Chapter Fourteen.
Vortex
Luckily, the Feds had moved into the suggested accommodation, and those who’d booked rooms arrived on time, with no guests cancelling.
Several asked to see the site of the Zeppelin crash, only to be instantly shamed by other customers.
It appeared that what Moon had done was getting around, and nobody wanted to upset the club that ran this town.
The crowds kept coming, and we were taking in a small fortune.
“We need to open a dress-up store,” Nanci exclaimed as I entered the clubhouse later that morning. She and Amy were sitting at a laptop, busy clicking on things.
“A what?” I asked as Amy jumped up, kissed me and headed into the kitchen.
“We’re getting a lot of questions about period clothing hire. It would be a good investment.”
Amy returned carrying a plate of food, which earned her a smouldering kiss. She smiled into my eyes as Nanci’s gaze darted back and forth between us. I sat down in front of my lunch and took a huge bite.
“Well, now!” she exclaimed.
“What are you working on?” I asked to distract Nanci. I wasn’t going to sit here gossiping with her.
“Something we all missed. Many of the hotel guests and day visitors have inquired whether we have period clothing. There’s a lot of feedback on this. I’m taking a chance, and Amy and I were ordering clothes in various sizes.”
“Holy shit,” I muttered when I saw the basket. “Have you told Inglorious?”
“Nope. This is my project. If he doesn’t like it, he can do one.”
“Do one what?” I asked to poke the bear.
Nanci glowered and shook her head. “I’m not biting. Go away, Vortex.”
That was the problem of having the Queen Bee look at you like a pesky brother. Nanci was a bloody nightmare at times. Amy looked amused as I took another deliberate bite of the sandwich.
Nanci rolled her eyes.
“Did you spend the entire day here?” I asked Amy, and she shrugged.
“I visited the candy shop, but people kept staring, so I left. It wasn’t frightening, just unnerving.”
“You shouldn’t have to be cooped up,” I growled out, feeling frustration rise.
“Vortex, it’s fine. I’ve been having fun ordering clothes,” Amy replied.
It wasn’t okay, but I wasn’t going to push her. If Amy was happy doing what she was doing, that was her choice. Even so, it grated. This would be Amy’s home; she should be comfortable here.
“Oh, did Inglorious talk to you?” Nanci asked.
“About?” Amy murmured, frowning at the screen.
“Being the schoolteacher for our kindergarten?”
“No!” Amy gasped, and I scowled.
Inglorious informed Amy of the job offer; Nanci had overstepped.
“Seriously?” Amy turned to look at me.
“Yeah, but it’s for Inglorious to speak to you, not us,” I chided Nanci, who hesitated and then shrugged. There was a slight flush on her cheeks, which meant she knew she’d done wrong, but Nanci would never admit it.
“Hey, I won’t say a word when Inglorious asks. Also, Papa called. They got Declan.”
“Now that is good news!” I exclaimed. Amy and her dads had been in constant contact with Declan since he’d been placed into emergency care.
His entire family had died on the Titanic of the Skies.
Christ, there was nobody left for Declan.
Phil and Duke had been pushing hard to get a foster placement, and it had finally come through.
“Declan’s a little confused; he thought I lived with them,” Amy continued.
“Why don’t they bring him here tomorrow, and you can spend some time together?” I suggested, and Amy lit up.
“Would you mind?”
“Actually, that’s a great idea. Declan’s about the same age as Kya, and she needs to interact with some kids. At the moment, Kya thinks the brothers are her toys and treats them like it,” Nanci said, shrugging.
“Where is she?” I asked.
“Where do you think?” Nanci retorted.
“Wouldn’t ask if I knew!”
Kya could be with anyone. She didn’t have a favourite, and all the brothers were fair game. She was a little more wary of Bow and Tracker as they’d just returned, but she still intended to wrap them around her finger.
“Razor has her. He’s taken her to the stables to count horses. It’s his way of teaching her,” Nanci said.
“Um, Kya can count to fifty, there’s only ten horses,” I stated, and Nanci shrugged.
“Yeah, well, I didn’t want to upset Razor,” she replied.
Amy began laughing. “What will Razor do when she continues counting?”
“Razor will think he’s a genius teacher and brag to everyone.” I smirked.
The doors opened, and Meadow rushed in with two kids and a teenager. “Sorry! I had to collect them. The school closed because someone blew up the toilets.”
A flash of guilt and then mischief crossed Meadow’s oldest son, and I knew who was behind it. “No suspects?” I asked.
“None. Whoever it was is good. They glitched out the cameras beforehand. The school had to shut for today and tomorrow, and then it’s the weekend. I can work, but they’ll have to come with me,” Meadow said quickly.
“Not a problem, we agreed the kids are welcome,” Nanci soothed.
Meadow looked flustered and scared that this might cost her the job.
Not a chance in hell. The woman was a goddess in the kitchen, and the club worshipped at her feet.
