Chapter 3
Sadie
It was the weekend after Thanksgiving, and she had decided to dip into her savings so she and her nephew could go to the store and buy a Christmas tree. With her brother gone, she was desperate to find some kind of joy for the holiday for her nephew.
While she was at the store buying a tree, she also bought a stocking for each of them, some ornaments, lights, and some decorations to put up around the apartment.
It was more than she wanted to spend at this time, but it was well worth it to see the smile on his face as they piled things into the shopping cart.
It wasn't until they had the tree put together and the lights strung on it that she noticed Oliver was getting a little quieter, and some of his earlier enthusiasm was wearing off.
“Are you okay, buddy?” She smoothed his hair back and settled her hand on his shoulder.
“Yes. I wish Dad was here.”
“I know, honey. Me, too.” Sadie swallowed past the lump in her throat.
She’d been thinking the same thing. For as long as she remembered, Ryan had always helped her trim her tree.
“How about we finish the tree, then we’ll go back to the store and buy The Polar Express movie.
We’ll put on our PJs, make some popcorn and hot chocolate, and snuggle under the covers? ”
“Can we turn off all the lights except the ones on the tree?” He smiled as he warmed to the idea.
“You bet. Let’s get this finished.”
They finished the tree, and when it was time to figure out where to put their Christmas stockings, they weren’t sure where to put them.
There was no fireplace mantel or even a shelf to hang them from.
They ended up using the weighted stocking hangers on the end of the kitchen counter facing the living room.
It wasn’t ideal, but it would have to do for this year.
Maybe next year, they’d be in a new house.
When they got back from the store the second time with the movie, she told Oliver to change into his pajamas while she put a bag of popcorn in the microwave.
While that was cooking, she went to change into her pajamas, too.
Pulling her comforter off the bed, she brought it into the living room and tossed it on the couch.
Oliver came running back into the room wearing his red and green plaid pajamas just as she was dumping the popcorn into a big bowl.
“Here. Take this to the living room while I make the hot chocolate.”
He took the bowl and immediately shoveled a handful of salty goodness into his mouth. She shook her head at his silliness. A couple of minutes later, she joined him on the couch, pulled the comforter over both their laps, and settled the bowl on her lap where Oliver could reach it.
“Did you put the movie in?”
“Yes. It’s all ready to go.”
She started the movie and snuggled in with her nephew. She thanked God every day for gifting them with Oliver. The boy had stolen her heart the day he was born, and with the loss of her brother, she didn’t know what she’d do without him.
The movie finished, and it was time for bed. “I love that movie,” Oliver commented as he handed the empty bowl to Sadie.
“I know. Me, too.” She pushed the comforter off her lap and started to get up, but his quiet, tear-filled voice stopped her.
“I really miss my dad, Sadie.”
“I do, too, honey. I miss him every single day.” His tears were gutting her. She pulled him into her lap and wished she knew how to make it stop hurting for him, but she hadn’t figured out how to do it for herself yet.
“Can I sleep with you tonight?” He swiped at his wet cheeks.
“Of course. Come on.” She left the popcorn bowl and empty mugs where they were and would take care of them tomorrow.
She wadded the comforter under one arm and took her nephew by the hand.
On the way past his bedroom, he ran in and grabbed his teddy bear.
It was the one his dad bought him before he died.
She got the comforter on the bed and pulled the covers back for him to climb in. He scooted over and left her room to climb in behind him. She snuggled in, facing her nephew. “Goodnight, Oliver. I love you.”
“Goodnight, Sadie. I love you, too.” He closed his eyes and brought the bear closer to his chest.
If truth be told, Sadie needed to be close to Oliver as much as he needed to be close to her right now. Today was harder than she thought it would be. Her eyes drifted closed, wondering how in the world they were going to survive Christmas Day.
Monday morning came around all too soon, and Sadie found her plans to continue with her job search after dropping Olivere off at school thwarted by a nauseous stomach and a killer headache.
