“And lastly, don’t use manners or enjoy things. Polite excitable people get regular murdered all the time.” Chewy’s gaze laser beams on Mira who gasps and clutches her non-existent pearls.
“Rude!”
Chewy shrugs before turning to Remy. “OK, let's hit Niko now.”
I clench my fists, then open them, and close them again. I know that this is for our own good, learning to protect ourselves, but the thought of inflicting pain on someone, of using my body as a weapon, has me breaking out in a cold sweat. I know what it feels like to be on the other side.
“You OK, Joy?” Jazz asks, linking her arm with mine.
“Um, yeah, just, nervous.”
She tilts her head, her dark gaze roaming my face. “We’ll take it slow. Nice and easy, and I’ll be here every step of the way.”
“We’ve got you,” Vi adds, linking her arm with my other arm.
“Yup. All of us.” Mira adds coming to stand at my back, Blanche, Lovely, Remy, Ana, Kaia and Nat joining our group in a little huddle, all surrounding me as Chewy gives me a small smile from her place by the whiteboard.
My insides fizz with nerves, but another feeling crashes over me like a wave, this one warm, comforting, and strong. I’m not alone anymore and it feels amazing.
Chapter 4
Switch
Fuck me. My mind is still spinning as we leave Church, Wire having no fucking good news for us. How the fuck am I going to tell Joy that Matthew Thompson and his business partner have sold her little girl? In what fucking world can I tell her this and it not cause her to break down? My heart is racing so hard I can hear my heartbeat as pure fury races through me. Even from beyond the grave Travis Hitchens is fucking with her.
“I can’t believe a father, a goddamnedfatherwould allow his kids to be sold like fucking cattle,” Jules growls, power walking past me to the nursery.
It’s not until he pushes through the door and greets Mama Debs that I realize I came this way wanting to get my eyes on Kit, to know that she’s safe and sound with us. With me.
“You OK,e tama?” Mama Debs asks, her soft hand resting against my bearded cheek.
“Not really, but I needed to see Kit.”
Mama Debs eyes me knowingly before patting my cheek gently. “You’ll be good for them.” She gives me a soft smile before stepping aside so I can get my eyes on a little girl who weaseled her way into my heart, much like her mom.
Her little red head pops up, blue eyes finding mine and grinning wide. “Hi Switch! Mom is learnin’ how to beat up bad guys!” She tells me excitedly, punching the air in front of her.
Stepping closer I squat down to her level. “Your mom is a total badass,” I grin at her. “Do you wanna go see what she's learned?”
Kit’s eyes light up and she nods her head like crazy before jumping up and taking my hand. “Yes, yes, let's go!”
“May as well ride together, I don’t wanna miss the show.” Savage says stooping to pick up Rosie from where she’s been sitting on the floor with Kit and Juno, the Big Littles all lounging around on bean bags ignoring the smaller kids.
Jules grins at Juno and for a split second her grumpy face is replaced with a huge smile as she holds her hands up for her father. Jules scoops her up and blows a raspberry in her neck. “We carpooling?” he asks over his shoulder.
We spend most of our time on our sleds so we don’t all own cages. If we need to transport the kids we either use the club SUVs or the family cars but, well their cages are with their women at the DRMC gym.
“Well, I’m going with Switch and Kit. Whoever wants to ride with us better get there now because I ain’t waiting!” Rider yells, dangling the keys in the air.
We share a look before I swing Kit up into my arms and we bolt out the door. Kit giggles from her position in my arms, the sound lighting me up from the inside out, washing away theheaviness from Church. Those giggles are like fucking medicine to my soul.
“Hurry up, fucker! Quick before we have to give Jules a ride and as much as I love Juno, I hate looking in the rear view and seeing her judge me,” Rider hisses, shoving me to move faster.
“Go Switch! Faster! Faster!”
I do exactly what the little girl in my arms says and Rider and I make it to the SUV before everyone else. Rider slides the kiddy booster seat into the car and I kick myself for not even thinking about Kit’s safety.
“Mama Debs shoved it at me on our way out,” Rider says with a wink.
