Chapter 40
Lark
I am fucking fuming as I watch Punisher and Razor drag Star out of the clubhouse. In all honesty, I want her blood for what she’s done. According to what Levi and Mama Astrid have told me, it’s well within club rights to demand her blood. But something in me wants to give her a second chance.
However, if she does something again, then all bets are off.
Exhaling heavily, I try to shake off my rage. Mama Astrid steps out of Odin’s arms and loops my arm around hers.
“Well, it looks like we officially need to celebrate you, young lady. I’m sorry your day has been tainted, but we’ll whip up a party to try and take your mind off everything.”
I smile despite my anger and most of the tension in the room bleeds away.
“Now, how about you and I grab some beers and have some girl talk.”
My smile widens as I nod. Mama Astrid links her arm through mine and Odin walks behind the bar, grabbing us both beers.
A wall of warmth appears behind me and I look over my shoulder, not at all surprised to find Anthony standing behind me.
“Darlin’, I’m gonna take out the trash upstairs. Hollar if you ladies need me. We’ll cater in tonight so that neither of you has to cook. Just relax and try to enjoy the rest of the day.”
When I nod, he leans down, gives me a chaste kiss, grabs a beer from Odin and heads upstairs. It takes me a moment to realize what he might mean and relief flows through me.
There’s no way I’m ever sleeping on that bed or with that bedding ever again.
Mama Astrid leads me over to a table in the corner and we sit down.
A few minutes later, I hear boots stomping down a hallway. Looking up, I find my suspicions were correct as Anthony tosses a couple of garbage bags of what I suspect is our old bedding down the stairs. Loki catches them and takes them outside, probably to the dumpster.
“Now, we’re not going to worry about the mess we’ll have to clean up with the Christmas drive right now, so how about we figure out what we’re going to get Mae for her baby shower?” Mama Astrid asks, and I can’t stop my smile, but then worry sets in and my smile starts to fade.
“I… I don’t know. I haven’t met her yet, so I’m not sure what all she’d like.”
Mama Astrid scoffs. “Well, that’s easy enough to take care of.”
She pulls out her phone and a moment later, I hear a sweet voice over the line. “Mama Astrid! How you doing, Mama?”
A soft smile comes over Mama Astrid, as she turns the phone sideways and scoots closer to me. “I’m doing good, Lil’ Bit, but I wanted to introduce you to your new aunt.”
Mae squeals. “He asked her?”
I guess Levi and Mae must have talked about me.
I scoot my chair even closer and wave. “Hey, Mae. I’m Lark.”
Mae squeals again as she does a little dance on her sofa. From the background, she must be in their house.
“I’m so happy Reaper found someone that makes him happy! You’re coming at the end of the month, right? I can’t wait to meet you in person! Oh, and there’s another soon to be Old Lady that I want you to meet at the party too. Her name is Mary and she’s with Patch.”
I can’t help but laugh. Timber’s nickname for her makes so much more sense now because she is a ray of sunshine.
“Oh, you hush,” she calls over her shoulder. “My injuries are almost fully healed, so a little movement like that doesn’t hurt.”
A male voice mumbles but then he steps up behind her and leans down over the back of the couch, his arms wrapping around her so that his hands rest lovingly on her baby bump.
“Hi, Lark, I’m Timber.”
I wave. “Hi, Timber. Can’t wait to meet you guys later this month.”
He smiles and then kisses Mae’s temple. “We’re all looking forward to meeting the woman that tamed Reaper as well.
I’m going to head to the clubhouse and give you guys some privacy.
Call or text if you need me, Sunshine,” he says before kissing her temple one more time and then he walks out of the room.
A moment later, I hear a door shut in the background.
“So, what’s going on over there?”
Mama Astrid gives me a mischievous grin which I match.
“Ohhhh, spill!”
I full on grin as we both turn back to the phone.
“Well, Lark took a page out of your book and frog marched Star out of Reaper’s room, then turned her and dragged her ass, literally mind you, down the stairs before she was kicked out and full out banned.”
Mae’s mouth drops in surprise. “Wait, not just banned, but full out banned?”
Mama Astrid nods as she gives me a proud look.
“Yup, a full ban. With what that bitch did, yeah, her ass can’t live in any town that we have a chapter in,” I tell her.
Mae gives a devilish grin. “Oh, I like you girl. Now, spill. I need allllll the details!”
A few hours later, we’re laughing at something Mae and Levi are recounting. She’d joined Mae after she got home from her bar and grill.
“Girl, I can’t wait to meet you in person,” Levi says as she wipes the tears from her eyes.
The main door opens and Punisher, Razor, Nathan, and Drake walk in.
Both Razor and Punisher spot us and head in our direction.
Mama Astrid turns her phone so they can see who we’re talking to, and they both nod with soft smiles on their faces as they say hello.
Then their faces harden as their gazes turn back toward me.
“Found these while she was cleaning out her shit.” Punisher hands me a couple of envelopes and my gut clenches. I’m almost positive I know what’s in them.
Opening them, my stomach drops at how much cash is in them. My gaze shoots back to his. “Did she say what this was from?”
Both of their faces harden.
“We got it out of her, didn’t hurt her but we did threaten her. It’s from the Christmas stash,” Razor grits out.
I let out a long breath. Fuck, maybe I should have demanded her blood.
“Did she leave town?”
Razor pulls out his phone, and after a minute, he turns it around. A red dot is moving down the highway that leads toward the interstate, and I quirk an eyebrow at him.
“Love it, but what if she sells the car or junks it?”
“Then Python and I will get an alert. If the title changes, if it gets scrapped, and if there’s no movement for three days, then we’ll be notified.”
Python walks over and joins us. “I also set up alerts so that whenever she registers a new address, we’ll be notified.”
Punisher gives my shoulder a squeeze. “You did good, Queen.”
I give him a small smile. “Thanks.” Then I scowl as I look down at the envelopes in my hand. “At least we recouped some if not all of what she stole, but if she fucks up again, then she’s getting brought in and I’ll deal with her.”
The doors open again and a beautiful Asian woman comes in carrying a large tin foiled tray that smells divine.
Behind her, a few of the guys are carrying what looks to be the rest of the food that was ordered for tonight.
We’d all decided to go with Chinese. They place the trays in the warmers that were set out awhile ago.
Turning back toward Mama Astrid’s phone, I smile. “It was nice to finally put faces to names and meet you guys but our dinner just arrived so we’ll have to let you go.”
“No problem, girl, I just started a couple of text threads—one is for us three and the other includes Mary. Even though we consider her Patch’s Old Lady already, she can’t be added to the other one until she gets her cut.”
We say our goodbyes and get up. My stomach rumbles at the smell of all the food, but first, I needed to re-secure this money.
Heading toward Reaper’s office, I knock.
“Come in,” his deep voice calls out.