Chapter 36
-:- CHAOS -:-
The fundraiser worked beautifully. The weekend at the hotel suite was won by a couple in their forties who were going through a tough time. They had a daughter who had flown the nest, and they found themselves in a stagnant moment.
“Are you thinking about the fundraiser, Vinny?” Victoria purrs at me, and I whip around and grab hold of her, which earns me a small squeal of excitement.
Nuzzling into her neck, I breathe her scent into my lungs.
The relatively short space of time Victoria has been in my life has changed the way I think, feel, and act.
I find myself incredibly lucky to have found someone like her.
My life was swinging through whatever happened, and when nothing happened, I created chaos to liven up my boring daily routines.
Smiling into her neck, I respond. “I was actually. The people in town were incredibly giving don’t you think?
They dug into their pockets and supported what we brought to the table.
For us to raise over $30,000 is amazing.
When Axel, as the Raging Barons MC President equaled that amount as a donation from the club, it just showed me what a motorcycle club can achieve for the places they settle in. ”
“That was a surprise, but a good one. I was very unsure about the club when I first came into contact with you all. But, you know, I love the club. It is a family, and I feel blessed to be a part of it. Loving you, Vinny, has been so easy. I am so happy that you got to meet Bethy even though for only a brief space of time,” Victoria kisses me so sweetly, and I have to restrain myself because I can’t keep loitering here when Specs had messaged me earlier to go to the clubhouse.
“I’m going to drop Corey off at school. I’ll take the SUV this morning,” Victoria kisses me again quickly then shouts, “COREY, COME ON WE’RE GOING TO BE LATE!”
“We are going to be late because you are both doing that kissy face shit again!” Both of us turn and give Corey a shocked look, but he continues walking past with his schoolbag on his shoulder.
“Wow, Corey, are you in a bad mood this morning?” Victoria asks as she follows him out the door.
I don’t hear the rest of their conversation as I grab my bike keys and helmet ready to go to the clubhouse. I’m going to see what Specs wants before heading to my first client appointment of the day.
****
Walking into Specs’ office a while later, I take Victoria’s seat as she hasn’t arrived yet. “You okay, Specs?”
“Yeah. I have two pieces of news. One is that asshole at the range who Forest arrested.”
“What about him?” Frowning as I ask.
“He’s been medically diagnosed as mentally unstable. He’s having treatment at a secure medical unit,” Specs shrugs. “It is what it is, Chaos. At one time, in the past, we’d probably just have shot him.”
“Maybe I should have, but hey, he’s not our problem now. I hope he can be helped, but at least in a unit he can’t hurt anyone else.”
The door opens and Victoria walks in, throws her purse into the bottom drawer of her desk and returns my kiss, which I was quick to give.
“Will you two stop with the face-sucking...” Specs turns when both of us burst out laughing. “What?” he asks.
“That is exactly what Corey keeps saying,” Victoria responds while laughing.
“Well, listen up. I have confirmation that your adoption of Corey Styles went through with no issues. I thought it would, as the judge is one of ours. But you can let Corey know you are officially his momma,” Specs is watching Victoria closely as a small sob leaves her and she grips me tightly.
I wrap my arms around her and hold her tightly, and murmur to her about what an incredible mother she is going to be to Corey.
That we may need to think about having more kids so he’s not an only child.
Which, of course, has her stop crying and give me a filthy look, but when she speaks both myself and Specs laugh.
“You’re only saying that ‘cause you want in my panties!” Victoria gives me another look I’m sure means we can try for more kids when Specs gains our attention.
“How about we have a small party tonight and tell Corey he has a mother now? I can speak to the Stooges and Meat and get something thrown together?”
“Yeah, let’s do that.” I don’t hang around because Winter and Target are gonna be on my ass about not working. I have clients today, and I need to work with them. I’m going to speak to Winter about the supplier, just to be sure it’s all good now.
****
My second client finished, and that was two good appointments.
Both men have improved a lot since they started.
Now competent and have the chance to get their CCW permits.
I’ll put in a word to Forest that they are both good and he can process them.
We always encourage our clients to be issued a permit.
Constitutional carry is something we don’t endorse at the range.
We want our clients to show that they have done everything responsibly.
Winter walks into the reception area with a woman who must have had a lot of work done.
Her lips are huge, and I’m not sure her ass is what she was born with.
I know everyone can do what they like with their bodies, but there are limits, and don’t they own a mirror?
