Love, DRMC (Devil’s Rose MC)

Chapter 1

Chewy

“Ideclare this meeting of the Girl Gang open!” I hit the plastic hammer on the table and get a satisfying squeak.

“That’s the reason you broke into my house and upended Jr’s toy box this morning?” Ana says, her face all scrunched up.

“I don’t own one of these and it was imperative for this meeting.”

“OK, well, how come we’re here and not at the diner? Not that I have anything against your house.”

I stare at Vi. Of course she doesn't have anything against my house. It’s perfect. Even more so since the builders came and added a bedroom. Now we have enough rooms for me, Rhodie, Laney and whoever this new baby will be.

“We have to meet at my house. I called the meeting and I’m pregnant, therefore it happens here.”

Blanche raises her brow, and I know she’s going to be irritating. “What does being pregnant have to do with anything?”

“I’m in a special and somewhat delicate time in my life. I have to stay close to home for nesting and things.”

“Ah, first off, you’re newly preggers, so I’m sure leaving the house is fine. Second, I’m pretty certain you got us kidnapped last time I was pregnant.”

I stare at her. “That doesn't sound like me.”

“Doesn’t it?” Blanche glares before rolling her eyes. “Whatever preggo, just tell us what you SOS messaged us for. I thought one of the kids was dying the way you hacked into all our home security systems to blast the message.”

“Yes, well this is very important.” I take a deep breath and then pause. It builds tension. Blowing out said breath I let my gaze drift along each and every one of my friends. “I am going to host Galentine’s this year.”

Most of the Girl Gang sit unmoved apart from Mira who claps excitedly, Lovely who coos and smiles all goofy, and Jazz who claps politely. She’s new and hasn’t had the chance to get to know me and how cool I am just yet.

“Any questions?”

“So many questions,” Remy murmurs.

“I for one am excited. I looooove Galentine’s,” Mira says with a grin. Of course she does. She’s a happy romance person. “If you need any help you just let me know.”

“Thank you for your offer but I wish to do this myself. As a mother to Laney-May and current fetus, I will be called upon to host play dates and mothers groups. As you well know I am not one for mothers groups other than our DRMC mommies group, but I am open to becoming a more well rounded person for my children. If that means I have to invite unintelligent children and their breeders to my home, then so be it.”

“Wait, are you experimenting on us and disguising it as Galentine’s?” Kaia asks. She’s always so suspicious.

“Yes.”

“Do you even know what Galentine’s is?” Nat asks, a smirk on her face.

I roll my eyes, “Of course I do. It’s a time for women to get together to celebrate their friendships over drinks, food and maybe even some knife throwing.”

Lovely continues to smile at me, because she’s a very nice person. And she’s also super handy with a knife, and now a tattoo gun. “Count me in. This will be my very first Galentine’s and I can’t wait!”

I look around the room to see who else is on board. Mira nods manically, the Davies sisters nod like normal people and Remy gives me a thumbs up. As my gaze travels around the room my best girlfriends all agree except for Blanche who sits with her eyes narrowed at me.

“If I agree to this, will you promise to not get us in trouble and not talk about Rhodie’s ass?”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“Fuck it, I’m in.”

Marx

My gaze follows Rider as he minces around Church, slowly pissing each and every brother off.

“You know that Valentine's Day is just around the corner right? And you all have women. In your case, you have a man and a woman,” he says, pointing two fingers at Fox and Nitro.

“What's your point?” Nitro growls.

“Oh, just that, you know, ladies like to feel pampered and special and all that jazz. Such a pity that I know shit and I have no one to impart my wisdom upon.” Rider shrugs.

“If anyone is imparting wisdom, it’s me,” Pops says in a bored tone. “How many couples have I gotten together now?” He cups his hand around his ear, waiting for us to tell him but we sit in silence.

Rider ignores him, instead zeroing in on Rhodie as he finally arrives, the last of the brothers. “Well, look who decided to grace us with his presence.” Rider grins, dropping down into his chair and spinning.

I need to have a word with Wire. Why the fuck he’d order spinning chairs for Church is beyond me.

“Enough fucking around, let's get started.” I beat my fist on the wall, declaring Church open. “I’ve had word from Moss. Louisiana law enforcement have found bones belonging to one Travis Hitchens in a swamp near the Texas border. Case is formally closed.”

“That’s one bad guy down,” Mad Dog mutters.

“We still have whoever was pulling his strings that we need to deal with, but it’s nothing we can’t handle.”

“Famous last words, brother,” Rhodie murmurs.

