Chapter Twelve.
Allegra
Maybe I’d been a bitch to Polly yesterday, but it was hardly something that bothered me.
I’d heard from every single cousin, Thatch, Nana, and Gramps what those bitches at the motorbike club Shotgun rode with had said.
I wasn’t impressed, although I understood they were trying to protect Rain and Shotgun.
They’d been cruel and hurtful, and without reason.
I might have viewed things differently if I’d been sneaking around behind Rain and Shotgun’s backs, but I hadn’t been.
And none of those bitches had the brains to question why Rain and Shotgun were happy with the situation.
Clearly, intelligence wasn’t high on the list of qualities for the old ladies of the MC.
Being judgmental, having tits, ass, and a pretty face was.
There! Now I could be a bitch! Wade tugged on my hand as he pointed to a diner. “Ungry.”
“You ate two hours ago!” I exclaimed.
Wade scowled.
I’d brought the children to a soft play area after finally being given the clear to drive my car, which I didn’t remember owning but knew how to operate.
At least I had been planning to, but it had been closed due to a leak.
A little annoyed, I headed to the library to see what toddler events they had.
I was pleasantly surprised at what was on offer.
We were wandering the shops until this afternoon, when I had an appointment at the doctor’s office to register us.
“P’cakes,” Darcy chirped, and I sighed.
“Pancakes?” I asked, and both kids nodded. “You ate breakfast two hours ago; you can’t be hungry.”
Darcy and Wade swapped glances, and they both folded their free arms across their chests and pouted. Darcy added a frown for effect, and Wade copied her.
“Wow,” I muttered. “You’re good. Come on.”
We crossed the street and headed into the diner. It took a few seconds to get my bearings, and I winced as I noticed all the tables were full. “We’ll go somewhere else.”
“P’cake!” Darcy snapped and pointed.
“Young lady, I don’t know how it was in the past, but you don’t snap and get what you want!” I scolded, and Darcy pouted.
“Orry.”
“Hey, Allegra,” someone rumbled, and I turned and spotted Shotgun.
“Oh, hi,” I replied, starting to squirm as I felt eyes on me.
“Come and join me,” he said, waving at his table.
“No, it’s fine, thanks. I’m going elsewhere; otherwise, Madam believes she’s getting her own way.”
“I’ll tag along with you,” Shotgun announced and stood up. He threw some notes down and headed my way.
“Shotgun, that’s unnecessary.”
“Yeah, I know. There’s another diner a bit further down. I usually alternate between the two. Come on,” he said, cupping my elbow.
Darcy perked up, seeing who it was.
“Bang, bang,” Wade crowed, and Shotgun smiled.
“Hey, little dude,” he said, then nodded at Darcy, “princess. Shall we go find some pancakes?”
“Are you staying or going?” the waitress demanded.
Shotgun spun around and pointed a finger. “Watch your mouth, Charlene. Dead fuckin’ easy to get this place blacklisted.” Charlene flinched and backed away as I headed for the door.
Darcy wound between my legs and held her arms up to Shotgun as we stepped outside. “Tire.”
“Tired?” Shotgun asked as he picked her up. Not to be outdone, Wade sat on the pavement, and his bottom lip wobbled. Shotgun chuckled and bent to scoop him up, too. Darcy took offence and swiped at Wade.
“Hey, if you start fighting, you’ll walk and no pancakes,” I warned.
“Ungry,” Darcy said, and I shook my head.
“And toast is as filling!”
Darcy looked outraged and glanced at Shotgun for reassurance; this was a crime against her toddler rights. “Mom’s correct, kid, if you aren’t nice, you don’t get the good shit.”
Thoroughly put out, Darcy lapsed into sulking and stuck her tongue out at me.
“Right, toast it is!” I said.
“You’re really going to give Darcy toast?” Shotgun murmured as he headed towards the second diner.
“Yes, Darcy didn’t behave. She pouted and tried to act out. If I give Darcy pancakes, then I’m encouraging that behaviour and making a rod for my own back. I might have handled it differently in the past, but this is who I am now,” I replied defensively.
“Allegra, I wasn’t criticising. Sweetheart, I just wanted to make sure I didn’t step on your toes and order Darcy something she wasn’t allowed. If Darcy is going to act like a brat, then I agree she doesn’t get.”
I stared at Shotgun as we stopped outside a diner, and he held the door. Damn, it was hard to read him.
“Okay,” I muttered and walked inside. Luckily, some tables were open, and we took a booth at the rear. Within seconds of sitting down, the waitress hurried over and asked for drink orders.
