Hope Comes At Christmas (Santa’s Slay MC #2)

1. Chapter One

Chapter One

R ascal stared at the love of his life changing her top for the third time. He’d told her to dress warm to be on the trike tonight and that they’d be participating in a secret event.

“Meg, we can’t be late. How about you wear your red turtleneck or a sweatshirt? You’ll have a cut to put on over whatever you wear, so no big coats.”

Meg turned to him. “Well, why didn’t you say that originally?”

Rascal chuckled at his woman’s snarky tone and waited while she changed again. Then she walked by him to say goodbye to Blaze and Maisie. He followed behind her because he might be a biker, but his woman was a force of nature when she was in a snit. He wanted tonight to be perfect. His woman ruled the house, followed by Blaze and Maisie, and Rascal was just along for the ride.

He opened the door and led her out to his trike. He had them across the compound to the entrance and on the highway to the snowplow barn in no time. He was excited to share tonight’s experience with Meg. It had been an exciting six months since they met.

Whiskey, Roam, Cannon, and Cruise had found their one. He could admit that he wanted everyone as happy as he was. It was only last Christmas Eve when he went around with Winnie that she’d mentioned she thought he was a cinnamon roll boyfriend and he needed his one true love. He’d found his one true love right before he turned seventy. Falling in love with Meg had been one of the greatest moments in his life. And he’d even forgiven his bonus daughters for playing matchmaker because Meg was worth going through anything.

Meg and he had enjoyed their grandchildren, and he’d cut back at the shop to one day a week—unless Roam or Sprite needed time off.

He led Meg into the snowplow barn where everyone was meeting. In moments, Winnie had pulled her aside to ask her a question. And they wondered why he kept his door locked sometimes.

After Blake and Phoebe had walked in the front door when he had Meg’s shirt off and was getting ready to have her against the kitchen counter, he locked the friggin’ door. He loved his family, but sometimes he wanted Meg to himself.

Cruise, Willa, Dex, Booker, and Twist were standing to the side of the barn looking a little unsure. Rascal walked over because he might as well tease the newbies since his wife wasn’t available.

“Willa, is Cruise treating you right? I’m happy to knock him into shape if you need me to,” Rascal said.

Willa grinned and kissed Cruise’s cheek above his beard. “Thanks, Rascal. Cruise, along with everyone, has been fantastic. I love working at the gym. I’m a little nervous about tonight, but Winnie promised I’d love it.”

Rascal patted Willa’s hand, just to listen to Cruise growl at him. “You can relax. The only thing that will happen tonight is your heart will be filled with a sense of joy at helping people.”

“Thanks, Rascal.”

Rascal walked back over to Meg and pulled her into his arms with her backside flush against him.

“What are you doing, Rascal?” she asked.

“Holding my woman, thinking I don’t need anything for Christmas because I already have everything I ever wanted,” he said.

She turned her head and kissed his neck below his beard. “I love you so much, and you’re right. We have everything we need. But I still got you something I think you’ll enjoy.”

He rubbed his beard against Meg’s neck. “I bet I could make you give up your secrets,” he whispered against her ear, feeling her shiver against him.

“I’m sure you could, but you love me too much to ruin the surprise,” his wife said.

His woman knew exactly how to keep him in line. Of course, he wouldn’t want to ruin her surprise, but it had been fun teasing her. He’d never dreamed he’d find love at his age. They’d celebrated his seventieth birthday by taking a long motorcycle ride on the trike down to their Texas Chapter and then to the dish barn in Canton. Meg had never really collected anything, but once she’d seen the Franks sisters’ Fiestaware, she’d started buying pieces. He was thrilled because it made her happy.

And he was going to spend the rest of his life making all Meg’s dreams come true, no matter how big or small.

“Let’s all gather in a circle,” War yelled over the talking in the barn.

War stood to the side of the snowplow barn and watched people entering. Last Christmas, he’d shown up, not knowing what to expect. He’d left here after delivering presents with his heart full of love for his brothers and how they made a difference.

This year, his heart was full because he’d found the love of his life, they were expecting their first child, and the brotherhood was growing. He’d never known when he came back to the MC that the annoying girl he’d called a princess would become a woman who was fierce and ran her family’s bail bonds company. Though not having her hit him in the nuts would have been something he didn’t mind missing. Well, sometimes love stories have a rocky start, and theirs had been an adventure, including bullets, fire, and a fierce love to last a lifetime.

“First, I’d like to welcome you all to tonight and thank you for giving up some time this Christmas Eve. Last Christmas, I was the newbie, and this year we have more new people.

“Over the years, my mom and dad, along with Locks and Kathryn and Rascal, worked with Whiskey’s dad and uncles and a couple of other families to help those who can’t help themselves. About twelve years ago, right before Kathryn passed, they realized that there were kids who didn’t believe in the goodness of Santa because all they’d known was a lack of generosity and goodwill, so they decided to change that.

“Kathryn and Regina sat down and made a plan for what they wanted to accomplish. Big dreams of making sure no child was hungry and not getting presents at Christmas. The first year they were under a time crunch and Kathryn was very sick, but they helped five families that Christmas.

“When they showed up where Regina and Kathryn had everything organized, they had Santa suits for all of them and cuts with the special MC name. They also had guidelines. To be a part of the MC, you had to show a character trait of helping the hopeless. You had to have made the choice to serve others in some way. The MC cuts would only be worn on Christmas Eve and then disappear for a year because since we’re working for Santa, we have to follow his employee rules. Remi, would you show our newbies the cuts?”

“Last year, Scoop asked about the word ‘Slay.’ Tonight, we, as Santa’s Slay MC, will work to destroy and extinguish, or slay, hunger and sadness. Tonight, we embody hope. Hope is a powerful thing. It changes attitudes and brightens situations. Tonight, your help may remind someone that they have the strength to get through one more day.

“Please don’t join this project lightly. You’re agreeing to help this continue and grow. This cut is for life.

“Now, we have presents and hope to deliver. Do you promise to bring hope and joy to all the children and adults you meet? If so, answer, ‘We will.’”

We will echoed around the room.

“Do you promise you will treat each person you meet with grace and dignity, no matter your views? We are all only one or two disasters away from needing help or being homeless. If so, answer, ‘We will.’”

A chill went over War at the echo of everyone’s words, just like when he’d first taken the vows. With a baby on the way and all the little ones in the MC, War felt the weight of helping other families and children. Tonight was about others. He didn’t want anyone to go without tonight.

“And last but not least, do you vow you will embody love to those you meet, and if there is something you see needed while there, promise to help in whatever situation is required? If so, answer, ‘I so vow.’”

War listened to the voices repeating I so vow and wasn’t ashamed to admit he had a tear in his eye.

“Welcome to Santa’s Slay MC.”

Cuts were slid on everyone’s shoulders. War enjoyed seeing the joy on Dex, Booker, Cruise, and Willa’s faces as they looked at the cuts with ‘Official Santa Teammate’ on them. Remi and Sarah were staying back tonight because they were not riding on motorcycles while they were pregnant. Cannon and Jesse were watching their little ones along with Winnie’s kids. As the group had gotten bigger, they’d decided to have more than two people stay home. Someone had to watch the kids. Roam and Sprite were staying home because, besides their wedding tomorrow, Sprite’s brother Liam, who she hadn’t seen in months, had gotten leave for a short amount of time. Sprite didn’t want to miss a second with him.