Chapter 24
*~* Cannon *~*
Vortex and I sat in the diner shooting the breeze.
We rarely chat about anything. Normally, we would sit and wait in silence, deep in our own thoughts.
We chat about how I got myself an old lady, what my plans are for the future, and I was surprisingly forthcoming about it all.
Vortex made it clear that he would like to meet his ‘one’ and that many of the brothers felt the same.
The club had gone from two old ladies to five in around a year, and everyone could see how it affected those of us lucky enough to find them.
I remembered that he’d been on a mission to bring back Bri’s sister from out of state. I had to ask her name, as I’d completely forgotten all about her. She wasn’t at the clubhouse long before she moved on.
“Her name was Clodagh. She was Bri’s sister.
It was supposed to be me fetching her to the clubhouse because she was in some kind of danger.
I never discussed it with Bri or Saddle, but I think she was running from something of her own making.
There was nothing solid to put your finger on, but you know when something isn’t as it should be.
The old gut feeling, I suppose. She wasn’t what she wanted people to believe she was.
She tried to sneak off twice on the way back to the clubhouse, but each time I caught her, she had some excuse as to what she was doing.
The last time I remember she told me she was going to find a laundromat.
” Vortex had shaken his head at that story.
Bill had arrived shortly after that and true to his word, brought his friend, Officer Tanner Smith.
Tanner was a big guy, as tall as me at 6’ 5”.
He talked all country and western style.
He was easy to get along with and was just as pissed off as the rest of us with the drug scene developing in town.
Neither officer had much information, and what they had, we already knew.
They knew nothing about the dead Senator Haroldson, about his death being anything other than an accident, or his son Stephan’s involvement in everything.
Tanner got very hot under the collar when he heard about my truck.
He was all for joining me with all guns blazing.
I had to smile when he used that phrase.
Taking Tanner’s number, we agreed to share any discoveries we made, and if there were going to be any incursions against Stephan, we’d make sure we were all aware.
Before we parted company, I invited them both to the opening night of the bar as MC guests.
I don’t know what prompted me to do that, but it seemed the right thing to do at the time.
Back at the clubhouse I spent an hour with Pres going over the morning's events. Breaker and Griller hadn’t said a word to Pres about what had happened, other than to say I had it all in hand and would explain when I got back.
Damned asshole cowards, the pair of them.
Pres was good with it all in the long run and like me, he thought having some friends in law enforcement couldn’t be a bad thing.
There was no surprise that we know more about Stephan and his operations than the law does.
One thing did surprise me, though. Pres asked what I thought of Bill and Tanner becoming brothers.
Now, I like them both, but I see Tanner as a better fit than Bill.
Not that I think Bill wouldn’t fit, I just think that Tanner would seamlessly become a brother without any effort. Food for thought there.
After a quick afternoon visit to the crem, to see how the business is going and check that Mella has been disposed of satisfactorily, it’s time to collect Barbara.
She could get a ride home with the prospect of the day, but I don’t know if he has an SUV or if he’s on his hog.
She is certainly not going to ride bitch for anyone but me.
My plan is to get her home to her house, have my evil way with her sexy body and then have a quiet, relaxed evening until we can do it all over again. When I pick her up though, she is clearly distracted.
Arriving home, she immediately disappears to get out of her work clothes. Resisting the temptation to follow her and see where it might lead, I head to the kitchen and make one of her herbal tea drinks. I think they smell like some flowery type of weed concoction, but she enjoys them, so hey-ho.
When she reappears, she is in jeans and a tee, and there is definitely no bra. I almost drop her cup of herbal tea, I’m so mesmerized. Noticing where my attention is focused, she runs back upstairs and comes down with a jumper on.
“I want to talk, Cannon, and I need your undivided attention.” She takes the cup and heads for the living room where she sits in one of the armchairs. My one-track mind still in gear, I sit on the floor by her feet and stroke her leg. “Down, boy,” she states firmly and then orders me to the couch.
“I know we talked about kids, and we’re both okay with having them.
You would not believe how many pregnant women have been through the practice today.
It’s been like an omen. Every time I looked up there was a different one standing there.
I thought one woman had had her water break until I realized she’d only dropped a cup of water on herself.
” She pauses to take a breath, and I know where she is going with this.
“Barbara, my love, you want to get married as soon as possible, and I’m good with that.
I don’t need a big fancy affair. As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters.
We can put the lovemaking on hold until we’re married, too, if that will help, but the wedding had better be planned for the very near future.
That’s my only stipulation. The rest can be whatever you want it to be.
” Staying away from her sexually is going to kill me.
I’ve never wanted a woman the way I want her, and although I’d do anything for her, this could be the hardest thing I ever have to do.
“I’m sorry to be a pain, but it’s just something that I’ve never wanted to happen to me.
It might sound silly, but I’m afraid of being an unmarried mother.
