Chapter 19
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Glancing down at the woman sleeping on my chest I sigh in contentment, trying to ignore the gnawing feeling in my gut that at any time this perfect moment will be shattered by forces outside of my control.
I can already feel my hearing pricking up, listening to any noise that doesn't sound like the ones I’m used to hearing in this house.
I know every creaky floorboard, every squeaky hinge, every rattly window in this house as if it’s been woven into the very fabric of my make up.
I remember having to avoid all of them as a teenager when I wanted to sneak out, or sneak back in.
I run my fingertip down Joy’s ski-slope nose before cuddling her just a little tighter.
What I really want is to sink inside her again, but after the moment by the lake, and then two more sessions in my childhood bed, I figured I better let her rest. I probably need it too, but I just can’t shake the feeling that something is on the horizon.
I know I’m not the only one feeling it. I can hear and almost feel my brothers as they move through the house, the prospects all taking turns at lookout, under the watchful eye of Mercy.
It kills me that my little cousin never sleeps right, but in moments like these I have to see certain curses as blessings.
“You need sleep,” Joy murmurs, pressing a kiss to my pec, not bothering to open her eyes.
“So do you, babe.”
“I don’t need to fight the bad guys,” she mumbles grumpily before huffing a breath. My lips tip up when her breathing slows right down and she relaxes against me. Good to know my woman is happy to sleep anywhere, anytime, no matter what’s happening.
A creak outside my door is accompanied by a soft rapping. “We got eyes on brother. We’re moving the women and children.”
Before I can rouse Joy she sits straight up, coiled like a snake. “Kit,” she whispers before throwing herself out of bed and pulling on her clothes. Well, OK then. It also seems my woman can be up in a matter of seconds.
I follow her lead, not bothering to button my jeans before grabbing her hand and pulling her behind me into the hall. My eyes land on Mama Debs carrying a bundled and sleeping Kit in her arms.
“I’ll take her, Mama. Who else do we have to move?” Mama Debs gently hands Kit over to me before rushing back into the room.
“Just Chomper. I’ve got him,” she calls over her shoulder. “We’re heading to the bunker.”
I nod, tipping my head to Joy who scuttles after me as we make our way down the stairs to the basement. The bunker door is already open with my momma, papa and sisters already helping the women get the kids into the beds we have down here.
“Whoa,”Joy whispers from behind me.
“Just like the bunkroom upstairs,” I say. “It’s just, down here is all.”
Joy nods, looking around. It’s not quite as fancy as the one at the clubhouse, but honestly, I don’t know anyone with a setup quite like Pops’.
“Over here, baby.” Momma waves me over and I smile when I notice she’s saved my old bunk for Kit. “Tuck your baby girl in Reid, and then you go fuck up whoever dares step foot on our land. Got it?”
“Yes, Momma.” I press a kiss to her grey hair before doing exactly what she said.
I lay Kit in the bed and let Joy fuss over her daughter, pressing kisses to her face, smoothing her hair back and pulling the covers up when Kit rolls onto her side and curls into a little ball.
As soon as Joy steps back I step forward and press my lips to Kit’s forehead.
I breathe in her scent as I make a silent promise that as long as I live, she will be safe.
Pulling back I stand to my full height, hooking Joy over the shoulders with my arm and pulling her into me, letting her melt into my chest as I breathe her in like I did our daughter.
I commit their scents to memory, knowing that if shit goes wrong tonight I may never see them again.
“Come back to me, Reid. I mean it.” Joy grips my cut in her hands so tight I can see her white knuckles.
“I will make sure that no one gets our girl. No one.”
She leans back, her dark eyes on mine, and I know what I said isn't what she wants to hear. She wants me to promise that I’ll make it back to her, but there is no point in me doing that if I can’t stop Petrov and his men.
I’m not starting our love story on a lie, so I don’t say a thing.
I press my lips to hers, hard, punishing, as I taste her knowing that she is it for me.
Knowing that I have to do whatever it takes to make sure she is happy and safe.
“I love you, Joy. Look after our girl.”
“I love you too, Reid. We’ll be waiting.”
There. There she is. Chin up. Regal. Not showing an ounce of fear. Letting me know she’s got this. And I’ve got her.
“Cousin, it’s time.” Gallows slaps a huge hand on my shoulder and all but drags me from the room.
“Thanks, Grayson.”
Gallows head jerks up at my use of his government name.
“You know, I was ready to kick your ass earlier today.” My brows jump to my hairline as I follow him up the basement stairs.
“You call me in, ask me to look after the DRMC Ol Ladies and land me in a pile of shit. Did you know those women don’t know how to listen? ”
A laugh bursts out of me and my brothers that happened to hear Gallows’ grousing.
“I’m being serious,” he says, hands on hips. “Thank fuck we ain’t got no Ol Ladies where I’m from. If I have my way, there won’t be any. Especially if they’re anything like the ones y’all have got.”
“Give it time,” Blanche says as she gets to the landing in the hall, a gun in each hand.
Gallows stares at her as if she’s grown two heads and then visibly flinches when Chewy steps up besides Blanche on one side, Lovely and Loyal on the other side.
“No. Fuck no,” Rhodie growls as he storms toward his woman, his brothers in law backing him up. Well, Jules and Gus anyway.
