I step back into my room, and my eyes instantly lock on Norie.She’s sleeping, my pillow in her arms as if she wants to hold a piece of me close.
Keeping my voice to a mere whisper, I tell them, “We’ve got Gilpin.I’m heading over to handle it and need you two to keep an eye on Norie.”
“Swade can stay.I’m coming with you,” Sevrin states.
I’m already shaking my head but the fucker steps close and grunts, “You owe me.And if you think claiming my niece gives you any rights to settle our previous agreement, think a-fucking-gain.Norie is my blood and I will do anything to protect our bloodline.”
Kinda weird statement to talk about bloodlines instead of referring to family.I know Sevrin’s chapter is a brotherhood filled with brothers who are mostly family.Fathers passing tradition over to their sons and each prospect is a family member.
“Fine.If I let you in on this, you will accept Norie is my old lady.I’ll respect the family ties and so will every member of my chapter.You can swing by anytime, and I’ll bring her next time we’re riding beach side to deliver the new shipment.”
All I get is a tight nod and a muttered, “I’ll wait for you outside.”
I step closer to the bed and lean in to brush my lips against Norie’s forehead.She doesn’t even stir.I breathe her in and like the scent of my bodywash on her skin.
Turning to Swade, I order, “Do not under any circumstances leave her side.She’s to be protected, understood?”
“Don’t have to tell me fucking twice,” Swade grits and stalks to a chair on the other side of the room.
The chair gives him a view of the whole room with the wall behind his back, the bed in front of him, and the door in plain sight.
I turn and leave, knowing Norie is in good hands.Heart is in the main room and I give him a quick update.Only me and Sevrin are heading up to the mini cabin.Less witnesses, less people to risk being seen.
Within thirty minutes Sevrin and I have parked our bikes two miles away from the mini cabin and have walked the rest.It’s late and the lights in the other mini cabins are off.We haven’t passed a single person, and thank fuck Gilpin picked a secluded mini cabin.
I knock three times and add two more after a slight pause.
Wesson opens the door for me and mutters, “Kepner and Gael have prepared everything.I’ve been putting the wheels in motion to make sure everyone thinks he’s leaving the state later tonight.”
“Thanks, brother,” I tell him and stroll inside.
The curtains are closed and most of the space is covered with tarp.
I notice the cast iron wood stove and tell Kepner, “Get a fire started and keep it burning.”
Dumping the small bag I brought from my saddlebag next to the door I let them know, “Once the fire is burning Sevrin and I will handle the rest.Get back to the clubhouse and make sure you’re not followed.”
“Sure thing, Prez,” is murmured a few times and a handful of minutes later it’s just the three of us.
Bending, I take a few things out of my bag and stroll to the stove and place an antique iron on it while I hold a pruning shear in my other hand.A slow smile slides across Sevrin’s face as he sees the combination.There’s a little time for some chitchat because the antique iron needs to heat up.Not much fun to have Gilpin bleed out on me within minutes.
The man in question is glaring at me.
Strolling in his direction, I rumble, “With everything that happened today, I have to say...I’m a tad grateful.Grateful for my woman’s strength.She’s special, you know.”
I risk a glance at Sevrin and he narrows his eyes at me.He gets a smirk from me in return.I’m the one who called him when Norie acted the same way as him.I’m not stupid, I notice shit most others wouldn’t think twice about.There’s something about the members of the Maryland Lexmore Beach chapter, and until now I couldn’t care less.
Hell, I still don’t.Though, I’m pretty sure it’s connected to the reason why my woman is still alive and sleeping in my bed.Swade knows something, it makes sense with him having a past with Norie’s mother.Then there’s the whole whispering to Norie for her to cough.
They might have blocked her from my vision, but I still didn’t see her cough up any water, and that damn crate was filled with water.Like I said; I couldn’t care less.Unexplainable things happen, and I’m not one to dwell on shit or to look a gift horse in the mouth.A second chance.That’s what’s handed to me.Something Gilpin won’t ever get to experience.
Gilpin has a piece of duct tape over his mouth.There’s nothing he could say to change the outcome, and yet I find myself curious about the fucker’s famous last words.
“Scream and I’ll start with cutting off your tongue because I couldn’t give two shits about getting any words from you,” I calmly state and rip the duct tape off his mouth.
“It wasn’t supposed to escalate the way it did,” Gilpin states with a load of regret in his voice.“Melon blackmailed me into working with him.I didn’t have a choice by the time you brought in the girl.Sacrifices have to be made, you know it as well as I do, Prez.She had to go, she knows and saw too much.”
“The she in question is the president’s old lady and I intend to show her much more.”I lean in and take one of his fingers.
