CHAPTER FOUR
Four days later
– REEF –
“Always a pleasure, sir,” I rumble and shake the hand of one of the club’s biggest clients.
“I’ve added an end of the year bonus. See you guys next week,” he states.
I barely get out a thanks before he’s gone. We have a few of these clients who hire us to travel with their cargo. We always put one brother in the truck with the driver, one in front, and two riding behind it.
There hasn’t been any stolen cargo either by truck jacking, or during a rest stop on our watch. Only a handful of incidents have happened since we started, one involving robbers shooting at us, another time they tried to run us off the road.
All of the times we’ve managed to prevent anyone from getting injured while keeping the cargo safe. It’s why they keep hiring us and the solid word-of-mouth advertising has expanded our business.
Escorting trucks to their destination isn’t our only line of work, we also handle security for events, and are bodyguards for certain celebrities. For now, the job is done and we’re all off for the next three days.
There’s a party at the clubhouse tonight. It’s kinda like a pre-New Year’s Eve party. Tomorrow we’re gonna do it all over again, but then it’ll be members only. Tonight will be hectic with lots of booze, loud music, and festive shit.
I straddle my bike and take a moment to put on my gloves. It’s cold as fuck with the snow and all, but at least the roads are clear. My mind drifts to Maeve, as it always does these past few weeks.
She should be at the clubhouse tonight as well. Not my idea, that’s for sure. I mentioned to both Zale and Nixie it would be too rowdy tonight and they should invite her to the private one tomorrow. Hell, then it’s fucking New Years so why expose her to the crazy shit beforehand?
I mean, some of the brothers don’t even sleep and go on for two, sometimes three days straight. Booze, naked chicks, loud music, bloody sparring, shit can get seriously wild and loud since we’ve cut the parties down to a minimum when Zale pulled the club into legit business only.
The dark road ahead of me is soothing as I clear my mind. The rest of the brothers who were working this job with me already left to head for the party. I stayed behind to talk with the client to wrap things up.
A solid twenty minutes later I ride into the parking lot of the clubhouse, and as expected, there’s a large row of bikes parked in front of it and loud music can be heard from the outside.
Hitting the kickstand, I swing my leg off the bike and saunter in the direction of the clubhouse until a small figure leaning against the garage door on my right catches my attention. Heading that way, the moonlight falls on the figure when she shifts and I instantly recognize Maeve.
“What the fuck are you doing out here in the cold all by yourself?” I bark in anger.
Fucking hell, she’s pregnant and shouldn’t be alone in the freezing dark.
“Well hello to you too,” she grumbles. “Talk about a warm welcome. You sound more like a rabid dog than a friend.”
I release a deep sigh and point at the pile of snow from the parking lot that was cleared. “I am a friend and damn worried if you’re out here by yourself.”
Maeve in return points at the camera staring down at us. “Amos said he’d keep an eye on me while I get some fresh air.”
“Why did you find the need to get some fresh air?” I step closer and pull her against my body when I notice her fucking shivering.
Placing her head on my chest she murmurs, “Too loud and festive inside. I did check out the backyard, but two of your brothers were boxing and a handful of chicks were cheering them on by bouncing their breasts.” She tips her head back and grins. “When one pair escaped I thought it was my cue to get some fresh air.”
Fuck. “I told them tonight wasn’t the right time to bring you over. Should have been tomorrow when it’s just the brotherhood.”
Maeve winces. “I’m going to stay home alone tomorrow and ring in the New Year with some serious couch action.”
I chuckle and tell her, “Serious couch action? I don’t want to miss out on that so I’m inviting myself over if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind,” she breathes and stares up at me.
Her breathing intensifies, tits rising and falling, desire filling her eyes as I slowly inch closer. I want to lean in and taste her lips, kiss the fuck out of her and grind my cock against her belly to let her feel what she does to me.
None of it happens when I hear the clubhouse door swing open.
“Hey, you’re back,” Zale rumbles.
Nixie and Leon are right behind him.
Maeve steps back and I tell my prez, “Yeah. Job went well.”
Zale jabs a thumb over his shoulder. “We’re going to drop Leon off at home. He doesn’t feel well and staying in one of the rooms at the clubhouse would be too loud.”
“I can take him with me,” Meave offers. “I was going to leave anyway.”
“You were?” Nixie asks, a hint of sadness in her voice.
Maeve reaches out to her mother and gives her hand a squeeze. “Sorry, I’m not really in a partying mood, and I don’t want to ruin it for everyone else. Like I said, I’d be happy to take Leon home and keep him company.”
“No need to say sorry.” Nixie hugs Maeve. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have dragged you over. Reef warned me and suggested we’d skip tonight…I should have–”
Stepping forward, I interrupt them and say, “It’s all good because there will be other parties in the future she can attend. I’ll bring both Maeve and Leon home and stay to make sure they’re okay.”
Zale’s eyes narrow and I know the fucker is going to say something about keeping my dick in my pants.