It probably leads back to some shit my mother ingrained in me in my youth.
She was quite fierce with some of her views, usually when it suited her. ”
“It’s not silly if it’s something you want, or something you’re afraid of.
I can easily sort this out for you. You plan the date and how you want it, and I’ll go along with it.
No problem.” I slip off the couch and give her a hug, kissing her head as I do.
“Now, I was supposed to ring Pres, so I’ll be back in a minute. ”
Leaving her to her herbal tea, yuck I think to myself, I go into the kitchen and put a call through to Pres.
We talk for only a couple of minutes, and I sheepishly walk back into the living room.
“I have to go back to the clubhouse and see Pres. Come on. You can spend some time with your surrogate sister.” That brings a smile to her worried face.
“She’s my adopted sister, not my surrogate sister.” She rolls her eyes at me, but I see a little sparkle in them, which is a good thing.
“Yeah, whatever you say. I suppose she’s going to be maid of honor?” I laugh at that until…
“Oh, hell no. You forgot Allegra has that honor. I wouldn’t dare get married without her there. I’m afraid of her rusty spoon!”
“Oh yes. That slipped my mind, from the restaurant. Right? That was a lovely evening. You’ll have to excuse me, I forgot to call Vortex to meet us at the clubhouse.”
Back in the living room, I call Vortex and give him his orders. He doesn’t waste time asking a lot of silly questions, just goes off on the mission I give him.
Finally on the way to the clubhouse, I take my time and run some scenarios through my head of the meeting with Pres. It could only go one of two ways. A massive success or a tragic failure. I’m hoping, no, praying for success.
Walking into the clubhouse, I’m hoping Barbara doesn’t see some of the stupid grins on the faces of those hanging around. That’s all I need. Walking quickly through to Pres’ office, I guide her inside before she realizes it.
Standing behind his desk, he smirks at me.
“There will be a brief delay in the start of this meeting. I understand one of the attendees is running slightly behind due to an oversight.” I stand easy and take several deep breaths.
Barbara is now noticing that things aren’t quite right.
First of all, why is she in the meeting?
She looks at me and raises her eyebrows. I raise mine back and give a little shrug. I lean down and mutter, “You know what he’s like when he’s in one of his moods. It’ll be okay, you’ll see.”
“Why are Breaker, Molly, Fury, and Jamie here?” She whispers back. Before I can answer, Molly shushes her.
“Don’t you shush me, madam. We’re not at work now.” Barbara immediately snaps at Molly, only to get another shush this time from Jamie.
I slip my arm around Barbara because I’m sure if I don’t get a hold of her she’ll be grabbing one of them soon. Fiery does not do her justice. I feel her tensing up, and I hope we are not going to be standing here much longer.
A loud, “Where the fock are they?” echoes from the rec room and I breathe a sigh of relief. The door flies open and Allegra storms in, followed by Vortex.
“Mission accomplished, Cannon.” He turns to leave, but I call him to come stand by me. Allegra meanwhile throws herself at a flabbergasted Barbara, who is totally stunned.
“You did it! You got him to the altar. Not very much of one,” she states, looking at Pres’ desk, “but an altar all the same. Priest. You may begin now I am here!”
Pres looks at Allegra as though she is missing some brain cells, shakes his head and begins.
When Barabara hears ‘dearly beloved’ it finally clicks what is happening.
I asked him to be as formal as he could, as I didn’t want it to become a circus for his ego.
I also thought keeping it old-style formal would make up for the rush and the setting.
When he asks if anyone has any objections, Breaker coughs, and he receives a sharp elbow to the ribs from both Molly on one side and Jamie on the other. Neither of us, obviously, have vows prepared, but we manage to bluster through it and they are heartfelt if nothing else.
Allegra gives an excellent impression of a wailing Italian mother losing her daughter, rather than a supportive maid of honor, but she is Italian after all.
Getting to kiss the bride, I realized something important. I look at Pres, and leaning forward, he grins. “We can do the rings as a blessing another time. They are not a legal requirement.” I hadn’t given that a single moment's thought, and apparently neither had anyone else.
The place goes nuts when we walk into the rec room and Pattie grabs Barbara and swings her around. “I’m so happy for you, Sis! How cool was that? You didn’t know when you got here that you’d be leaving as Mrs. Cannon!”
The evening is wild. I don’t drink much other than a glass to toast the witnesses and maid of honor.
I want my wits about me when I take Mrs. Cannon home and consummate our marriage.
I still can’t get my mind out of the gutter looking at that jumper and knowing there’s only that and a t-shirt between me and heaven.
Judging by the looks she keeps throwing my way, she knows it too.
I check in with Vortex and thank him for fetching Allegra. I make sure he is going to get her home safe when she’s finished enjoying herself. I also thank him for being my best man, which it turns out he hadn’t realized he had been.