I huff out a breath before moving to the next item on the agenda. “Wire, what you got for us?”

“We’ve been making money hand over fist in the last month.

Devil’s Big Tow has had an uptick in business, no idea why but I ain’t questioning it.

Security business is booming -” Gus lets out a whistle while the Tombs family all beat their fists on the table, “Devil’s Rose Ink is thriving under Mad Dog and Lovely, and Blanche and Lovely’s community center is doing a lot of good.

All going to plan, we'll be having the first graduation in June.” More whistling and thumping breaks out.

“Payments will be in your accounts as usual.”

“Thanks, Wire. Right, we got any general business?” I let my gaze roam, stopping when Savage clears his throat.

“Yeah, I got something. Valentine's Day is coming up and I’m planning a kick ass surprise for my woman. Just giving you all a heads up.” A slow smile crosses his face as my face drops.

He’s right; it is coming up and I had planned to go all out.

Lovely has never had a Valentine’s Day, and I want to give her one.

I want to see her face light up, her small hands covering her mouth as she gasps.

She missed out on a lot of shit in her life, and it’s up to me to give her all those experiences.

“Shit, we’ve all, apart from Mad Dog, Rider and Switch, got women. You know as well as I do that if Savage plans some big fuck off romantic gesture and we don’t, then our women will make our lives hell,” Judge groans.

“Not my woman,” Rhodie grins, too fucking confident in his words.

“Your woman will lead the revolt,” Tank points out.

“Nope. Chewy doesn’t care about such things.” Rhodie shrugs, smug asshole.

Pops leans forward, palms on the table. “You sure about that, Shit Stain? You sure my beautiful, hormonal, pregnant granddaughter won't care about such things?” His dark bushy brow raises as Jules, Tav and Gus snort.

“No! She said just last night when we saw an advertisement for chocolates that she doesn’t care if I get her chocolates or not for Valentine’s Day,” Rhodie says with his whole chest.

“Oh, my sweet summer child,” Rider shakes his head, patting Rhodie on the arm.

Rhodie shrugs Rider’s hand off him, “You don’t even have a woman, so don’t stir shit.”

Rider tilts his head. “What makes you think I ain't got a woman?”

The room goes silent as we all stare at our brother.

“Well, do you have one?” Fox asks, intrigued.

“Define ‘woman’?” Rider grins and we all groan. Someone throws a bottle cap and hits him between the eyes. Serves him right.

“You could have blinded me!” Rider whines, hand rubbing his head.

“I’ll try harder next time,” Jules growls.

“OK, so now that we all agree that we’re in fucking trouble, do we have any suggestions?” I ask my men.

Savage clears his throat again. “So, as you know, me and Nat have been together for a long ass time. My plan is to take her on an almost mini-poker run. We’ll stop at different bars and restaurants and at each one I’ll give her a photo from a moment in our relationship or something, I’m yet to work that part out.

Then we're going to end up back here where I’ve hired the kids to do something special. ”

At the mention of the kids half the room groans, while the other half shivers.

“That’s a fucking good plan, Son. I’m impressed,” Pops says with a nod.

Savage grins. “We could always do the run as a club. It’s up to you fuckers to organise your own surprises for your woman, but we could make the run a charity event.”

“We could use the money for a kickass graduation for Blanche and Lovely’s foundation,” Tav says, looking around the table.

My heart warms that Savage not only is happy to share his plan with the MC, but that the brothers want the money to go to the men and women who are trying to turn their lives around.

“All those in favor?” The ‘ayes’ are unanimous. “We’ll need the single men to ride ahead, help get shit sorted-”

Switch clears his throat. Loudly. “I’ve got Joy. So, I’ll be a little busy.”

We all eye Switch. Since Hitchens is no longer a threat Joy has moved into the little studio on Switch’s property.

The brother is sweet on her and I’m proud of the man for moving slowly.

It’s in his nature to go balls to the wall, but Joy has had a rough ride so she needs to be treated with kid gloves for a while.

“All good, brother. That leaves Mad Dog, Rider and the prospect. It’s up to each brother to sort his surprise, and I’m sure the Love Pres can help you with ideas.” Each and every brother groans while Pops cackles. “Don’t fuck this up.”

I’m about to beat the wall again when a bang sounds out on the heavy Church door and Niko peeks in. “Sorry Prez, he’s demanding to see you.”

I wave my hand and Niko swings the door open, Sasha, the big blonde fucker, looms behind him.

“I need your help.”

“Roman?” I ask, brow raise, running scenarios in my mind.

“Two words. Valentine's Day.”