Chapter 6
Holly
Roman finally drifted off for his nap and Wolf is content in my arms drinking his milk. He is a good baby and I wonder if he notices he is with a stranger when he should be with his daddy. Or his mommy. My heart breaks for him.
My phone rings and Rayna’s name flashes across the screen.
Answering, I say, “Hey, you. Are you okay?”
“I want to come home, but grandma won’t drive me and dad isn’t answering his phone. Can you come pick me up?”
“Sure. I’ve just got to finish feeding Wolf and then I’ll leave. I’ll be there in about an hour.”
“Okay, thank you.”
The call disconnects. I try calling Leo, using one hand to navigate my phone and still feed wolf.
One thing I’ve learned about being a mom is how to multitask.
He doesn’t answer and I try Alannah. Thankfully she answers.
Two minutes later she’s letting herself in and takes Wolf from me just as he finishes his bottle. While she burps him, I get my boots on.
“I won’t be long. There and back.”
“Can’t Leo go and pick her up?”
“He isn’t answering. It’ll be quicker if I go. Plus, he has enough to deal with at the moment.”
“What’s going to happen to this little one?”
“I don’t know. His family didn’t give Leo the chance to tell them about him. Just said their son had been dead to them for a long time.”
Grabbing my car keys, I head out and jump in the car. The prospect refuses to open the gate. Leaving the engine running, I climb out of the car and run over to the bar. I passed Leo’s bike so I know he’s around here somewhere.
The bar is heaving with brothers but it’s the thick tension I push through. It’s not the boisterous atmosphere I’m used to.
Leo is sat at his table, and it strikes me that he’s not his usual self either. He watches over everyone like everyone is a suspect, which I suppose they are to him at the moment. He jumps up to his feet when he sees me pushing through the crowd and comes toward me.
“What are you doing here? Where are the kids?”
“Your mom is with them. Rayna called, she wants to come home and you weren’t answering. Can you please tell your prospect to open the gate so I can go get her.”
“You’re not going anywhere alone.”
“I wouldn’t be here if you answered your phone.”
He nods and backtracks to his table. Leaning over, he whispers something in JJ’s ear and then he is back at my side, taking a hold of my hand.
“Mase, call Zach, get him to start lookin’ into everyone’s accounts. He knows what to look for.”
“Leo, you can’t fuckin’ do that!” A brother snaps.
“One of you got Slade killed! Dex and Shane! I’ll do what the fuck I have to in order to find out who is responsible.”
The tension sets me on edge. I never thought I’d feel this way surrounded by men who wear the same patch.
Brothers mumble their complaints as we’re heading for the door. Leo stops us and turns back to everyone.
“I’d do the same if it were any of you.”
With that, we walk out, and I wait to ask my question until we’re in the car. Leo takes over driving and I get comfortable in the passenger seat.
“What was that back there?”
“We’re on lockdown until we find out who the traitor is.”
“This is going to be bad, isn’t it.”
His jaw tenses and he stares out at the road like it’s going to disappear if he looks away. He admits, “For a while.”
I don’t involve myself in the club, and have complete faith in Leo, as he has with me in the home. I'm used to him upping and leaving at a moment’s notice, sometimes out of the house for an hour, other times, for hours on end.
I'm used to it, and it works for us. Though seeing him so tense and on edge, it’s a side to him I’ve rarely seen in a long time.
“Have any of the old ladies said anything suspicious?” he asks as we drive through the streets in the nice part of town.
“No, they’re more interested in shopping trips and wine.” I smile when he rolls his eyes. “Do you think anyone will come forward and admit they’re the traitor?”
“Fuck knows.”
“And what if they don’t?” I dare to ask.
“Then I'll have to get creative.”
He doesn’t need to explain in great or any detail for me to imagine how he will get creative.
He slows the car and then parks on the curb out front of Kristen’s house.
“You’ll be better off going in to get her. Kris won’t want to see me.”
“Okay, I won’t be long.”
He has his phone out of his pocket before I can climb out and close the door. I cross the front lawn and ring the doorbell.
I make sure my gloves are tightly cuffed around my wrists while I wait. I've always gotten on well with Kristen, but she has always had the ability to make sure I remember my place.
Nina answers and offers a small smile. “Rayna said you were on your way.”
She opens the door wider, and I step inside.
“How’s she been?” I ask.
“She’s been quiet, but she’s been good for Kristen. She’s been holding it together a lot better than I was expecting. I think having Ray around has been the distraction she needed.”
Rayna comes through from the kitchen and grabs her backpack from the banister.
“Hey, Mom. Is Roman in the car?”
“No, he’s at home with Grandma. Dad's waiting for us.”
She runs for the door, and I call out, “Hey, say your goodbyes first.”
“Bye, Aunt Nina.” She glares at me and asks, “Can I go now?”
Exhaling long and hard, I nod.
“I think I preferred it when she was a baby and woke me up in the night every night.”
“I hear you on that.”
“Okay, well, I better get going. Call me if you need anything.”
