Chapter 27
Katarina
We were several drinks deep and had picked over the tray of food Mama Hen brought with her.
I listened as all the women reminisced about how they met each of their men and how they got their property patches.
We finally pushed Mama Hen to give us her story and had huddled together in a pile on the sofa, with Kristie and Lacy on the floor leaning against it, as we all sat like children listening to a riveting bed time story.
“Falcon brought me and Penny home from the hospital. I was holding it together pretty well until I saw his bike.” Mama Hen paused and sipped her beer.
She took a few beats, cleared her throat, then continued.
“The boys had already fixed it. Couldn’t even tell it fell down,” she said with a grin.
“But it hit me when I climbed on that we already had our last ride.”
Her face turned soft pink and her eyes glassy. The rest of us were sniffling and holding each other as we listened to the whole story with bated breath.
Mama Hen finally let a sniffle escape, then wiped under her eye.
I never even saw a tear, but the action was definitely to remove any evidence of one.
“Oh, hell. Enough of that. We’re out of snacks.
” She smacked her thigh and stood up. “And I need to get some rest so I can get up early and do it all again. Most of the crew is here, so breakfast is back to normal.”
I wiped my cheeks and under my eyes as I stood. I pulled the door and she turned, grabbing my shoulders. “I didn’t tell you all that to give in easily. Give him hell, you understand?”
Chuckling, I nodded. “I intend to. But thanks for having my back.”
She pulled me in and I melted against her soft warmth, squeezing her hard.
“You’re doing just fine, hon.”
Swallowing the lump that rose in my throat, I gave her one last tight squeeze, then pulled away. “I’ll see you in the morning.” Cooking with Mama Hen had become part of my new normal, and it was helping to fill more than one void that plagued me.
“Girls, I don’t want to see any random shoes or pieces of clothes lying in the courtyard in the morning. But it wouldn’t hurt to show a little solidarity to Katya, if you get my drift.”
Daisy winked and made an okay symbol. “I’m picking up what you’re putting down.” She looked around. “She means no putting out.” Everyone but Lacy laughed, but Daisy reached down to pat her shoulder. “Eagle can put the pressure on him better than anyone. Teamwork makes the dreamwork, Lacy.”
“Okay,” Lacy whispered. “But we–”
“No!” Kristie, Mama Hen, and Daisy said in unison.
I patted Mama Hen’s shoulder and said, “I appreciate the gesture. But I can handle him myself. Lacy is free to do as she pleases.”
Daisy shook her head. “She wants to please you, ain’t that right?”
Lacy nodded. “Actually, you know what? They’re right. Fuck them all!” she said, lifting her bottle.
We all gasped, looking over with wide eyes. She was always so proper and very much Team Eagle. But she was breaking that for me.
“Be good, girls,” Mama Hen said before she finally left.
The others stayed a while longer, but once the cooler was empty, we all started losing steam.
Kristie checked her watch. “Not to sound like a grandma, but I need to get to bed soon. If I sleep too late on Sunday morning, I can’t sleep Sunday night, and I have work Monday. So does Shiv for that matter.”
“I think they planned to be back tomorrow,” Daisy said.
Kristie stood, stretching as she did. “Must be nice to have her dad,” she said with a wink. Shiv’s father was a well known doctor who’d put in a call to help her get her job at the CDC. But Shiv paid it forward and helped Kristie get one, too.
Kristie extended her hand and Lacy grabbed it. “I feel like a grandma. All that riding then sitting on the floor for hours has me stiff.”
“We need a hot tub,” Daisy said as she picked up bottles. “Mrs. President, see what you can do.”
“I need a good hot tub and a place for an ice bath,” I said as I started cleaning up the small plates and napkins.
They all stopped cold and looked at me like I grew another head.
“What? After a hard workout a good ice bath is fantastic. You were dancers, did you never have one?” Dancing for hours surely was tough on your joints and muscles.
Daisy shook her head. “Closest would be a shower that didn’t melt my skin off.”
“By the time I got home, I’d want a hot shower and a snack,” Lacy said.
“Well, I will see about both, but you must try the ice bath.”
“You’re evil,” Klara said as she helped move things to the kitchen. “I’ve not done the full ice bath, but I used to love to soak my feet in them.”
“Ladies, I can handle this mess,” I said, but they all just ignored me.
After only a few minutes, the living room and kitchen were just as tidy as before. Looking around, I sighed. “I left my bag at the clubhouse with my cute little utensils.”
“I can get them and bring them back for you,” Lacy said.
Waving her off, I answered, “No. I can wait until tomorrow. It’s late. Mama Hen probably already grabbed them for me.”
“You’re right. Well, off to bed for me,” Lacy said. “It’s been a long day.”
I walked them to the door and pulled it open, then pushed it almost closed again. “Listen, I really do appreciate you all so much. I know I haven’t been here as long, and–”
Daisy put her hand up. “Nope. Respect is respect. And because she’s been here longer, she knows better. I’m just sorry everything blew up like that.”
Kristie leaned in for a hug. “If there’s anything I’ve learned in life, longevity doesn’t measure value or loyalty.”
Lacy then took her turn with me. “Maybe she’s just having an off day. She was very out of character.” She pulled away, her brows shooting up high. “Not that it’s an excuse or that I agree with anything that happened. But it’s just odd. Hopefully she’ll see what she did was wrong and make it right.”
I’d like to believe I could be the bigger person, but I wasn’t really interested in resolving the matter with Jeannie. But Lacy was so sweet and innocent, I didn’t want to burst her bubble. “We’ll see. But it’s all fine for now.”
