Chapter 18
Debs
“OK kids, the adults are starting to head home, did you get done all you needed to?”
I look down at the little faces of the Big Littles and roll my lips between my teeth. I love these tamariki but damn, they can be mischief.
“Well, we’ve done the flowers, balloons and kitten at Jules’, they should be enjoying that around about now,” Cove starts, Jovie nodding and checking something off her list. “Have we done Savage’s house?”
“Flowers, candles, balloons and cat have been delivered and arranged,” Elio says in his robot voice.
“One sleepy kitten in a fluffy bed has been delivered to Marx’s place too, along with flower petals everywhere and a lot of heart shaped chocolates.”
“A bit tacky for my tastes,” Cove adds in, interrupting Jovie.
“I agree, but what the Prez wants, the Prez gets.” Jovie shrugs.
“Is that everyone who hired you?” I ask, trying not to laugh.
“Nope. All the brothers panicked and needed our help. Only Savage, Marx and Jules paid for the full package.”
I frown. “So what did the others get?”
Jovie and Cove share a look, “Well, they all got flowers. And some of them paid for kittens.”
I blink twice, letting the words register. “Wait, you’ve said ‘kittens’ quite a few times now. Are you talking real kittens, as in real, live, baby cats?”
“What other kittens are there?” Cove asks, because she’s a total smartass.
My hands find their place on my hips as I lean in, “And where did you get all these kittens?”
“We found ‘em,” Cove says, as if it's that easy.
“Their mother had abandoned them,”Jovie butts in. “We’ve helped them all find good homes.”
“Aue, kotiro ma.” I blow out a breath. “Well, if the men paid for it then they must know what they’re getting into, I guess.”
“And we also have signed contracts that have a no returns policy,.” Jovie adds.
I look between her and Cove. “Of course you do.”
“It’ll work out, Mama Debs. Don’t worry.” With that the two girls skip off most likely to go count their money.
Elio looks up at me with his big dark eyes, his dark hair flopping across his forehead. “Is it time, e tama?”
He nods seriously at me, slipping me a small, carefully wrapped gift and a card in a red envelope.
“I’ve got this. Go count money with your friends.”
He hesitates a moment, before throwing his arms around my waist. “Happy Valentine’s, Mama Debs.”
“Happy Valentine’s, baby.” I press a kiss to his hair and move to sneak into the room Annie-Bella stays in when the kids have sleepovers here.
I look both ways, making sure there is no sign of the Bigs, even though I’m pretty sure they're all in the movie room. I slip in, leaving Elio’s gift on Annie-Bella’s pillow.
I smile down at it, sitting there waiting for his Valentine.
It’s sweet, the way he’s protective of Annie-Bella, even if she is three years older than him.
Slipping out of the room I bump into Sage, stomping down the hall, a face like thunder.
“Whoa, what’s that look for, baby girl?”
She growls through clenched teeth, waving her fists in the air, but her anger doesn't dispel the hurt in her eyes. “Takoda. Chef. He’s just so, argh!” She throws her arms in the air once more before covering her face with her hands.
“Why does he have to be so stupid? Just when I was getting used to being alone and moving on with my life, he hits me with the sweetest damn letter and gift. I just want to kick him in the balls and kiss him at the same time!”
I wrap her in my arms and run a hand down her dark hair while I bite my lip.
These two love each other. Deeply. And I know, after watching almost all my DRMC boys fall, they do dumb shit in order to protect their women.
Whether they need it or not. I think that Chef is learning the hard way that Sage is every bit as strong as every woman here and that he has a loooong way to go to win Sage back.
Fortunately for her I know he loves her to the very marrow of his bones.
Unfortunately for him, he has all Sage’s uncles ready to punch him in the balls for breaking her heart.
All 14 of them from the DRMC and a few from the Keep I’m sure.
“I know it hurts, baby, but I have faith everything will work out.”
“You really think so?” Sage’s voice whispers into my shoulder.
“I know so. And if it doesn't I’ll have Sid kick his ass.”
Sage snorts, then squeezes me before stepping back. “Thank you Mama D. I love you.”
“Love you too, Sagey. Happy Valentine’s.”
“Happy Valentine’s.” She gives me a sad smile, before turning on her heel and going into her room, closing the door quietly behind her.
“I swear to god I will flay that boy if he doesn't fix this shit.”
Sid’s growl hits me in the chest and travels down into my panties, sending a shiver through me.
“Oh, you like that, huh?” Sid grips my hips roughly before gently wrapping his arms around me, pressing a kiss to my neck. “I missed you today, Sweetness.”
“I missed you too, but I had my babies to take care of. And that bike seat plays havoc on my fat ass.”
“Hey! Don’t you talk like that. I happen to love this fat ass.”
