But I also knew she needed normalcy and a routine. So we went down to breakfast, and I’ve been considering stealing her away every minute since. The need to be buried deep and feeling her walls tighten around me is almost impossible to ignore.
Fuck the paperwork.
Just as I’m about to stand up and stalk into the common room to grab my woman, my phone beeps. “It better not be Scythe bugging me for more information,” I grumble to myself as I check my messages.
It’s not like I have more information to give the man. Anchor is digging and compiling the evidence of just how dirty Wagner is. Ripper is following the dick with a badge, and I’ll get another report this evening after Duckie takes over. Of course, if shit was going down, I’d know about it. I trust my enforcer to have my back and my Old Lady’s back.
Because that is exactly what Addyson is. Everyone knows it too. She might not have noticed, but my brothers show her respect and even most of the angels are deferent to her. Not all of them, of course. Sin is going to be a problem. I already know it.
But it’s not like I can kick her out before she steps out of line. This is her home. I’m the Prez and have to lead my men by example.
The prospect at the gate has a delivery, one I’ve been waiting for. I shoot off a quick text to get the box taken to my room through the back door. I don’t want Addy to see it quite yet.
This is exactly the kind of distraction I need. Because I have a feeling something is coming. I have no idea what kind of update Ripper will have about Wagner’s movements, but the dirty cop won’t let too much time pass before he tracks down my woman.
Ripper might not talk a lot, being more than happy to let Rampage take the lead on that, but he’s a solid fucking brother. He takes his job seriously and would put his life on the line in the name of the club and our family.
I don’t even look twice at the paperwork on my desk. It’s a fucking mess because one thing I hate is filing. Mom had a system for Dad’s papers, but when I took over, she said it was my job to deal with.
At the time I didn’t think twice about it because having paperwork in order wasn’t exactly high on my priority list. Making sure there’s food in the clubhouse, a ton of fucking booze when we need it, and some toilet paper was more important. Thankfully, Mom helped me keep up with those things even though Battle isn’t the one wielding the gavel anymore.
Now my office is always messy, and I file things when I can’t take the chaos of it anymore.
When I step out of my office, I make sure it’s locked behind me. Just as I’m about to step out of the hallway and into the common area, Sin walks through the doorway leading to the kitchen. I barely glance her way, but I catch how she lights up when she catches sight of me.
“Mayhem,” her voice is sweet and I don’t believe anything about it.
When I stop, my feet plant shoulder width apart, everything about me a warning. I’m ready to step away and there isn’t a damn thing this woman can do that will surprise me. She’s a snake, a fact which has become glaringly obvious since Addyson’s arrival.
The amount of glares this club angel has directed toward my Old Lady is criminal, honestly. But I haven’t officially claimed her, and I always try to be fair.
“Is there anything I can do for you?” She purrs the offer, her shoulders subtly rocking back and forth making her tits jiggle slightly.
I don’t look away from her face.
When she clasps her hands behind her back and bats her eyelashes, I almost bark out a laugh. “I’m good,” I inform her even though I don’t owe her a damn thing, “I’ve got to go talk to my woman.”
I’m walking away before I’ve even finished talking. If Sin reacts, I don’t see it and I don’t care.
The moment I step into the main part of the clubhouse, my eyes find my Tempest. She tugs at me, always. Now that I can see her, something relaxes in the deepest part of me. It’s pure in a way I thought the blood on my hands would have tarnished a long time ago.
Guess not.
Or maybe it’s just her.
Addyson and my mom’s heads are together and they’re looking over the large binder used to keep the kitchen in order. I could write off the seriousness on their faces as some sortof discussion over any dietary needs Addyson has, but I know better.
Mom has already started handing over control.
Even if she hadn’t already seen it, probably from the moment she saw me the morning after my Tempest blew into our lives, Dad would have told her about my intentions. They don’t keep secrets.
I found that out when I thought Dad was going to keep it to himself about him catching me sneaking in when I was only 15. Sneaking in would have been fine, maybe, but I reeked of whiskey and weed.
I’ll never forget that he told me, “Just because you’re a club brat doesn’t mean you have to grow up so damn fast, Briggs. You only have one childhood, and you only have one life. Slow down. Enjoy the ride.”
Honestly, I figured his little speech was the end of it.
I was wrong because Mom had a list of shit for me to do the next day and she was not going to be waiting around for me to get my hungover ass up and going all on my own. Mom never said a word about why I was the new owner of every honey-do item she could fathom. She just expected me to get the work done.
