Chapter 32
Charlie
W izard holds me while tears run freely down my face. I’m processing his words, but my brain is sluggish from all the trauma of the last few weeks. I’m feeling more than a little overwhelmed at the moment.
“How are you feeling, Spitfire?”
“Overwhelmed. I’m not sad to see him go. But I’m sad for the girls. They adore that jerk. While they’ll never see him again, at least they’ll know he’s safe and alive.”
“Part of me wants to go after them. To beat the ever-loving shit out of him for the danger he’s put the girls in,” Wizard grumbles.
Then adds, “It’s not just the girls. That psycho Petrov has his sights set on you. I think you should quit your job at the diner.”
I shake my head. “I can’t. I’m too close.”
“I’ll help you, and so will Bug.”
“It’s my job. I have a family to take care of.”
“Let me take care of them. At least until we get this sorted out. I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you or the girls. As it is, I think we should send a few of the prospects under cover at the academy to guard the girls.”
“Like all 21 Jump Street style?”
“Something like that. Crab, Tully, and even Flea could pull it off. They can register as seniors. I’ll get them fake IDs, and backgrounds.”
“What about parents? Parents at the academy are very involved.”
“I’ll have Doc write a note for the girls for the rest of the week. They have the flu or something. I’ll have the new kids’ parents and background squared away by Monday morning in time to get them enrolled.
“Might be easiest to have Red and Brick acting as their guardians. We can use the address of one of the newly completed houses in King’s Estates,” Nitro suggests.
“Good plan. I’ll see what’s finished and we need to ask before borrowing it,” Wizard replies.
“That’s the residential neighborhood next door the club owns, right?” I ask.
Wizard nods his head. “Yes. Only family of club members can build in the Estates. There were a couple nearly complete last I checked.”
“You can use Nana’s house,” Smoke says. “For that matter you can set her up as their guardian. She’s already qualified as a foster parent in Mississippi. I don’t think it would take Bug long to make that Louisiana.”
“Thank you, Smoke. That will save me a lot of time. You and Nana come up with the backstory and I’ll tell the prospects and take care of the paperwork,” Wizard says.
Smoke pats him on the back and walks away.
“Do you think the girls are up yet?” he asks me.
“They should be awake by now. And Ma’s likely told them they’re staying home. I need to go talk to them. To explain they’re in danger. How the hell do I do that without scaring them. And what do I tell them about JR?”
“Tell them he went on a business trip.”
“That’s the closest to the truth I can get, isn’t it?”
“I think so. I’ll be with you every step of the way, tesoro.”
As if I wasn’t already head over heels in love with him, he calls me treasure. My heart melts a little and some tension eases.
“Can we take the sled to the house?”
“We can. Would you like to go for a ride later?”
“I would, very much.”
“We’ll have to have escorts.”
“I understand. Maybe a few others want to go out too.”
“Leave it to me. I’ll plan everything.”
“Okay. Ready to go?”
“I am.”
I stand up. Wizard’s right behind me as we make our way through the clubhouse to the front where the sleds are parked. He gets the spare helmet out of the trunk and straps it on me before donning his and throwing one long jean clad leg over the seat. He balances, then offers me his hand. I step on the peg and throw my leg over before scooting in as close as I can, pressing my core up against his delicious jean clad ass.
The ride is much too short and soon we’re pulling up the drive to the guest house. We’ve no sooner come to a stop than the front door opens, and the girls come pouring out.