Chapter 36
Smokehouse
S taring at the screen in shock, I watched our baby. The heartbeat filled the room and I squeezed Dani’s hand. Smiling down at her, I leaned over and brushed a kiss over her forehead.
“Everything’s looking great,” the tech said, tapping on keys as she spoke.
“I can’t believe it,” Dani said, looking at me. She laughed. “I mean, I knew our baby was in there, but…”
“Seeing it on screen is different,” I finished for her, completely in agreement. Our baby stretched, as though waking from a nap.
I’d insisted on Dani going to the doctor after everything that went down a few days ago. She claimed she and the baby were fine, but I needed to be sure.
The ultrasound technician finished up and pushed the machine away. “You can sit up. The doctor will be in shortly.”
I listened quietly through the appointment while the doc asked questions and Dani answered. She gave both my girl and baby a clean bill of health and sent us on our way.
“Are you okay?” Dani asked, looking over at me as I pulled out onto the road.
I drove her car to the appointment. She wasn’t getting back on my bike until after she gave birth. I wasn’t taking any more risks where she was concerned. In fact, I was planning to ask Butcher and Toxic if they had any more of that bubble wrap lying around once we got back to the clubhouse.
“Just thinking,” I replied.
She nibbled on her lower lip. “About?”
“Just about how I was afraid for so long that any woman I loved would walk out on me.”
Her eyes were soft and understanding as she watched me drive.
“Then I find myself a woman who I know will stick by me. You’d never leave. At least not on your own. But we end up involved in all this shit that almost took you from me twice.” I shrugged my shoulders. “Really put shit into perspective for me.”
“Me too,” she replied. “I spent so long just going along with whatever Eli wanted because he made things miserable if I didn’t.
Now I’m here, with you, and I want to go along with the things you want because we’re on the same page and it makes me happy.
” She sighed, a heavy sound, as though the weight of the world was on her chest. “What are we going to do about the Italians?”
“We’re going to systematically destroy them until they no longer exist.” The words were dark and dangerous.
Those fuckers had gone after my woman twice.
They crossed the line and there was no going back.
Glancing over, I reached out and ran my hand over her hair.
I’d seen her sister do the same thing when she’d been here with us and it seemed to soothe Dani.
“Don’t worry, Wildcat. Nothing is going to take you from me.
We’ll deal with them. Then Fremont. I’ll fuck up anyone who threatens our family. ”
She let out a huff of laughter that had me quirking a brow at her in question.
“I never thought my life would turn out this way. I’m pretty boring, all in all.
Have always followed the rules. The law.
Yet now, I’m dating a biker and having regular talks about killing people.
I just saw my ex-husband killed in the desert by members of the mafia… ” She frowned at that.
“He deserved what he got,” I told her. “Him taking you off the compound put you in danger.”
“What happened to the bodies?”
“Don’t worry. The guys took them to be disposed of,” I said. “No one will ever find them.” Marty had spent most of the night burning the bodies in his mortuary.
“What do I do about the divorce?” she asked, eyes wide as though she hadn’t thought of that prior.
“Rat is already laying a trail, showing that Eli bought a ticket out of the country.”
“So that we can show that he ran,” she said, a frown pulling her brows together.
“That could work.” Tears formed in her eyes.
“I didn’t want him dead,” she whispered.
“He tried to save me in the end.” She shook her head, as though that could wipe the memories away like an etch-a-sketch.
“Things are just very different now,” she continued her line of thought from before.
“Better?”
“So much better,” she told me with a soft smile.
I pulled into the clubhouse parking lot and reached over. She squealed, then laughed, when I lifted her out of her seat and settled her over my lap. She cupped my face in her hands before leaning down to kiss me.
“So much better,” she repeated against my lips.
“Good. Why don’t you show me how much better?”
“Not out here,” she said, sounding scandalized.
Sighing, I relented. “Fine. Let’s go inside then.” I shoved open the door and helped her scramble out. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, I walked with her back toward the clubhouse. My steps faltered as I saw Hellfire walking toward The Bunker with a keg on his shoulder.
Kit stepped out of the bar and smiled up at him as he stopped in front of her. She put her hands on her hips and laughed at something he said.
My eyes narrowed on them as I watched the interaction.
