CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
-:- PENNY -:-
Winter is heading out of the kitchen door as she is taking her sniper position along with Target and Colton. Stopping in front of me, Winter places a hand on my shoulder and looks me right in the eye.
“Okay,” I look up and give Winter a weak smile, to which she squeezes my shoulder and nods, seeing something in my face that satisfies her.
Showing me how to use the weapon only takes a few minutes as Winter really has to move to her position outside, she turns and rushes out of the back door, and I take a stance near the common room door, but still inside the kitchen.
I hear Axel call all the brothers outside to take their positions.
I haven’t seen Ruger as he’s been checking what happened to the man who was thrown outside the compound.
Arabella is safe with the seven older ladies, and Jack who is trying to keep them all contained and controlled.
Personally, I think he is on a losing streak, but I’m not telling him that.
Specs is in the office, overlooking everything that is happening, so I’m not too concerned about where Ruger is, or what is happening. My worry is keeping everyone out of the clubhouse and away from the children.
Not hearing anything untoward from outside as yet I dash to the playroom to check on things with Arabella.
What I didn’t expect to see when I opened the door was a wall of elderly ladies, all I have to tell you, brandishing weapons of one kind or another.
The most shocking part is the looks on all their faces…
they are ready, willing and I’m sure able to cause mayhem if anyone gets into the room.
They have guns, knives, cleavers and baseball bats.
I don’t even bother asking if everything is okay.
I get out of there and back to the kitchen.
Ready and waiting in there are Gemmy, Paisley, Nyx and Kenzie along with her dog who is called BigDog I’m told. I can see why because he is massive, and I’d not want to take him on if something went wrong.
Nyx gives me an excited look. “We’re holding down the fort while the men are outside. Are you ready?”
“Well, I’ve got a weapon.” Which I hold up and wave around until I notice everyone ducking for cover. “Sorry, sorry, I got carried away.”
“Girl, get a hold of yourself,” Gemmy smirks, but I see she’s got a weapon in her right hand, and a cleaver in the other.
“Can I have a cleaver?” I ask.
“No, no, no…not after seeing you swinging that damn gun around,” Paisley gives me a get a grip, type of look, and I shrug because I’ve never been in a situation like this before. I open my mouth to respond, but snap it closed when we hear gunfire.
“Get ready ladies.” I look at Kenzie who is standing cooly next to BigDog. Crickey, maybe I need a big dog too!
Mia rushes into the kitchen, checks who is here and then sighs, throwing her hands on her hips. “Freaking Raven has sneaked out. If she sneaks back in don’t shoot her.”
“Okay,” Gemmy calmly answers. We all watch Mia rush back out to where she has all the other women at the ready in case the front doors to the clubhouse are breached.
“Stand firm,” Paisley says as we hear an enormous bang. “That’s the gate gone, be ready.”
I look at Paisley, the door, Nyx, and then the gun in my hand. Shit, this is not how I wanted today to go down, is all I can think. I’ll not let anyone hurt Arabella, so I’m ready and waiting, even if my knees are knocking.
BigDog is growling, and looking at him I shiver a little, as he has all the teeth and gums in his enormous mouth showing.
Obviously, he is ready for anything. Kenzie has her hand in his collar and stands calmly.
Looking up at me, Kenzie gives me a shoulder shrug right as the back door flies open and men teem inside. Men who are not brothers of the MC.
Everything happens so fast, Gemmy throws a cleaver, Paisley fires her weapon, Nyx bellows a war-cry as she throws a long ass knife. Kenzie is cool as can be, while BigDog is ripping pieces off an asshole, she keeps saying, “Good boy!” Much to my shock, and I admit it, it is scary.
I fire my weapon and miss, but it gives Gemmy time to retrieve her cleaver from somewhere, dripping with blood and throw it, which whizzes through the air and hits the man who is rushing at me in his back.
The sound of vehicles outside the kitchen door takes our attention, and as we have all the men down, as in dead, or unconscious we stand at the ready.
A handsome man walks through the door in a black suit, looking clean, and crisp.
He gives Gemmy a huge smile. “We’re the cavalry, but I see you don’t need us. ”
“Hello, Mr. Vitale,” Gemmy replies as sweet as you like. I’m looking at her like I’ve never met her before because she is fluttering her eyelashes at him.
Mr. Vitale! Mr. Vitale! I’ve heard that name.
Then suddenly, like a lightbulb comes on I remember Ruger telling me Mr. Vitale is the Mafia boss.
That’s me done. I drop my gun on the table and hightail it out of the kitchen, through the common room where Mia and the other women are standing as fresh as you like!
It seems no one got in the front door and came through the back!
Whatever…! I’m going to check on my daughter, who it turns out is fast asleep and has been throughout all this mess.
Four hours later, I, along with Arabella, am in Ruger’s room and settled quietly.
I’m not really sure what happened once everywhere seemed to miraculously be cleaned up.
Dead bodies disappeared. Mr. Vitale took vans laden with men, and I saw Axel give him a huge smirk as he wandered out to an Escalade.
Cuddling with a pillow as I lay on the bed watching Arabella kicking and babbling about something or other. She is reaching for the crib mobile I have hanging over the crib. I smile as she is unaware of all the mayhem that has happened around her.
