“Have another. And my number is on that phone already in case you need anything. I’ll be at the clubhouse but busy for a while.”
“Thanks.” She stepped closer to the door then stopped. I reached out to open it thinking her hands were full but she still stood there then asked, “Would it be possible to talk later? Or maybe tomorrow if you’re too busy today?”
“Do we need to talk now?” I asked, stepping closer. “Is something wrong?”
She scoffed and smiled at the same time. “Nothing pressing. It can wait. But can I have some time later?”
I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and demand she tell me right then what it was she wanted to say. But she was clearly not ready to talk. Even though I thought she wasomitting something, I believed she was also missing home. She was processing a lot and I didn’t want to be a complete dick. I’d tried to never be an intentional dick to any woman and I didn’t want to be one to my wife. If she turned out to be a spy, that was different, but I wouldn’t be a dick then, either. Not until I could figure out how to use that knowledge to my advantage.
“We’ll talk today. Go have a shower, then go to the clubhouse and get some food. Some of the ladies will be around and Ma will be there.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
After she walked back inside, I headed toward the clubhouse, having another smoke on the way.
It was still dark but the sky was changing to purples and dark pinks as the sun started to peek over the tall pines. A few brothers were heading out to day jobs and some of our businesses.
Jackal and Shiv walked from the clubhouse, hand in hand. “Good morning,” Shiv said with a big smile.
“Working today?” I asked as I blew smoke away from them.
“Yeah, haven’t been there long enough to be taking too much time so back to the grind I go. So maybe don’t get into any bullshit today,” she said.
Jackal cut in. “Sorry, Prez.”
Shiv hit his arm. “Hey, I deserve some rest. You people can’t expect me to be on call like a fucking ED doctor. Anyway, good day to you, Mr. President.”
“Later, Prez. I’ll be at the shop if you need me,” Jackal said as they headed off toward the garage.
Kristie and Rooster came flying out of the door and she yelped. “Oh, Hawk. I mean Mr. President, sir,” she said, her hand flying to chest.
Raising my hand, I told her, “Hawk’s fine. Save the sir for Rooster.”
She blushed, then jerked Rooster’s hand. “C’mon, I can’t be late.”
Rooster waved and followed her. She hadn’t been here long and just got a job with Shiv at the CDC. They’d been carpooling since she started. Rooster talked about finding a place nearby or maybe building a place on our land like Jackal had, but for now they stayed in the clubhouse. Rooster didn’t ride with them since Jackal was going somewhere else, but he did have to see his woman off.
Taking one last drag, I flicked the cigarette away then headed inside. Several guys were inside having breakfast and Daisy was with Lacy at the ladies table.
“Morning,” I said as I walked over.
Lacy’s eyes went wide and Daisy turned, looking me up and down. Lacy practically whispered, “Good morning.” Daisy just stared with a blank look.
“Katarina should be by in a while. Will you ladies be here?”
Daisy grimaced, “Is that a trick question?”
Lacy chimed in quickly. “I’ll be here.”
Daisy jumped back in. “I get to leave because of work, but I have to wait for Falcon to be ready to go. Otherwise, we’re all trapped here. Falcon said it was your decision,” she said, crossing her arms. “So why would you ask that?”
“Jesus Christ. Can you just keep her company for a while? Introduce her to the other ladies. Maybe don’t complain about shit meant to protect you?”
“Ha. Here,” Ma said as she passed me a mug of black coffee.
Goddamn. I had to deal with mafia bosses, pay off crooked cops, new biker gangs, and trafficking rings, and nothing made my head split like these women.
Lacy forced a smile. “I’ll show her around, Hawk.”