There had been a few times over the last few weeks where I’d noticed them exchanging smiles.
Then there’d been that look on Hell’s face outside the event center when he’d finally found Kit in all the chaos.
It was raising my suspicions. I gave Dani a soft push toward the clubhouse. “You go ahead. I’ll be right there.”
Her eyes followed my gaze and she smiled when she saw Hell and Kit talking. “Don’t forget, he’s your best friend.”
“Exactly why I need to make his life hell if he thinks he’s going to pursue my sister.” I gave her a wolfish smile.
“You don’t want them dating?”
I gave her a shit eating grin. “Didn’t say that.” If anyone was worthy of Kit, it was Hell. “But I’m not letting him near her without working for it.” I wanted to have a little fun at my friend’s expense.
Dani shook her head, giving me a hard look. “Isn’t that Kit’s decision?”
“She gets final say,” I said in agreement. “But only after he makes it past me.”
Dani rolled her eyes. “You’re impossible,” she said as she walked over to the clubhouse.
Grinning, I headed over to the bar. Hellfire had given me enough shit over the years.
I considered it my duty to return the favor.
Plus, I promised my father I’d always look out for Kit.
Didn’t matter if we were in our eighties, I’d watch out for her.
I’d run off every man who was interested in her.
That wasn’t going to happen this time. I’d try, for the fun of it, but Hell wasn’t the quitting type.
He’d have to weather the storm if he wanted my sister at the end of it.
It was my right as her brother to put him through his paces.
“What are you doing?” I asked, putting a bit of a growl into my tone.
Kit looked over and sighed. She was used to me butting into her life. It irritated the shit out of her, but it amused me to poke at her. “None of your business.”
“Rip asked me to bring a few of these kegs over to The Bunker,” Hell said. He was completely relaxed while hefting a barrel of beer that weighed over a hundred pounds.
I knew there was no one better for Kit than Hell.
Secretly, I’d been hoping for years that he’d take interest. But the man moved slower than molasses.
Not that I was one to talk, considering it took practically the whole club to convince me I’d had my head shoved up my ass and needed to give Dani a chance.
That was the reason I’d never pushed Hellfire toward finding an old lady.
If he decided he wanted Kit, I would give him my full blessing…
eventually. Until then, I was going to see how far I could push before he snapped.
“Well, you going to set that shit down?” I asked, motioning toward the door. “You know where it goes.”
Hell flipped me off with the hand not wrapped around the barrel as he went inside.
His eyes lingered on Kit a little longer than necessary.
How long had he been into Kit? It certainly wasn’t new, not with the way he was watching her.
How had I missed it? I’d been too fucking wrapped up in my own shit.
I was seeing clearly now, and my sister and friend were going to pay for that.
Kit glared at me. “Why are you such a dick?”
I gave her a wide grin. “That’s my job as your big brother.”
She rolled her eyes and went inside the bar.
She didn’t know it yet, but I had every intention of helping her.
It was as though falling in love myself allowed me to see the attraction brewing between Kit and Hell.
The harassment I planned to dump on his doorstep was going to push him into finally making a move.
No one knew my friend the way I did. If I didn’t do this, they’d be old and gray before he acted on his feelings. He helped give me the shove I needed. I was looking forward to exacting my revenge.
Whistling, I walked over to the clubhouse.
The summer heat was ramping up, heralding in the biggest war we’d ever faced as a club.
But the only thing that was going to happen today was a day spent in bed with my old lady.
The threats that were coming were miles off.
As I climbed the stairs, my only thoughts were of Dani and wringing every ounce of pleasure from her body that I could.
Who would have ever thought my fuck boy days would be over?
That I would be a dad? That I would be looking forward to every milestone Dani and I would hit together in our life?
She wasn’t the only one whose life was incredibly different these days. Mine looked nothing like what it used to. I wouldn’t change a fucking thing. Walking into that bar that night was my lottery and I’d won the jackpot.
Grinning at her when I stepped into the apartment, I saw that she’d made some popcorn. We’d watch the movie she set up, then I planned to eat that popcorn off every valley and plane on her gorgeous body. Kicking the door shut behind me, I wondered how I’d gotten so fucking lucky.
***
Thanks for reading!