7. Dodge
SEVEN
DODGE
By the time I get home from the garage, I only have time to grab my cut and kiss Winnie’s head before needing to leave again. “I gotta head to the clubhouse. You wanna come with or you wanna stay here? I don’t think it’ll take too long.”
Autumn’s mouth opens wide, like she’s stunned I would invite her. “Uh, I can stay here with Winnie. It’s almost her bed time.”
I nod, it makes it easier because I didn’t want to travel in the small car anyway. I need to feel my bike and the road beneath my feet. “Okay, text me if you want me to grab anything on the way home. ”
Her cheeks flush again, and I’m dying to know why, but we don’t have that type of relationship, so I leave it when she nods shyly and focuses back on my daughter.
When I climb onto my bike, I steady myself with a deep breath. Church should be done and over with quickly. It’s just the weekly meetup, but why does it feel like I’m leaving behind a part of myself? And I don’t just mean my daughter.
It’s been weeks since Autumn moved in, and it’s like she’s always been there.
Our routine fell into place naturally. I thought it would be awkward to live with someone else, but it’s not.
My place feels brighter, livelier than ever before.
Every day I grow more impatient to finish work and head home to spend time with my girls.
I wince. My girls. I guess Autumn isn’t really mine.
Not yet the pesky temptation whispers in my ear, and my knuckles tighten over my handlebars.
With that thought, I take off toward the clubhouse, the roar of my motorcycle under my thighs before I can give into it .
Autumn is a handful of years younger than me, still trying to figure out her life and going to school.
I don’t need to tie her down, as much as the beast inside me is demanding I do.
I’ve always imagined settling down with someone eventually, but never felt that urge with any woman I’ve met.
It lay dormant, unwanted and not trying to change, until I opened those church doors and saw her waiting on the couch, so small and fragile looking.
Like she needed someone to step in and take care of her.
And god, I wanted to be the one to do it.
Take care of that tight ass that teases me when I watch her do her morning stretches, take care of that pussy that I know is begging to be filled.
Take care of those plump lips when she’s worrying about something, cup those blushing cheeks and have her tell me about whatever is on her mind.
I park my bike outside the clubhouse, wincing when I climb off with a hard cock.
I’m half tempted to ask one of the girls to suck me off as I walk through the ongoing party and straight to church.
Bambi would do it in a heartbeat, but something sleazy wiggles in my chest. Like I’d be cheating on Autumn.
That and the fact my cock deflates at the thought of sliding into Bambi’s mouth.
Slumping into my chair, I roll my head back. I’m becoming a fucking simp for my nanny, and she doesn’t even know the effect she has on me.
“Rough day?” Cowen asks, sliding his chair next to mine.
I palm my mouth and laugh a little. “No, just wanting to fuck the one person I shouldn’t.”
He grunts. “I understand that. Just have to determine if it’s worth the consequences.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask, because he doesn’t share much about his life, but god damn does it make me feel like a gossiping pussy.
“I don’t even know if she’s into me,” I say instead.
He snorts. “Shut up, man. She jumped at the chance to watch your kid and move in.”
I frown, sitting up straighter. “I never said who I was talking about.”
“It’s no mystery. You go home or to work, and unless you’re looking to fuck Steel?—”
“Then you share who the fuck you’re talking about if it’s no big deal. ”
He sniffles. “I didn’t say no big deal. It just doesn’t take a genius to figure out you want to fuck your nanny.”
Razer walks in, whistling low and long. “Take it from me. Bad idea, Dodge. Wait, you don’t have an old lady, so why not? Fuck her.”
I scowl at him. “You fuck your nanny?”
He pales a little. “No.”
Cowen snickers. “Ask him if he fucked the last one.”
Razer glares at him. “Shut the fuck up. How did this turn around on me?”
“You offered your dumbass opinion.” I grunt, then I frown again. “You really cheat on your old lady?”
Gage walks through the doors at that moment, smacking Razer on the back of the head. “Again? What the fuck!”
Razer rubs the spot where he got hit, scowling. “No, it was just that one time. And she’s still making me pay for it.”
“You knew, and you didn’t say anything?” I ask.
My prez raises an eyebrow. “It was his business. It didn’t affect the club. They handled it. Every man at this table has a secret I’ve kept like a vault for them. That is the burden I carry as president.”
Razer sniffles. “Thanks, Prez.”
“Shut up and keep your dick to yourself,” Gage mutters, sitting down while we all snicker. He sighs, resting his jaw on his hand as he stares over. “Fuck, we’re getting old.”
My lips twist into a smile because I feel as tired as he looks, and I doubt I look much better.
“But we’ve lived a long life already,” I add.
He grunts, and a few other men mutter in agreement.
“Alright, roll call. Any shit you all got to report?”
Nash knocks on the table. He may not have a council position, but he’s reliable, and he’s been running the club’s barbecue restaurant like a goddamn pro.
“Got a couple of punks coming in once a day, keep trying to eat and then dash. Every time we block the door, they pay, but I’m starting to feel like it’s a test of some kind. ”
Gage frowns. “Testing how you respond?”
Nash nods. “Yeah, so far we’ve got it under control, but the group grows by another kid each time. ”
“Testing to see when you call for backup?” Cowen throws in.
I nod. “Probably have someone waiting to see how long it takes for us to show up?”
“Put up another camera. We’ll put an extra brother in the shop across the street just in case, so as to not tip them off.”
Nash nods, and Cowen opens his laptop. “Want us to install it tonight?” he asks.
Gage grunts again, which is as good as a yes. “Anything else?”
“Another property sold, a little bit down the coast,” Cowen says, turning his laptop to show us where.
“Same investment group?” I ask with a frown.
Judge, our secretary, leans over, scooting the laptop closer. “Since when did that hotel shut down?”
“The day it got bought apparently, and yeah, same group.”
Viper cracks his knuckles. “Want us to check it out?” As enforcer, he’d be the one to organize a drive out of our territory, but not without mine or Gage’s permission. It’s on me to keep the bikes running.
Our prez’s jaw is tight, clenching back and forth. “I don’t like them buying up land all around us. Something reeks, but I don’t want to draw their attention.”
“We could take a cage?” Judge offers.
We all groan, none of us like being in trucks more than we have to.
Gage grins. “Perfect, that’s why you do the books. Genius. Get a cage, swap the plates, and glance around. But don’t cause any problems.”
Viper nods.
“Take Steel with you,” Gage says after a moment.
I smother my smile, knowing the prospect is starting to irritate Gage at the shop with his constant yapping.
“Thinking of patching him soon? We still need to patch in Fox,” Cowen says.
Gage looks at me, and I shrug. He’s not a bad kid, just still a little wet behind the ears.
“We’ll see. Anything else?” he says .
We shake our heads.
Gage grabs the gavel, knocking it once. “See you pussies later.”
We filter out into the clubhouse, Gage and I going straight to the lot out front. Both of us have people waiting for us at home.