After Daisy came in for her hug and whispered, “Don’t give in to either of them easily,” I smiled and sent them on their way.
Sighing, I plopped on the sofa with Klara.
“Now them I like,” she said as I laid my head on her shoulder.
“They’re great. But is it terrible if I never want to see Jeannie here again?”
She smoothed my hair, then stroked my head a few times. “No. I understand where Lacy is coming from, but Daisy nailed it. She should know better. And so what if you don’t have the cut thing yet? You’re still his wife. If we were back home…”
Giggling, I said, “I would not order the woman killed.”
She shrugged. “I’m just saying, it would easily be arranged.”
A light knock at the door startled me from my spot on her shoulder. She patted my thigh and stood. “Let me.”
Looking toward the door, I waited until she said, “Oh, come on in.”
Niko stepped inside, so I stood. “Brother,” I said, crossing my arms.
He came closer and gently grabbed my shoulders, leaning down to look at me. “Katya, don’t be upset with me. You were acting very out of sorts.”
Stepping out of his grip, I rolled my eyes. “You didn’t even ask why. You immediately took his side. You said you came here to check on me but you don’t seem worried about me, just your partnership.”
“Sister, I always worry for you. But we do not air dirty laundry that way. You know better.”
Pointing at him I told him, “You and Papa sent me to this place. With these men. They may have many similarities to our family, but they also have many differences. And I will not be made to look a fool for all to see. If anything, I regret not doing more.” I did the right thing in my heart, but it would have been a sign to anyone who could see or hear about it later that I would not tolerate what Jeannie did.
Niko sighed heavily. “I see. My apologies, then.” He held his arms out. “Will you forgive me, sister?”
My eyes darted to Klara. She shrugged with a grin. Rolling my eyes, I stepped into his embrace.
“I will speak to Hawk tomorrow. Make sure he understands I still have a duty to you.”
Pulling away, I patted his chest. “That is not necessary. But if you fail to tell Papa what happened I would appreciate it.”
“Your secret is safe with me. Although Papa would probably be proud.” Looking over his shoulder, he asked, “Would you like me to escort you back, Klara?”
With all the commotion and company, I hadn’t had a chance to speak to her about Niko yet. But surely he would do no more here than make sure she got to her room securely.
“That would be great,” Klara said. “Give me just a second, please.”
Niko pulled me back in for another hug. “Goodnight. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He walked toward the door. “I’ll wait outside, Klara. Please take your time.”
She came to stand where he just was. “You going to be alright?”
Nodding, I wrapped my arms around myself. “Yes. Of course.”
“I know you’re tough, but it’s okay to be upset.”
“I know. I’m still mad at him. And still aggravated that I let her get to me.”
“At least you know more about the whole vest thing.”
“Cut,” I corrected. “And patch.”
“Right. But, you just got married. It’s not like you love each other, and the patch seems to be some very important symbol.”
The word love made my breath hitch. And why did it cut like a knife for someone to say he didn’t love me?
“Katya?”
“Huh?”
“Are you sure you’re alright?”
Threading my fingers through my hair, I nodded. “Just tired. Long day, lots of emotions, and too many drinks.”
She cupped my shoulder, her warm eyes searching my face. “Okay. Well, get some rest. I’m going to go before Niko pokes his head back in.”
I gripped her wrist gently. “Hey, Niko is a good brother, but he’s not the best man.”
Her brows went high. “I mean, I have a vague idea of who your father and brother are. It helps to be blissfully ignorant,” she said with a slight chuckle.
“No, not that. That’s not what I meant. But…” I sucked in a breath. What could I say about Niko without making him sound awful? “He’s not the commitment type.”
Her smile softened and her brows went down. “I see. While I appreciate the heads up, I can’t say that I ever gave him any thought that way. He is your brother, after all.”
Cocking my head, I grinned. “Well, he can be quite dashing. I wouldn’t be upset with you for thinking–”
She gripped my hand in hers. “Katarina, I can assure you, I just never saw him that way. And I think all the ladies at the restaurant know of his… prowess? But I appreciate the tip. Now, there is absolutely no reason I can’t have some fun with a biker or two while I’m here.”
“Klara!” I teased as I pulled her in. “You’re so bad. But we’ll see what we can do,” I whispered in her ear.
“Okay, okay. Let me go before he gets nosy. Get some sleep,” she said as she pushed my hair behind my shoulder.
“You, too. I’ll find you in the clubhouse in the morning.”
I walked her to the door and waited until she was arm in arm with Niko before closing it. Looking around, everything was back in its place and there was nothing to keep me awake.
Except still being so upset. Sighing, I turned off the lights, walked down the hall to the room, and shut the door. As I pulled out my pajamas, I looked at the bed.
Still hurt and angry, I decided I didn’t want to share a bed with him tonight. Once I changed into some silk shorts and a matching cami, I grabbed his pillow then pulled a blanket from the closet and headed back to the living room.
I placed the blanket down on the sofa, and the pillow on top, so he could see it once he walked inside. Hopefully he’d get the message. After I went back to the bedroom, I locked the door for good measure in case he didn’t see it or chose to ignore it.
Sliding into bed under the covers, I rubbed my feet together then tossed a few times. After several turns, I let out a deep breath, landed on my back, and smacked my hands down beside me. My mind was racing and it was the first time in a couple of weeks I’d slept alone.
Maybe if I just lay in the dark, eventually I’d pass out.