I glanced at the other two children. One was a girl who hid behind her older brother, and another boy. The girl seemed to be the youngest.
“This is Cassian, my eldest, Zion, and my baby, Poet. Go sit down and behave!” Meadow rushed into the kitchen as they obeyed.
“Cool names!” Amy exclaimed. “I’m Amy.”
“I’m Vortex and VP here, and this is Nanci, the Queen Bee.”
“VP? Queen Bee?” Cassian asked as they approached.
“Lunch will be simple. Is it okay if they eat here? I’ll put some money in the kitty. Kids, I didn’t mean for you to bother them. Come sit over here,” Meadow babbled as she rushed back into the rec room, wrapping an apron around her.
“They’re fine, Meadow. Take a deep breath and calm down. And you won’t pay for their food. Don’t insult the club,” I stated, and Meadow looked worried.
“Sorry, Vortex, I didn’t mean…” she whispered.
Shit, I forced a smile to my lips. “Meadow, the kids are welcome, and they won’t eat as much as Tracker or Sabre, so don’t worry.”
Meadow nodded. “Lunch will be fries and sandwiches today. I’ve got some soup left and stew. Sorry.”
“Meadow, please stop apologising. Get a coffee before starting lunch. I can give you a hand,” Nanci offered, and Meadow looked horrified. “Or maybe not.” Nanci sat back down from where she’d begun to stand.
“Yeah, Mom hates people in her kitchen,” Cassian said.
“Honestly, I tend to make a mess,” Nanci admitted, and Amy grinned.
“What does VP mean?” Poet asked, peeking out from behind Cassian.
“Vice-President. I’m second in charge of the club. Queen Bee means Nanci is head of the old ladies,” I replied.
“But she’s not an old lady. Our Nana is, and she’s wrinkled and miserable,” Poet said.
Out of the corner of my eye, Nanci preened.
“A biker’s wife is called an old lady,” I explained.
“Why?” Poet asked.
That stumped me. “Huh, I know what an old lady is, but no idea why they’re called that.”
Nanco screwed her nose up. She was unaware, too. Amy looked smug.
“Go on,” I said, pointing.
“It comes from the hippies, I think, they called their serious girlfriends old ladies, to show she was taken. Bikers took the term and made it important to their culture. That’s what I heard anyway,” Amy explained.
“Cool,” Cassian muttered. He kept glancing towards the door. “Mom, can we go explore?”
Before Meadow could answer, Chill burst into the clubhouse with a horrified expression. “Fu—fudge me!” he exclaimed, changing word mid-speech.
Screams erupted outside, and I got up.
“What’s happened?” I demanded.
The doors opened again.
Chill screeched, which was echoed by Amy’s horrified scream as Razor walked in with Kya on his shoulders. At least I assumed it was Razor because his face was painted the same as Pennywise’s. Kya’s was identical.
“Nope!” Chill shrieked and raced for the stairs.
“Make him go away!” Amy babbled. When I turned around, Amy had disappeared. I frowned, confused.
Cassian smirked and pointed under the table.
I bent, peered underneath, and discovered Amy huddled in a ball. Tongue in cheek, I stared at her as she gazed back.
“Has he gone?” she whispered.
I shook my head while trying not to laugh. She survived an airship crash but was frightened of clowns?
“Is it clowns or just Pennywise?” I asked.
“Both.”
I straightened, looking into the amused face of Razor. “Go wash it off, dude, and Kya too.”
Razor pouted but turned on his heel towards the kitchen. Meadow was coming out as he did, and she screamed and threw the contents of a pan over him.
“Shit!” Razor exclaimed as Meadow kicked his shins hard and fled.
“Damn,” I gasped and began laughing. I was still chuckling when Sabre entered. He took one look at Razor, covered in soup and bits of food, and roared with laughter.
“Not so funny when Meadow throws shit over you, is it!”
“Once you’ve washed up, you can clean this mess up,” I ordered, and Razor stomped off. He was muttering in Kya’s ear, who was giggling like crazy.
Amy slowly crawled out and, with dignity, retook her seat. Yeah, that wouldn’t last long; too many witnesses had watched her duck under the table.
Amy
The sirens blasted through the clubhouse and dragged me out of a deep sleep. What on earth was happening? Beside me, Vortex leapt up and yanked on jeans and a Henley. He stamped into his boots.
“Grab a robe, babe, and shoes. That’s the fire alarm.”
I quickly followed his lead, and within a minute, we were both heading down the stairs.
“Smoke,” Vortex cursed as we hit the first floor, “but not from a fire.” The sirens fell silent, but red lights flashed.
The smoke was thicker here, and we walked right into someone.
“Vortex?” Bow asked.
“Yeah. This floor clear?”
“Only you and Amy are on this level. Head to the fire meeting point,” Bow said.
“On our way, but this isn’t a fire,” Vortex replied.