I snort, turning in his arms and wrapping my own around his neck. “Sage and Chef will work out-”
“After a fuck ton of grovelling-”
I roll my eyes, “- yes Sid, after a fuck ton of grovelling. And Switch will woo Joy, and Rider will reveal who he’s been sneaking around with, and then we’ll just have to set up Mad Dog with someone.”
Sid raises a brow, “And once they find their happy ever afters?”
I press a kiss to Sid’s lips before pulling back, gazing into his golden eyes, “We wait a few years and do it all over again with the second generation.”
A smile tugs at the corner of his lush lips, “I can’t wait to do this with you all over again.”
“Me too, Sid. Me too.”
Rhodie
“OK babe, are you ready for your surprise?” I cover Chewy’s beautiful gold eyes with one of my big, rough hands, and gently guide her through our front door as the other one cups the surprise I have for her nestled in my cut.
“I don’t really like surprises, but for you, I will try to like them. There may be a slight delay in my reaction though, so maybe set your expectations accordingly,” Chewy says matter of factly and I can't help the twitch of my lips. “Besides, I thought we weren’t doing gifts?”
I thought so too, but my fucking brothers got me so worked up that Chewy would go rabid on me if I didn’t get her anything that I, like a chump, went all out. I knew I should have listened to my woman and my gut and just treated today like any other day.
“I know, babe, but I wanted to get you something anyway.”
“Was it peer pressure? I bet it was.” She shakes her head, her wild curls bouncing. “OK then, bring it on. I have my surprised face at the ready.”
I huff before taking my hand from her eyes. “Happy Valentine’s Day, baby.”
Chewy takes in Chomper on his new bed, looking dapper in his costume. She squints at the curly wig, pirate hat and brown vest.
“Is he dressed as Captain Hook?”
I move to walk around her, grinning as I point to the two costumes hanging from the standing lamp. Chewy may not like a lot of things outside of torturing people and hacking, but she does love family dress ups with Laney and Chomper.
“No. Fucking. Way,” she whispers.
“Yes fucking way, baby. Next kid’s birthday party or Halloween or whatever fucking fancy dress party the DRMC has we’re going as -”
“Peter Pan!” She claps, grinning at the costumes. “You’re Peter, I’m Wendy, Laney is Tick Tock and Chomper is Hook! I love it!” She giggles and rushes toward me, about to jump in my arms but I have to block her so she doesn't squish my other surprise. “Hey!”
“Sorry baby, I have one more thing to give you.” With that I pull my cut open, revealing the kitten that Jovie had waiting for me.
Chewy stares at the kitten, narrows her eyes slightly, brows pinched. “That’s a bobcat.”
“What!?” I turn the cute little guy in my hands so I can get a good look at him. “No, I think he’s just a big kitten.”
“Oh Rhodie,” Chewy shakes her head sadly, like she’s disappointed in my intelligence. “That is a bobcat kitten. Look,” She points to its butt, “short tail, the spots on the back of its ears to mimic eyes in the wild, the tufts on its ears. That is most definitely a lynx type animal.”
“Mother fucker,” I whisper. “What the hell do we do with it?”
Chewy stares at it a moment, before shrugging. “Put it in Chomper’s spare enclosure and I’ll start its training program tomorrow.”
“What!?”
“What? It's a thoughtful gift that you’ve surprised me with. Oh, yeah,” Chewy clears her throat and makes her eyes really large, her hand over her mouth, “Oh Rhodie I love this surprise so much! The costumes and the dangerous animal are the best gifts I’ve ever been given.
” She smiles wide and fake for a few seconds before her face relaxes to the one I love the most.
“Chewy, have I ever told you you’re the best actress I’ve ever seen?”
“Thank you. Wait, was that sarcasm?”
“Maybe a little,” I snort carrying the fucking bobcat to Chompers little spare gated area in the corner of the lounge. I place the kitten gently inside, making sure he's safe and secure. “Are you sure you want to keep this thing?”
“Babe. Rhodie. Rhodes. I am a literal badass. I’m a mother, an MC icer, I own a gator and now I own a murder cat. And I’m growing a human inside me! I’m very top tier right now.”
“Yes, yes you are,” I reply, wrapping her in my arms and pressing a soft kiss to her lips.
“Thank you for my Valentine’s surprise.”
“Oh, that’s not all, I have one more.”
“Oh yeah?” Chewy’s eyes glitter as she looks up at me, holding my gaze, making me feel ten fucking feet tall.
“Yeah,” I whisper, sucking at her pulse point before pulling back, slipping her last gift out of my pocket, and waving the bottle of lube in my hand.
“I love you, Rhodes.”
“I fucking love you too, baby.”