“This killjoy shit is why people don’t like you,” Elle told him immediately. “Thanks for the ‘ma’am,’ though. Iama dignified woman deserving of respect.”
“I call all mothers ‘ma’am.’”
I prepared for Elle to mention her pregnancy, but instead, she flashed a picture of Sutter on her phone.
“You’re right. I have created life. Isn’t Sutter the most handsome little genius?”
The picture on her phone made me smile. Sutter normally wore the expression of an adult trapped in a kid’s body. In the picture, he looked silly and dumb, like a kid his age should.
“You should leave,” I told them.
“Poor York,” Elle said and reached to pat his shoulder. I gently knocked her hand away. Ignoring me, Elle sighed. “I sense you wanted my leftover food.”
“Well, York’s a big boy,” I explained, “so he can order his own chips and dip from the clubhouse.”
Catching my hint for them to stick close for a while, the guys headed downstairs to the bar. As I looked over my messages, Elle locked herself in the bathroom and likely texted her brother again.
“Should I be worried?” Elle asked once she exited the bathroom.
“No. Did you warn your cousin?”
“Sabrina already knew there was a fire since her room has windows.”
“Funny.”
Elle settled next to me. At first, she kept her distance. I figured she was playing cold again. Suddenly, she draped her body across mine and settled into my lap.
“Do you miss Exile?”
“No.”
“Do you feel seen and heard by your club guys?”
“You’re assuming I won’t shove you off me.”
“That’s a safe assumption. You won’t hurt your son’s incubator. That means I can torment the shit out of you without fear.”
Grinning, I admired how Elle refused to take my threats seriously. I was a scary guy. My face was currently wearing the same frown as itdid when I made a woman cry months ago. Yet, Elle wasn’t buying into any of it.
“Clint has a solid support system. I want my baby daddy to have one, too.”
“Are you talking shit about my guys?”
Elle kissed my throat and murmured, “No, I’m talking shit about you.”
“I think you’re babbling from a lack of sleep.”
“No, you’re closed off. You should have kept your guys around longer to talk strategy.”
“You really want to get rid of your leftovers, don’t you?”
“Actually, I was planning on eating them for breakfast. But your guys raced over here to make sure you were okay. They love you. They’re sweet and loyal and should be rewarded.”
Rather than get irritated by her poking at me, I enjoyed the feel of her body wrapped in my arms. I also appreciated how she gave a shit about my club. If I wanted an old lady, Elle would be a solid choice. She grew up in the life. That den mom vibe was what the Black Rainbow had been missing since I overthrew Wrecker. His wife had created a sense of family within the club.
The current Black Rainbow had so few old ladies. Most of my guys were single. We hung out in the bar, playing pool and banging club sluts. Wrecker’s wife had gotten us together on weekends for potlucks and grill-outs. Wrecker and she threw parties for holidays and birthdays. The club felt like a big family, building loyalty.
I hadn’t given a shit about any of that when I took control. I treated the club as a business rather than a family. My guys remained loyal because they knew I’d take care of them, physically and financially. We didn’t need fucking backyard barbecues to stick together.