“What?” Chewy asks, brows raised in shock as her rounded belly sticks out.
“Nope. You are downstairs, with the others. There is no fucking way you’re going into a fucking gun fight carrying our baby. Nope.” Rhodie tries to bundle Chewy up who rolls her eyes.
“I’m not disabled, Rhodes.”
“No, but you’re growing a person, Dayz. If anything happens to you, that baby doesn't make it,” Gus says, coming to a stop in front of her.
“Hate to say it, Dayz, but you gotta sit this one out,” Pops says. “If you want, I’ll make sure I maim one so you can play with him later.”
“You promise?” Chewy asks with a pout. Gallows’ eyes bounce back and forth during this exchange before he catches my gaze and raises his brows as if he’s proving to me that our women are legitimately nuts.
“I promise,” Pops answers and Chewy lets out a bone weary sigh.
“Fine. I will go and hide with the weenies.” She fist bumps the women sadly and lets Rhodie lead her out of the room.
“And the rest of you?” Gallows makes the terrible fucking mistake of asking the other Ol Ladies ready to fight.
“What about us?” Blanche asks, not even looking at Gallows, her eyes on her gun as she runs her checks.
“Shouldn’t you be downstairs?”
“Oh, brother.” Tav slaps his hand on Gallows shoulder. “You have no idea who you’re talking to, do you?” Gallows frowns at him and Tav grins. “May I introduce the Landry women? Two biological, and one married in. These women are ex-Eden’s Keep.”
“The cult? The one that disappeared but word on the street is someone went in and took out their whole leadership?”
Tav grins so wide we can see all his teeth. “Allow me to introduce you to the woman who did that. My Ol Lady Blanche.”
Blanche’s grin matches Tav’s and Gallows’ eyes grow wide. “We were bred to fight government officials wanting to shut us down. Now we’re protecting our babies. Trust me, you don’t want us downstairs.”
“Well, OK then.”
Marx slaps Gallows on the shoulder, hard. “Best thing to do around our women is to bite your tongue, brother. It’s easier than way.”
“Yes, it is, isn't it, Johnny?” Lovely asks, eyes narrowed. “Now,” she says sweetly, “one of us has to be downstairs with our baby. I suggest it's the man who was shot. Two. Days. Ago. And. Almost. Died,” she says through gritted teeth.
Marx smiles indulgently, stepping up to his Ol Lady and smacking a kiss on her lips. “Claws away, baby. I’m just up here to help with logistics before I head downstairs and run the screens with Remy and Chewy. Wire is taking my place.”
“Good,” Lovely replies with a decisive nod. “Now, let's get this show on the road. I’m missing home.
Mad Dog
My shoulders relax as soon as I know that my boy is sitting this one out.
I know that it’ll be causing his ass to tighten, he’s a fucking control freak that one, but shit.
I almost lost him a few days ago. It damn near tore my fucking heart out sitting in the waiting room watching the clock tick, waiting for news.
If Roman hadn’t been there I wouldn't have my boy today. As much as I cant stand Marx’s mother, I’m fucking glad she had another kid who carries her same blood.
“Be careful out there, Mad Dog.” Willa’s husky voice invades my brain and I close my eyes. Now is not the time for me to lose my head, and if I have to look at the woman beside me, it just might happen.
She’s become tied up in this whole shit show and instead of huffing and puffing and blaming me for everything, she’s gone with the flow.
Well, kinda. I did have to throw her over my shoulder to get her to the clubhouse and all that, but since then she’s been pretty good.
Well, apart from the small tiff we had about my bossiness but then she threw some knives and rode my cock and we seem to be on even footing since then.
Jesus. I’m too old to be messing around like this but for some damn reason this woman makes me lose my head and feel alive again.
Looking down at her I raise my brow. “You going to stay here with the women and be a good girl?”
She laughs hard at that, husky and throaty before resting a shotgun on her shoulder. “Not a chance, lover boy.”
“Didn’t think so,” I answer drily. “Just, stick with me, yeah?”
“Yeah.”
Roman
“Do you think this will work?” I ask. My stomach knots and I think I may be nervous. Curious as I have never had a problem with nerves.
Dima tips his head side to side. “You know that I don’t see the future as such, Pakhan. More like scenes that could take place, and they change all the time.”
“But, we won't lose anyone, will we?” I’m sure he hears the desperation in my voice but is polite enough to ignore it.
“No one close to you.” He nods and I want to throttle him. That is not an answer I appreciate.
No one close to me doesn't mean anything. They may not be close to me, but they will be close to people that I admire. Trust. I can’t have anyone from the DRMC or their allies fall in this fight. That is unacceptable to me.
“The people here are very well trained. They will win.”
That relaxes me somewhat. Perhaps the men we lose tonight will be my men, from my ranks. That makes me feel better. I do not mind losing men from the Bartashev bratva. Few mean a lot to me, the rest are soldiers hoping to bring honor to their families. Their deaths will give them that.
“Thank you, Dima.”
He nods once before stepping back into the shadows. With his new curse I’m sure he’s waiting on the dead men's stories so he can continue his work.
“Men, gather around, I have instructions…”
Pops
It’s go time.