“Thanks for stepping in.”
“Anytime.” He points to his stool at the bar. “I’ll be right there if you need me.”
Jack’s grandfather sits on the stool beside him. Granddad dips his chin. Oh, these two old-timers still have a lot of fight in them.
The door to the backyard bursts open. Big Papa runs through the Den like he’s on fire and right out the front doors.
“You’re not leaving me!” Lil Mama is a blur running after her husband.
What is up with these two? Before I can ask Pops, phones around the room ding with texts, and some light up from calls. Chairs scrape across the floor. A few topple over as the Viking Warriors jump to their feet and run out the door behind Big Papa and Lil Mama. What in the world is going on?
Coty pulls his phone from his pocket. His eyes widen. Before he can follow the men out, Kayla’s over the bar. Wow. She can move fast.
She wraps her arms around Coty’s waist. “Whatever it is, you can’t go.”
“I need to help,” he snaps.
“You’ll be back in the hospital.” She wildly shakes her head.
Pops places his hand on Coty’s shoulder. “She’s right. Listen to her.”
Nana steps out of the kitchen. Granddad’s off his stool and has her in his arms before she can ask anything. Hendrix runs out of the hallway. Pops reaches out and grabs his arm. Surprisingly, he stops the big biker in his tracks.
“What happened?” Pops demands.
Hendrix snaps his head toward the door and back to Pops. “Fight at the Roadhouse.” His voice deepens like he’s ready to rip the world apart. “The Mavericks showed up. Don’t know what started it, but they’re tearing the place up.”
“Go!” Pops gives him a hard shove toward the door.
“You and Ross hold things down here,” Hendrix yells over his shoulder and runs through the door.
Pops places his hand on my back and nods toward the kitchen. “No offense, lil lady. It’s safer in there for now.”
I glance around the Den and quickly agree. The younger generation of Warriors left for the Roadhouse. I don’t know the ones left except for Pops, Granddad, and Coty. Even Parker left. Kayla’s the only bartender here now. It’s all Coty can do to get her to go back behind the bar. To top things off, I have three bunnies now glaring at me. I roll my eyes and sigh. This is ridiculous.
“He’s right.” Nana motions for me to follow her back to the kitchen.
Pops walks me all the way to the door. He leans down and whispers, “If you and your sister want to go home before the others get back, let us know. Granddad and I will walk you home.”
“You know who I am.” I keep my voice low.
“I do. I remember when you left.” He glances around for a moment. No one can hear us. “You’re the Haven House Mother now. You’re family, too. You get full club protection.”
“You didn’t say my name in front of her.”
“Only patched members know your real name. Some of the younger ones may not have put it together yet.”
“He’s still out there.” I haven’t voiced my fear to anyone until now.
“And we won’t stop protecting you even after he’s found,” Pops vows.
I blink back tears and look up at him. He has no idea how much that means to me. “Thanks, Pops.”
His eyes seem to hold back tears, as well. What could break such a strong man? My phone rings, breaking the moment. Darin’s name lights up on the screen.
Pops laughs as he nudges me through the door. “Go, lil lady. Tell my son I said hey and everything’s handled here.”
Chapter 11