It’s why I turn to Nixie and tell her, “If Leon is coming down with something I don’t think Maeve should be taking care of him. This way we can all be together and keep the germs at a safe distance.”
Nixie instantly bobs her head in agreement.
“Maybe we should go too,” Zale suggests. “Reef can stay here and party. He missed out on the first leg of it, and he’s always down for some fun with the–”
“What the fuck,” I growl and take a menacing step toward him. “What’s your problem, eh?”
He shoves my shoulder. “You. You’re my problem, VP. Your obsession with my old lady’s daughter is pissing me off.”
I keep quiet about the mentioning of my obsession, because I sure as fuck won’t deny she’s become my obsession, though I do get in his face and snarl, “Why the fuck would it piss you off?”
He lowers his voice to a menacing growl. “Because if you fuck up, you will ruin things between me and my old lady.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I huff and step back.
Feeling the need to set things straight once and for all, for all those involved standing here, I make myself clear.
Yet, I don’t talk to my prez, but look straight at Maeve. “We’re friends first. We talk about everything and can discuss shit I’ve never even so much as thought to mention to anyone, let alone a woman. I felt very protective of you right from that very first message, and it’s only intensified in the weeks I’ve gotten to know you. Do I want more? Fuck, yes.”
I love the way her eyes flare, but I’m not done explaining yet. “All in good time ’cause you’re dealing with a lot. Nonetheless, I’m right fucking here when you get to where my mind is at.”
Now I do swing my gaze to Zale. “With that I don’t mean getting her under me or simply getting my cock wet. I crave her mind, sharp wit, humor, weird pickle obsession, along with her beauty.”
“I do not have a pickle obsession,” Maeve grumbles.
I fish a spicy pickle packed in a package from my pocket and hold it out for her. Without thinking she practically lunges for the thing and greedily opens it.
I’m grinning, Nixie giggles, Leon chuckles, while Zale mutters, “Oh, for fuck’s sake.”
Maeve is wearing a sheepish grin while snacking on the pickle.
It’s Zale who keeps pushing when he says, “All sweet and shit, but you know in a few months there’s going to be diapers, midnight feedings, crying, screaming, and you won’t ever come first place once her kid is born. A child that’s not your own.”
Motherfucker.
Anger flairs hot inside me and there’s a temporary red haze blocking my vision and I’m suddenly holding Zale by the throat when I snarl, “I just said I fucking adore everything about Maeve. The little Pickle growing inside her is a part of her. If anyone at any point in time starts a family would you judge them if they adopt a kid? Use another man’s sperm or an anonymous donor to get an egg? How about Nixie lovin’ Leon, eh? She didn’t know him and still took him in to protect him if he was her own. Hell, it’s normal as fuck kids come first, by blood or not. You’re a fucking asshole, Zale. How dare you judge me while you damn well know me. I’m not someone who’s oblivious or does irrational things without knowing the extent of the consequences. I stand behind every decision I’ve made in life and never fucking lie.”
I shove him back and grunt, “I’m done here. It’ll be good if I don’t run into you for a couple of days because I’m really feeling the need to punch you in the throat.”
“The feeling is mutual,” Zale grits.
Nixie sighs and steps between us. “Okay you big oaf, time to cool down.” She turns to me. “Reef, please take Leon and Maeve home. Message me when you get there and let me know if Leon feels worse, then we’ll come over. If not, Zale and I will stay at the clubhouse and spend New Year’s here too.” Nixie glances at her daughter. “If you’re sure you don’t want to spend New Years together, but I’d totally understand if you’d like to have a quiet evening instead. I could also come over and stay with you myself if–”
“No, no,” Meave interrupts. “You and Zale have fun together. I’m definitely not in the mood and with him being the president and the first ringing in the New Year together, I’d really like for you two to stay at the clubhouse. Leon, Reef, and I will have a blast playing games and watching movies, right?”
Leon bobs his head, but even in the minimum moonlight the kid looks ready to hurl.
“Come on, Leon.” I take my keys from my pocket and unlock the SUV. “Get in there and open the window. We’ ll be home soon so you can climb in bed.”
Leon mutters a relieved thank you and wanders off.
“Thanks,” Zale grunts.
“Don’t mention it,” I grumble and don’t even look at the asshole. Turning to Nixie I tell her, “I’ll message you when I have the kid safe and sound in his bed, yeah?”
“Thanks, Reef.” Nixie reaches out and squeezes my forearm. “For everything.”
I give her a tight nod and round the SUV to get behind the wheel. I wait for Maeve to be done chatting with her mother and Zale for a handful of minutes and start the engine when she gets into the front seat.
Even if Zale and I just went head-to-head, there’s still a smile on my face when I realize Maeve and I will be together for the next two days. Yes, Leon will be there as well, but the majority of the time will be me and my obsession…with her knowing I’m more than interested in anything life has to offer between us.