Chapter 22
Eagle
I was sleeping like a rock but when Lacy stirred, my eyes flew open and I pulled her closer. “Good morning,” I mumbled into her hair.
She stretched and groaned before throwing her leg over me. As I held her, it occurred to me we’d never cuddled in the morning. I usually was up before her for a run or she was up before me and always tiptoed around, trying not to wake me. But this felt so good, so right. I could kick myself for missing out on it.
Buzz, buzz. Buzz, buzz.
“You better check that,” she said against my chest.
I squeezed her tighter. “I will in a minute. I just wanna lay here a minute longer.”
Her fingers danced lightly over my chest. “Well, in a minute I have to get up to pee.”
Buzz, buzz. Buzz, buzz.
She patted my chest, then leaned up for a peck but I held her there another second when she tried to pull away. Once I moved my hand from her neck, she fluttered her eyes open. It was dark but a little bit of light was streaming in from around the curtains and I could make out her gorgeous face. I could watch her all day.
She smiled then slinked off the bed. When she leaned over, I got a perfect shot of her pussy and my already hard cock went completely rigid. Until I got her home, I’d have to remember to bring more condoms. Or just go for it and knock her up. Then she couldn’t get rid of me. We’d make pretty babies.
Wow. I’d never thought of babies. Ever. But I’d have a fucking soccer team with her if she let me.
“Here,” she said as she tossed my cell at me. “Check that before they send out a search party.”
I reached over and grabbed the phone, still not taking my eyes off of her until she closed the bathroom door. I unlocked the phone and there were seven messages. Jackal, Keys, Falcon, and Hawk. Great.
Scrolling through them all, the only ones that were important were Hawk and Jackal. Falcon was threatening to send a search party and Keys let me know they had me pinged, so he let them know I was with Lacy. Jackal had tailed Kelvin and he had gone to a strip club but went inside with a few men, all preppy looking dudes, and it seemed like a business meeting. I’d touch base with him later. Hawk was letting me know Falcon was on the warpath looking for me, but he asked Keys to track me and to touch base when I got back to the clubhouse. With everything going on I probably should have mentioned to someone what I was doing. I recalled my last chat with Falcon and all I told him was I had something to do. I’d have to make it right with them all and thank Keys for the heads up.
She had a robe on when she came back out of the bathroom and I gave a mock scowl.
“No. My pussy needs a break. And I am going to bet you need to go.”
I stretched out then slammed my hands to the bed. “Yeah. I didn’t realize how late it was. I slept good, though.”
She climbed on the bed and leaned over to kiss me. “I slept great. But I need to get showered and stuff.”
“I wish you’d just come back.” I would always have work or a run, but if she was at the clubhouse, I would know she was safe. And that she would be waiting on me.
“Eddie–”
“I know. I know. You need time. But I can still want you there.”
She grabbed my hand and I squeezed. I wanted to stay here with her. I wanted to keep holding her and touching her. Hell, I wanted to keep talking to her. I thought Falcon was crazy the way he was with Daisy, but now I got it. It’s different than my brothers. I could trust them with my life, but I could trust her with my heart. It just took me longer to realize it.
“I wish you could stay. But maybe you can pick me up again later?”
“I’ll be there.”
After getting dressed, a few more kisses, and a lot of squeezing her so hard I nearly crushed her, I finally hopped in the cage and headed to the clubhouse. It was still stifling hot out, but the heat wouldn’t bring me down. Everything wouldn’t be fully right until she was back in my room, but it was damn near close.
I walked in and went to my room to brush my teeth. But I didn’t want to wash her off of me. I’d shower later once I picked her up and do it all over again.
Jogging back down, I went to find Hawk having breakfast. His dark hair was perfectly combed and he carried his normal serious expression. He always took the club seriously but since Raven’s death, something in him had changed, hardened. I think all of us darkened a little that day. He was our President, but he was like a dad to many of the guys and a second dad to the rest of us. None of us would be the same until we avenged him, if ever.
“Hey, brother,” Hawk said as I took a seat.
“Good morning.”
He raised his brows. “Good to see you a little more like yourself. I sure wish you would have checked in last night.”
“Yeah, fucker,” Falcon said from behind me. “You tell me some vague-ass shit, then take off all night after you’ve been tailing someone. What the fuck, man?” He pulled another chair over and slammed it down before sitting.
I gripped his shoulder. “I’m sorry, brother. You’re right. You’re both right. I’ll go ahead and let you know now, I’ll probably be having another sleepover tonight. Is that okay, Dad?”
Falcon pushed my hand away and looked behind him. I looked too and Mama Hen was coming with some mugs and the coffee pot.
“You had these boys worried, hon.” She set the mugs down and poured, setting some sugar and cream down next to them.
I added a little of both and then sipped. Mama Hen shimmied away and Hawk asked. “You talk to Jackal yet?”
“Nope. I’ll check in with him at lunch. Got a couple of sittings today but none too long.”