Looking at her closely she would be beautiful without all that work.
She is a natural beauty and doesn’t need any enhancements.
I lean on the counter and wait for Winter to be finished before stepping over and speaking to her. “Winter, any more trouble with the supplier?”
“No, everything is great. We have no trouble with anything right now. I’m pleased because things get so stressful. I’ve entered Target and myself into a competition next year. I haven’t told him yet, but it’ll be fun.”
“What competition is that?”
Winter grins, “It’s a sniper challenge. Longest distance on a target, and you have to hit within a certain radius, or you will be eliminated. I just missed this year, but yeah, it’ll be something to look forward to.”
“Why don’t you put everyone you’ve been training in for it? Could be fun for everyone?” I suggest watching Winter mull over the idea.
“I’ll ask everyone I’ve been teaching. I’ll not put them forward without permission. But you are right it could be fun.”
****
Watching Corey try to find out why there is a party happening is amusing. He’s doing his best to get someone to tell him, but everyone is playing it close to their chests.
Victoria is making sure she is too busy to talk to him, and is buzzing around doing nothing, really.
Axel gives me a nod, and that is the signal it is time. I take the box that PT holds out to me and hold my arm out for Victoria to come and stand with me. Everyone stops what they are doing, which gives me the moment to get this thing done.
“Corey, come here,” I say, keeping my voice firm enough that he knows to do it now and not mess me about.
Corey walks over to both myself and Victoria. It’s obvious he’s a little nervous. Victoria holds her hand out to him, which he takes and steps up beside her.
“Corey, you know I already adopted you, so you are my son. There is nothing anyone can do to change that. But we are here now, so you know you are officially Victoria’s son too.
The adoption is complete, and you've got yourself a bona fidé mother.” I grin from ear-to-ear and Corey surprisingly doesn’t cry, which is what I expected.
What he does is whoop, hug the shit out of Victoria and then me.
I hold out the box, and Corey takes it, frowning as he looks at it.
But once opened he takes out the leather vest I had made, not a kutte, but it’s as near as I could get.
Turning it around, it states around the club logo, Property of Mom and Dad.
Under that, in smaller text, is Chaos and Victoria, just so everyone knows it’s me who is his father and not to mess with him.
Shucking on the vest, Corey does a twirl for everyone to see, and he gets the usual applause, whistles, and foot stomps of approval. But then he does the unexpected and runs out of the common room. Everyone is shocked that he’s run out, but we follow to see what he’s doing.
Spotting him climbing into Meat’s treehouse has everyone side-eyeing each other, because hey, this looks suspicious.
Meat is standing on the walkaround in his normal biker gear. Not what you would expect when he’s up there.
Corey steps out to stand next to Meat, and what none of us had seen was the hose he was holding. Not until he points the fuckin’ thing at us and we are all drenched in cold water.
“What the everlovin’ fuck!” I bellow in shock.
“Take that, Dad!” Corey shouts and laughs his ass off.
I take off running toward the treehouse. Now I’m going to get up there one way or another. Corey is laughing and Meat is standing watching as though this is an everyday occurrence.
As I climb the tree next to the treehouse I watch as Corey flies down the zipline, laughing all the time. Dropping to the ground I land in a squat before springing forward and catching the little shit.
I haul his laughing ass to the rain barrel where I dump him feet first. But when he shouts, “SAVE ME, MOMMA!” I pause.
“I already saved your ass once in the river. This time you can save yourself,” Victoria is standing laughing at the situation, but she’s dripping from where Corey got us with the hose.
“I can do that, Momma,” Corey responds, and is out of the barrel in a second. He runs right to her and slams into her. She wraps him in her arms and kisses the top of his head.
When Meat shouts to catch, I look up and am hit in the face with Corey’s vest. Now, I’m thankful he took it off, and it wasn’t ruined. “Come on, Corey. Let’s find somewhere to dry off. Then we can go eat. Meat made smoked sausages and ribs...”
Before I can say more Corey grabs his vest and heads into the clubhouse and I wrap my arm around Victoria as we follow him.
“You know he’s turning into a biker’s son, don’t you?” Victoria asks with more than a little amusement.
“Yeah, he is, isn’t he?” I say with so much pride I feel like bursting. I got myself a family and I’m going to hang on to them...Now, I don’t get time to think more because I’m grabbed from the back and hauled away.
Wings and Meat have hold of me and I’m heading to the barrel. Goddamn it, here we go again!