We hug and I make a quick escape before Kristen shows her face.
Rayna's already belted in the back when I slide into the passenger seat.
“If any of them even think about trying to stop her, put your gun to their head...” He catches the words that just left his mouth and glances over his shoulder to Rayna in the back.
He sighs with relief when she’s more invested in her phone than his.
“I’m leaving now. Won't be long.”
I don’t know who he is talking to, but he hangs up and puts on a smile.
“How are you doing, princess?”
“Okay,” she sighs. “Grandma kept telling me funny stories about grandpa. I made her laugh when I told her about the time grandpa laughed really hard and his beer came out of his nose.”
Leo and I laugh remembering the night fondly. “She said that we’re all going to miss him but he’s with my mom and they’re both looking over us.”
“See, that’s what Dad and I was telling you.”
“I know, but...”
“But what, darlin’?” Leo pushes.
“It’s not the same. We don’t know if they really are watching over us.”
Her sadness reaches us in the front, and I twist in my seat and squeeze her little leg.
“Every time you see someone laugh and their drink comes out of their nose, you’ll know Grandpa’s there. When you’re happy and feel safe, you’ll know your mom is there. It's you, Ray-Ray, that will keep them both alive.”
“I miss him so much already,” she admits, a tear rolling down her cheek.
She wipes it away before I can reach over and do it for her.
“You miss him because he was a great guy, and that makes you lucky, because you were fortunate to have him in your life.”
She nods and goes back to clicking away on her phone.
I turn in my seat and face the front. Leo squeezes my thigh, and I'm grateful when his hand remains.
“Your call didn’t sound good,” I say keeping my voice low.
“Harper’s losing her shit.”
“In what way?”
It weren’t that long ago her and Leo were burning down her house, so I can’t begin to imagine what’s going down today.
“Myles didn’t share that many details, only that she’s lost her mind, and Jay’s doing what he can to stop it kicking off altogether.”
“It?”
He shrugs and puts his foot down a little harder, pushing the speed without being reckless.
I’ve always enjoyed watching Leo drive. It’s rare when he’s in the car but when he is, I’m happy enough to sit back and watch.
The prospect opens the gates without us having to come to a stop and Leo leans over and kisses me when the car comes to a stop.
“I needed that,” he soothes.
The three of us climb out of the car with Rayna making gagging noises.
“Go over to the house, Ray, I'll be along shortly,” I tell her and follow Leo into the bar.
Out of everything I was expecting, Harper holding a gun up, slowly circulating, aiming at everyone, wasn’t one of them.
I stay close to Leo, latching my fingers into the back of his belt as Harper shrieks, “Just tell me which one of you got my uncle killed!”
Tears stream down her cheeks, droplets falling from her jawline. JJ inches closer to her but she isn’t interested in having him near her.
She wants answers and I don’t blame her. She has more balls than most around here, I couldn’t say I’d hold a gun up at everyone, but who knows when you’re not thinking straight.
I look around and a few of the brothers are either keeping their hands on their guns, or they’re holding them up at her.
All it will take is one trigger happy finger to accidently let off a shot.
“Harper, baby. Please, put the gun down. I promised you, didn’t I, that I’d find them and make them pay,” JJ soothes.
“I think it’s one of these assholes that are pointing their guns at me,” she retaliates.
JJ spins and glares at the brothers, but it’s Leo who speaks up. “For those of you with a gun in your hand aiming it at my sister, you have three seconds to put them away or I’ll take mine out and bodies will drop.”
His voice booms around the bar, demanding submission. Guns slowly drop and are stowed away.
Harper's tears come heavy and fast. “Just tell me!”
She's not listening to JJ. Stepping away from Leo, he goes to grab me as I pass him, but I move faster.
I cut through the brothers and smile sadly when she sees me.
“Harps, darling, what are you doing?” I ask gently.
“Someone here got my uncle killed, they need to pay.”
“And they will, Leo and Jay will find out who they are, you know they will, but you don’t need to be here to see it go down.” I take another step closer. “Come home with me, and we can open a bottle of wine.”
She shakes her head and I take another step closer to her. “You trust Jay and Leo, if they told you they won’t stop until they find out who, you know they will. Come with me, let them get on with it, and they’ll come find you when they’ve got him.”
She wavers and lowers the gun a little. I close the distance and place my hands over hers. Keeping my voice low, only for her to hear, I say, “Our men are going to find whoever it is, and they’re going to hurt them so bad, they’ll beg to die.”
“They will, won’t they,” she sobs.
I nod and finally prize the gun from her hands. Keeping eye contact with her, I pass back the gun, and someone takes it from me. Once my hand is free, I cup both her cheeks, sweeping my gloved thumbs over her tears, and say, “Let’s let the guys do what they’ve gotta do, yeah?”
She nods and I drop my hands and wrap my arm around her. Brothers move out of our way and JJ watches on, frowning.
I catch Leo’s eye, his mouth opens to say something when we hear, “You should learn how to handle your old lady.” Then chaos erupts and I get us out of the bar before we’re caught in the violence.