“I know I said the club isn’t the only thing, but I also said it’s the first thing,” Hawk said as he leaned back.
“I know, Prez.”
“You didn’t check your phone all night.”
I looked over at Falcon and he looked down. Glancing back at Hawk, I tucked my hair behind my ears. “I’m sorry, Prez. I’ll be available. It wasn’t her fault, it was all me.” Lacy always understood club business. I’d talk to her later, but I needed to make sure he knew it was me and not her.
“She’s a good girl. And I know you’ve had a rough few days. But if something had gone down last night–”
“I know. It won’t happen again. I swear. I needed to get my mind right, and I have.”
“Good. Because we got work to do.”
After I took my tongue lashings while I ate the breakfast Mama Hen had brought out, I headed to the shop to get the day started. I wasn’t sure she’d get on the bike with me yet, so I showed up in the cage again. As much as I’d love to be her personal driver, I knew I wouldn’t always be able to, especially after the chat with Hawk, so I planned to work that out later.
Daisy and Falcon were behind me, so I didn’t have to see her when I came in. I wasn’t sure if she’d heard from Lacy. Even if she had, I doubt she’d forgive as quickly as Lacy. My woman was lucky to have such a good friend, even if she was working my nerves.
After my first appointment was done, I texted Jackal and he said he was near the shop and would swing by. I left my station to go grab a drink from the back and saw Jackal up front.
Looking over, Daisy was busying herself with a nail file. I waved Jackal to follow me.
“You still didn’t work that out yet?” he asked.
I shut the door behind him. “I actually got that settled, well mostly settled, last night. But she’ll take a little longer to come around I suppose. So what happened with the Trans Am?”
Jackal sat in one of the chairs against the wall and I grabbed my stool.
“Like you said, mostly business to business. He went home for a few but I held back in the cul de sac for a while and he left again. He headed toward the city, so I stayed on him. He pulled up at Sugarland’s, so I followed him in. Went inside. He was there with some other fuckers in khakis and polo’s.”
“So they were just there hanging out? Did they seem to be scoping it out?”
Jackal shook his head. “They talked most of the time, ordered some whiskey, no lap dances. Seemed like business.”
“I wonder what kind. Did you get the other plates?”
“Yep, already sent to Keys.”
“I think we need to keep eyes on Sugarland. Those other girls were from there and his car was the last place they were seen.” I stood and paced.
“Can we send some prospects to hang out or you want me to?”
“If we can send a couple guys that may be easier. That way you can stay on Kelvin. Something still doesn’t make sense.”
“You got it, boss.” Jackal stood, making his way to the door. “So, you and your lady straight?”
“On the right track, but I got some more work to do.”
He chuckled and grabbed the doorknob. “Your work ain’t ever gonna be done, brother. Not with one like that. But she’s worth it. You remember that.”
“You’re right about that. Thanks, man. Keep me posted.”
I texted a couple of prospects and told them to head to Sugarland for a few nights and to keep an eye out for any classic cars. They didn’t need more info than that. After I shot a text to Hawk to keep him updated, I got ready for my next appointment.
After a simple quote piece to honor a lost family member, I cleaned up then headed to the mechanic shop to chat with Dad.
“Hey, Eagle,” Squatch called from the bay.
“Hey. Dad around still?”
Squatch pointed towards the next bay, so I stepped inside and around the equipment. Dad’s legs were under a yellow Camaro, probably a late 90s model.
“Hey, Dad.”
He rolled out from under the car and grinned. “Hey, son. Good to see ya.” He sat up and grabbed a shop rag, wiping his hands then stood and walked over. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. I was just wondering, you still got that Honda in the garage?”
“Looking to get a car?” his brows pinched together.
“Well, it’s not for me.”
He smiled widely. “So you talked to her?”
“Yeah. It’s better, but she won’t come back to the clubhouse yet. She doesn’t have a car and I can’t always be there when she needs a lift. You know how it is.”
“I do, son. That I do. I still got it. I need to swap the battery and do a little tune up. Haven’t cranked it in a while.”
I pulled out some cash and tried to pass it to him. He pushed my hand away. “You do enough. Let your old man help with this.”
“Thanks, Dad. But I wish you’d take it. I need it sooner rather than later.”
“I get off soon. I’ll work on it tonight.” He looked outside through the open bay door. “Stays light for a while. I should have it fixed by tomorrow. I’ll let you know for sure. You never know when they’ve been sitting a while.”
“I appreciate it, Dad.”
“Maybe you can bring her by for dinner to pick it up. I’d like to formally meet the one that tamed you.”
There was a time I never thought I’d have anyone worth bringing around my dad. But it sounded like a great idea to have them meet. Two of my favorite people. “Alright. Just let me know when it’s running and we’ll come by.”
I leaned in and gave Dad a good hug. Smiling as I headed out, I admitted to myself that for the first time in a long time, I was happy.