Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Bruno
“Welcome to Las Vegas.” The captain drones on about the weather and local happenings as I stare out the window.
“She did so well.” The lady sitting across from us in first class smiles at Willow, who basically slept the entire flight.
“Thanks, I was worried,” Rosario confesses as people around us stand to get their belongings.
“I’ll take her. Stretch your legs for a moment. I’m sure you’re sore.” I take the baby and kiss her forehead.
“You are tteh bests baby girl ever. Daddy is so very proud of you. No fussing or crying at all.” I look up to see a man trying to help Rosario with our bags.
“No need, thank you.” I stand carefully not to hit my head, and he blanches.
“Sorry,” he scurries off and I chuckle.
“He was trying to be nice.” Rosario says taking Willow so I can lower our bags from teh overhead compartment.
“Hey was talking to your breasts.” She laughs but looks down at herself a little self-consciously.
“You look fantastic.” I take a second to kiss her before leading us off the airplane.
The dry heat hits me immediately, and already I miss the cool mountain air I’ve grown used to. We make our way through the crowded airport that doubles as a fucking casino and down to baggage where Lucas and his boys are all waiting for us.
Five men, dressed in leather vests with patches announcing they’re all members of the MorningStar MC, Paradise mother chapter.
“Good to see you, boy!” I clasp my godson into a hug, and he pushes me away a second later.
“Yeah, yeah, missed you too. Hello, Rosario, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you. May I?” He reaches for my daugther and I nod at Rosey when she acts like she won’t let him hold her.
“Watch her head…Oh, nevermind. You’ve had practice.” I chuckle at her shock that Lucas can hold our daughter like a pro.
“My son Dom just started school. I miss this stage. Maybe it’s time I knock up my old lady again.” His men laugh as Roasrio frowns at the openly shared private matter.
“Might want to ask the poor woman first. I couldn’t imagine going through labor at an older age.” I choke on air and try to hide my laughter.
Lucas does no such thing and straddles Willow.
“Oh, no. Sorry! It’s a biker term. My wife Gianna isn’t actually old, in terms of age.
Shh, it’s okay, little sis. Nothing and no one is ever gonna hurt you here.
I’ve got an SUV with a car seat outside ready to go.
The guys and I will escort. Let’s grab your bags.
” He transfers Willow back to her mother, and then we all move to leave.
“Don’t worry, I’ll get you a Cliff Notes on Biker’s Book later,” I whisper in her ear as we get outside.
“Are they a gang?” I laugh, but it’s Lucas’s Reno’s vice president who answers her.
“A brotherhood. I’m Issac, but these delinquents call me Spark.” The tall redheaded Irish man grins at my wife, and if I didn’t know he was happily married to his own Latina firecracker, I’d shoot him dead on the spot.
As it is, I still snap my finger at him to blink and move.
“Have we met?” he tilts his head and then glances at the baby.
“Spent any time in a Cuban monastery?” The color drains from his face, and since Spark is normally a fair ghostly white, that’s saying a lot.
“He hasn’t, but I have. I’m Darius, Lucas’s nephew. My God, you’re her spitting image.” Confusion fills her eyes, and she looks to me for answers I don’t have.
“Can we maybe have this conversation off the street?” I take the baby and place her in the car seat while Rosario climbs in next to her.
“Armored?” I ask after I’ve closed the door.
“Of course. DJ, what the fuck was that all about?” Lucas glares at his sergeant-at-arms.
“I’ll show you when we get back to the house.” He mounts his bike and waits for us to get into the SUV.
Lucas drives us across town to the compound the club built for members about a decade ago.
It’s a large iron gate with the club logo, a grom reaper skull with two morningstar maces crossed in front proudly hanging in the middle of it, a silent warning of what will happen to anyone who crosses onto this property with ill intentions.
“Is brotherhood slang for clut?” I bite my lip at Rosario’s question.
“It’s just a regular gated community. We even have a playground. Look, here comes Dom’s school bus now.” Lucas points at the big yellow bus and honks with a wave at it.
“Mmm,” I love the suspicion in her tone.
“Here we are. I’ve taken the liberty of asking Priest to call his uncle for the christening. He arrived last night, and the church is ours tonight, if you’re both up to it? You’re probably exhausted.” Willow starts to fuss.
I’m sure she needs a diaper change and to eat.
“I’d love a real bed, thank you. Tonight is fine.” Rosario yawns as she unbuckles the baby and brings her to her chest.
She’s mastered the whole breastfeeding in public thing, but the man in me glares at Lucas, who pretends to be fixing his prosthetic leg.
“New equipment?” He grins as he taps the fake leg.
“State of the art, but the fit isn’t right yet. I have to fix it, or I’ll get a sore. Come on in when you’re ready. I’ll take your bags up.” He jumps out of the SUV, leaving us inside the cool cabin.
“It’s gonna heat up in here quick. Ready to move inside?” She glances at the house and then back at me.
“I feel like I’m about to learn something about my life I didn’t know before, but I’m not sure that’s a good thing. I love my life the way it is now. I don’t want anything to jeopardize that.” She looks down at our daugther and I understand where she’s coming from.
“There isn’t anything they can possibly tell us that would change our family. If it weren’t important, they wouldn’t bring it up. Let’s hear them out and then get some rest. We’ve got an important night ahead.” I open my door, then hers, to help her out.
We enter the house and find the living room bustling with people. I introduce Rosario and the baby to a few people when I see Darius approaching us, holding a photo. Next to him was his uncle, Archbishop Oretga.
When Rosario turns his way, the elder man stumbles and clutches his rosary.
“Sofia?”