattoos. Anyway, the boys are on a mission to get these people away from here, I know they will do it too. The Bronx can be a lovely place to raise a family.”
I frowned and looked around the room and everyone was listening but no one was saying a word, really, Petal was not getting involved, it was too dangerous.
“Ma, your announcement?” I said and she smiled a devious smile and nodded.
Shit, really, they had something up their sleeves. My brothers had a scared look on their faces, good, they should, because the last time my parents made an announce, they invested in a Dude Ranch in Wyoming and wanted the whole family to go and check it out. Yeah, we had still not taken that trip yet, but they were probably going to tell us they invested in an ant farm next.
It was Petal who worried me though, she leaned to Falon who whispered something to her, she frowned and whispered back. Shit, she didn’t need to know what was involved in the fighting ring. If she were anything like the rest of the women in this family, she would be knee deep in this shit in an hour. For some reason all of the females we were attracted to were attracted to danger. Well, not my woman.
My family watched as Dad and Ms. Maddie went and stood by Mom. Great, I glanced at Fin and Tony who were frowning and looking at Brooklyn who looked panicked. Then at Zoey who was shaking her head at both Reese and Michael. Oh this is gonna be good, it had nothing to do with me, and everything to do with them.
“As you know, the Roarks are in California, well, they called with some wonderful news about not only Sofia but also…”
Maria slammed through the front door with a strange look on her face, she ignored me and Reed who were just standing inside the living room and walked in and her eyes went to Tony. She stomped right over to him and Rucker yelled, “Maria!” and ran to her wrapping his arms around her waist while Ranger glared, oh ho ho, someone has a little secret there. I smirked at Reed who raised an eyebrow and laughed. I shook my head, their time was coming, and soon by the looks on the moms’ faces. The phone lines will be heating up with Sonia tonight.
“They have lost their ever loving minds. All of them, they have really gone off the deep end, brother, I think we are going to need to do something, and soon. I mean, I get they have big hearts, and I am not shocked at this at all, but I don’t know MAYBE THEY COULD HAVE FREAKING CALLED!” Maria yelled while gripping the boy and swinging him around with her as she turned to look at everyone, shit he was gonna get whiplash, and Tony stood.
“Shit, what now?” he said.
“That’s what I was trying to announce,” my mom snapped and glared at Maria and Tony and then grinned and looked around. Oh shit, spilt personality time, that meant Sonia had done something huge, and Mom didn’t want to steal her thunder. “They have adopted Bob; you have a new sister! And she is about seven months pregnant, so you are going to be aunts and uncles!”
