The front door is unlocked and heat blasts us as we step inside. “We’re going to live here now, baby.”
Some of the furniture is real nice, that would have been Annie’s influence, and it comes in handy after I burned all of my furniture.
Gunner follows me around and helps me pack Shane’s belongings. We drag bags and a few boxes outside and I dump them around the side of the house. Back in the house, I rearrange the furniture in the living room and clean the kitchen.
When I'm done, all I can see is the empty fridge and bare cupboards.
“We need food, don’t we, honey.”
My boy nods and I swing him up onto my hip. “You’re getting far too big to be carried, ain’t ya!”
His chuckle fuels my soul. Over in the bar’s kitchen, I raid the cupboards while Gunner sits at the table eating a candy bar. Moving onto the fridge, I grab another bag and take everything.
“Why are you taking all the food?” either Maxwell or Warren asks. I don’t remember which brother is which.
“Cause I need it,” I mumble.
“What the fuck are we meant to eat?”
I couldn’t care less. “Take your ass to the store.”
Picking up my haul, I nod my head, and Gunner slips down off the chair. Back at the house, I store the groceries away and backtrack to the front door. I lock it and drag the side unit across and shove it up against the wood. In the living room, I rip the throw over from the couch and pin it over the window. I turn the TV on and settle Gunner down on the couch. Upstairs, I hit the bedding cupboard and take out the sheets. I work myself around the house and cover every window. I even cover the back door window. No one will be able to see us now. We'll be safe here.
Curling up next to Gunner, I cuddle him into me, and assure him, “I won’t ever leave you.” I close my eyes and begin to relax for the first time in weeks.
28
Cas
Iwonder if Lana knows about Leo. Not much has been able to touch me over the years but the thought of my old lady grieving her own son hurts my heart that only beats for her.
Now time has passed, and I can think a little more rationally, I remember him bleeding out from his lower back. It wouldn’t have knocked him unconscious, though I can’t work out how it would have killed him instantly. I should have kept the gavel. If I could go back and change shit, I would. I wouldn’t have sent Luca to the city to start a chapter. If I could change anything, I would keep my strongest pieces close to home. There wouldn’t be anyone brave enough to come against us. But they are all what ifs, and I can’t do shit with them.
JJ’s shoulder has stopped bleeding, and it has calmed Sparky. Myles is still unaffected by his arm and Mason hasn’t said one word in the last two days.
The van hasn’t moved in over what I guess to be about an hour, and when the doors open, the sun assaults our eyes.
“Welcome!” Hopper hollers. “Welcome to my home.”
Each of us are dragged out and I can’t remember being in such a shit hole. The main building looks to be the safestpart. The shelter for their motorcycles are poles with corrugated sheets. Metal burning bins are scattered around. A fighting ring is off to the left. It’s the Hogs that keep my attention, slowly surrounding us.
“I would say to ask for whatever you need, but I gotta feeling you won’t be around for long to need anything!”
His brothers laugh around us and my jaw tightens so hard, I fear it’ll snap.
“Take them two over to see the doc. If they’ve survived this long, they’re of some use to me.” Hopper points to JJ and Myles and two Hog fucks grab at them.
“Get ya fuckin’ hands off me!” Myles snaps.
JJ’s too pale and it concerns me. The bleeding may have stopped, but something is going on I don’t like.
“What about these three?”
Mason is too busy staring at his brother being led over to a small portacabin. He won’t like not having eyes on his brother. I shoulder bump him and distract him.
“Stay focused, Myles can handle himself.”
“We’re the only ones who are at our strongest, Cas. I'll fight for the lot of us, but I can’t focus if anything happens to Myles.”