Falling asleep is probably only natural when you’ve been stressed.
Seeing men killed, a dog attack someone, and cleavers thrown about.
But what shocked me was the way everyone, and I mean everyone including Nyx’s old ladies thought it was perfectly fine.
Nothing to worry about! Sheriff Forest had arrived with his deputies, and after speaking with Axel the deputies mostly laughed and joked with the women.
The more I am around these people the crazier I think they are, and that is what’s running around my mind as I sleep.
I’m awakened by someone softly saying my name and placing kisses on my cheeks, chin and forehead. Slowly opening my eyes I look at Ruger, who is giving me a soft look. “Come on, sleepyhead.”
“What time is it?” I grumble, giving a huge yawn right afterward.
“It’s time to eat. Arabella is with Nyx. She’s had something to eat, had her formula and is in the kitchen being spoiled rotten by everyone.” Ruger kisses my nose before pulling me out of bed and wrapping his arms around me. “Come on, I’m hungry.”
“Okay, okay, I’m coming. Let me freshen up.
” I make quick work of freshening up, and it’s only a few minutes when we walk into the kitchen and I smile as Arabella is happily playing with Nyx.
A bag of something that looks like peas is on her highchair tray, and she’s squeezing the bag before holding it to her mouth and biting.
“What has she got, Nyx?” I ask as I get near enough.
Nyx looks up and smiles. “It’s frozen peas in two bags, you know, so it doesn’t bust open.
Arabella is biting it as well as squeezing it and watching the peas move.
There is cold water inside the bags, so the peas move about.
Meat said it’s a good sensory activity for her.
She seems to like the cold on her gums too. ”
Colton is sitting next to Nyx, digging into an enormous plate of food. He turns as he swallows and nods at me. “Meat knows a lot about shit, so just run with it, Penny.”
Taking a seat, I eat some of the barbecued ribs and side salad that Ruger handed me, but I’m mainly listening to everyone talking about what happened, and what may happen moving forward.
“You done, Babe?”
“Yes, I’ve finished. Let’s get Arabella bathed and down for the night.” I take Arabella after thanking Nyx and head upstairs. Ruger clears our dishes before following behind me.
After getting Arabella settled for the night, and after we have showered and settled ourselves, I lean my head on Ruger’s chest and listen to his calm breathing.
He’s talking quietly about what happened, why and who.
Some of this I understood already, but knowing this distributor of death, as I always think of anyone that deals with drugs, is going to be gone for good is a good feeling.
It’s sad when people go bad like this, but I have no qualms about them getting what’s coming either.
****
Three days later, things have settled back to normal for me at least. I am not getting involved in anything that Ruger may have to deal with.
I’m working alongside Everlee who is learning fast, and she has some good ideas to create new clients without risking paying much out on marketing.
Word of mouth is carrying, and we are getting inquiries from businesses that need security patrols, inside office security and even escort security.
I can see that the business is going to need more employees soon.
Wren appeared in my office, making me jump as my mind was studying the three quotes we had given to businesses. They appear to be ready to hand over to Bones who likes to look at what the company has quoted to prospective clients, and then check up on them before any contracts are completed.
“Sorry, Penny, did I surprise you?” Wren smiles.
“You did, but it’s all good. What can I do for you?”
“A woman was outside the main entrance, and I was watching her because she was talking to herself. Pacing back and forth, too. Bently stood with me for a few minutes, and he thought she looked somewhat deranged. Bentley has gone to the office to speak with Arrow or Bones.”
“Shit, that’s not good.” I stand and walk past Wren, and out of the office. I’m going to speak to Delta because she’s always on the ball and will know what’s happening before Bones or Arrow do.
Delta shows me the cam recording, and I watch closely before looking at Delta. “That’s Rosemarie, the nutjob who wants me gone so she can be with Ruger.”
“Oh, she’s a nutjob alright. She’s been talking to herself for quite a while. But she’s gone now. Just keep a close eye on things, Penny.” Delta keeps pushing keys and watching different monitors, so I guess that’s the end of this conversation.
Walking downstairs I mutter as I walk. “Maybe I need to find her and not the other way around.”
“What are you saying, Penny?”
Jumping and spinning around, I place my hand over my heart. “Sheesh, Jayne, you scared the pants off me then.”
We both laugh, and Jayne replies. “Well, you were talking to yourself.”
“I was. I was thinking about the psycho that’s after Ruger. Maybe bring her out instead of waiting for her?”
“Well, I would, I have to admit. I would hate having to wait for something to happen. Pushing her out of her comfort zone may give you the edge you need. But, Penny, you need to have something to defend yourself with, because you never know what she may have.”
“You’re right, Jayne. She is a nutjob, and that makes her hard to read. I have two tasers and some nice mace.” I give a huge grin when I say about the mace, too.
Humming a little in thought, Jayne leans closer to me. “Why don’t you speak to Dallas? She’s a tough cookie and may have a few ideas?”
“Oh, I never thought about Dallas. Yeah, I’ll do that.” We part as we reach my office. I head inside, and Jayne aims for the canteen. But I have some things I need to think about now.