She let herself into her apartment, then closed and locked the door behind her.
The pounding in her head was getting worse, and she thought that maybe if she lay down and closed her eyes for a little while, she’d feel better when she woke up.
Today was the six-month anniversary of her brother’s death. She’d managed to keep it together long enough to drop her nephew off at school, but now that she was alone, the memories flooded back.
She didn’t bother turning the light in the living room before she headed to her room.
The apartment had two bedrooms, roughly the same size.
She’d almost been reduced to tears when she discovered the whole apartment was furnished and move-in ready.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, she removed her shoes, wanting to be comfortable while she slept.
She then changed out of her jeans and sweater, replacing them with leggings and a long-sleeve t-shirt.
As she climbed under the covers, her eyes landed on a picture of herself, her brother, Ryan, and Oliver.
They’d been at the zoo, and a nice lady had taken the picture for them.
She reached out and gently touched her brother’s cheek in the photo. “God, I miss you, Ry. I wish you were here. I don’t know what to do now that you’re gone. I feel like I’m flying blind.”
It didn’t matter that the Sons had taken out the Phantom Furies club.
It would never bring her brother back. Why couldn’t he have joined a different motorcycle club?
One that wasn’t a bunch of criminals? Why did he have to join one at all?
God, she prayed that the Sons had made every last one of them suffer before they died.
She turned the lamp off next to the bed and closed her eyes. It didn’t take long for her to drift off and the bad dreams to come.
Sadie pulled up at her house and sighed heavily.
Several motorcycles were parked at the curb and in her yard.
At least they didn’t fill up her driveway, preventing her from parking her own car.
She hated when her brother brought the brothers to their house.
Crockett was an asshole, and RIP gave her the creeps.
The other brothers were varying degrees of each.
Well, shit. She couldn’t hide out here all night even if she wanted to.
Someone would come looking for her sooner or later.
They probably expected her to cook dinner for all of them.
She had news for them; she didn’t have enough food to feed all the brothers, and she didn’t have the money to order delivery.
If they wanted to eat, they’d have to order and pay for their own food.
She was going to have to talk to Ryan again.
She didn’t like having the club around her nephew.
“Okay. Let’s do this.” She got out and walked to her front door.
When she opened the door, she expected to see Ryan and the brothers taking up all the space in the living room and possibly the kitchen.
What she walked in on was something she never thought she’d see.
The brothers were tearing through her house, cutting couch cushions, pillows thrown to the floor, books thrown everywhere.
In the kitchen, RIP was doing his best to destroy every dish she owned. What the hell were they looking for?
“What are you doing?” Sadie asked the room in general, only to be ignored.
“What are you doing to my house?” she screeched the second time.
“Where’s Breaker?” Breaker was her brother’s club name.
“Does he know you’re destroying my house?
” He couldn’t be here because he would never allow his club to destroy the only home his son had ever known.
Still, they ignored her. She watched in growing anger as one of the brothers pulled the last piece of chocolate cake out of the fridge and started eating it with his fingers. She’d been saving that for Oliver! He caught her eye and smiled, chocolate all over his teeth and mouth. Disgusting pig.
“You all need to get out of my house! Now!” she screamed.
“Hey, sweetness.” Crockett’s voice came from behind her.
She loathed being called by that name. It was what he called the whores at the clubhouse.
She slowly turned to face him and immediately wanted to knock that stupid cocky grin off his face.
Did he think this was funny or that he was being charming by calling her sweetness?
“What are your men doing to my house? They’re destroying everything. And where are my brother and Oliver?”
“We’re looking for something.”
“In my house?” Why the hell would they be looking for something in her house?
Was it something her brother brought here?
If so, what could it be? Drugs? No way would Ryan bring drugs around Oliver.
“Really? In my underwear drawer?” She pointed to where one of the brothers was coming down the hallway, twirling a thong around his finger, smirking and leering at her.
“And you never answered me. Where’s my brother and Oliver? ”