It’s not like I can blame them. They’ve carved out their own lives and it’s how it should be. You better believe they show up on family day though.
Lucifer is going to give me a whole bunch of shit when he finds out I’m claiming my Tempest. I already know he’s going to warn me about her being a harbinger of what is to come.
Maybe he’s on to something.
I’m interested to see how my brothers do as they start to fall. It’ll be entertaining for sure.
Ripper walked into the clubhouse right before dinner after being relieved from his shit cop watching duty. Duckie is on him now. Knowing he’s out there and pretending that everything is fine, which was the report from my enforcer on the matter, makes me want his blood.
Now he’s leaning against the bar next to me watching everything. I already know this is the calm before the storm. Wagner will go down swinging to protect himself. Especially considering some of the skeletons he’s trying to hide.
He won’t be able to stop some of them from coming out. The fact his mistress hasn’t stepped forward means his hold on her is strong or she’s scared out of her mind. Who knows what the whole story is there; Anchor is still looking into her.
A woman being murdered isn’t an uncommon occurrence, but Kendra with the cop husband is a different story. There’s meat there. Wagner will want to find out about the evidence Addyson has. He won’t be able to let it go, not when it’s a matter of time before someone uncovers exactly who he is.
It’s the digital age and everything leaves a trace.
How messy this whole thing gets depends on Wagner and the moves he makes.
“Son,” Battle slides into place at the bar next to me, his eyes locked on my mother.
It sure as fuck isn’t an uncommon sight. Not for me. He’s always been obsessed with her and the feeling is mutual.
My mom is a strong woman, but she’s soft in the ways that matter. She helped make this club into a family and give it some humanity when the darkness threatened to take over.
We’re good now with more of our business being legit than not. It wasn’t always that way though. What we do outside the law is strategic, to ensure the power we hold isn’t questioned, and worth the effort when it comes to being paid.
What can I say, business is business. My father taught me well and he had mom as his moral compass.
“What’s the deal with you and the damsel in distress?” My dad’s question isn’t judgmental or harsh, more curious.
I tear my eyes away from Addyson long enough to glance at him, but it’s about all I can manage. Before I can answer him, the clubhouse door opens and my brother slinks into the room. He goes straight to mom who immediately introduces him to Addyson.
When my woman smiles at my little brother, the fucker practically melts. My eyes narrow and my fingers tighten around the glass in my hand to the point it creaks. I’m about to slam it down on the bar and stalk over to them when Mom starts to shoo Arch away.
Maybe I’ll start calling him Archie. He hates it. That’ll fucking teach him.
It’s not like I’ll hurt the kid. I love him far too much for that. How could I not? I was 18 when he was born, a total surprise to my parents who stopped trying after a few miscarriages.
I don’t remember a lot about that time, but I remember Mom being so sad. She tried to hide it and devoted even more of her time to the club kids and the brothers who, let’s face it, are big kids in leather cuts a good portion of the time. Then she stopped being sad.
Looking back, I think it’s when they stopped trying. I’m glad Mom started sparkling again when she hadn’t been for a while.
Then, just as I was about to graduate from high school, Mom found out she was pregnant. It was a big to-do and there was a lot of worry about her miscarrying again along with her age.
I’m not sure if everything just aligned perfectly for Arch to come into the world or what, but Mom glowed her entire pregnancy and thrived. I had seen enough of the other Old Ladies to know it didn’t always go that way.
Now my little brother is about to be 18, graduate high school, and become a prospect for the club. I think my father would burst if he were any more excited.
“Go and heat up dinner since you didn’t grace us with your presence when we were all around the table.” Mom gives Arch a little shove toward the kitchen.
Her ability to lay on the guilt is still strong, I see. It makes me chuckle.
Battle joins me and I can hear the awe in his voice as he comments, “She always knows what button to push.”
He turns toward me, his gaze expectant. Yeah, I know he’s not going to let this go. Not like I can blame him, he’s aware of my stance on having a woman on the back of my bike. Fuck, I wish I could take Addy out for a ride, but it’s not safe.
The moment the danger is dealt with, I want to feel the sun on my face, the wind in my hair, and my woman’s arms wrapped around me.