Shotgun and I got coffee, and I ordered the kids glasses of milk. Darcy demanded a milkshake and lashed out in temper, and I changed her order to water. Shotgun snorted as the waitress smiled and rushed off.
“Milk!” Darcy yelled, smacking her hand loudly on the table. She shoved the cutlery away and kicked her heels against the chair.
Oh, I wasn’t standing for that! Calmly, I turned and held Darcy’s eyes.
“No. You’re being a brat, and I don’t like that. If you wish to be naughty and bad-mannered, then you don’t get nice things.”
Two women at the booth near us glanced over and took a double look at Shotgun. He didn’t pay them any attention as he was focused on me. It felt good because they were beautiful women.
“Milk.”
“No. And if you continue, then you’ll have bread and butter and no toast!” I warned. Darcy’s eyes opened wide in shock.
Shotgun just choked back a chuckle.
“Mean.”
“Yes, I am. Now, you’ve lost the milk because you were being rude and ill-mannered; are you going to lose the toast as well?”
Darcy glowered and folded her arms, and I ignored her.
Shotgun looked amused. “Don’t get how she’s Rain’s. That’s my attitude head to toe.”
“I’ll take your word for that,” I replied, and Shotgun laughed. He reached out and touched my hand before pulling back when he noticed me shift uncomfortably.
“So, how are things?” he asked.
I began to laugh and shook my head. “That’s so lame. We saw each other a couple of days ago. I’m still the same, unfortunately.”
“Wish I could wave a magic wand and make it all better,” Shotgun said.
I held Shotgun’s gaze and poked my cheek with my tongue. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Would you have contacted a lawyer?”
I’d seen the video footage of us arguing on social media. Some of the comments were really cruel, but I ignored them and focused on our fight. We’d both struck out to hurt each other.
“Allegra, truthfully, I had. Rain and I are their fathers, and knowing there was a child, and we’d not met them, cut deep.”
Thoughtfully, I chewed his words over. “And now?”
“Now I’ve asked them to hold off as we’re working together.”
The waitress came, and I ordered for the twins. I wasn’t hungry. Shotgun asked for a sandwich and chips. Darcy pouted even more but kept her cool. If she continued, I’d reward her good behaviour with a muffin. I think Darcy liked them.
“What are you thinking?” Shotgun murmured, reaching out and holding my wrist.
“Can I trust you? What if this is a plot to snatch the children and run with them yourself? What if you’re gathering evidence to show the amnesia makes me unfit?”
Shotgun looked taken aback by my honesty.
“Do you really believe that?” he asked, shocked.
“Tell me they’re not valid concerns.”
“Sweetheart, I wouldn’t do that.”
“How do I know that? All I know is from our few interactions. Truthfully, I’m trying hard not to let other people’s opinions influence me. We’ve only spent a few hours together, how can I base a formed opinion on that?”
“Fair enough. But what if I had something that would prove I never stopped loving you? And that I’m not planning to pull any shit?”
“Then I’d ask to see the proof.”
“What have you got planned for later today?” Shotgun asked, sitting back in the booth.
“The kids have a doctor’s appointment in forty-five minutes.”
“Is something wrong?” he snapped as he straightened.
“No, it’s just registering them. They don’t have a doctor here, so I’m taking care of their needs.” I tilted my head, teasing him. “Dramatic much?”
“Maybe.”
I raised an eyebrow.
Shotgun laughed. “You have the mom look nailed. Okay, yeah, it was.”
“After that, we’re free.”
“I’ve got nothing on for the rest of today. Would you like to visit somewhere with me? Something that will show I never gave up hope?” Shotgun asked.
I pursed my lips and considered the offer. Shotgun was reaching out with an olive branch here. I could meet him halfway.
Shotgun
He kept checking his mirrors, certain she’d pull over or turn around, but Allegra really didn’t remember where he was taking her.
Shotgun had Jinx open the gates before she could see the Hellfire patch, and Allegra followed him into the compound.
Of course, she wouldn’t miss the huge patch painted on the outside of the clubhouse, and she didn’t.
Shotgun could feel Allegra’s eyes glaring, but he rode past it, which must have confused her. Finally, he parked up where the houses were and swung off the bike. Allegra climbed out, frowning, and hovered by the driver’s door.
“Shotgun, am I on Hellfire land?”
“Yeah. Needed you here, so sorry about the…” Shotgun broke off and pulled a face.
“Deceit?” Allegra shot back, and he shrugged. “What’s stopping me from calling you a raging, motherfucking asshole and leaving?”
“This,” Shotgun said. He swept an arm towards the construction behind him.
“Huh?” Allegra replied, looking confused.
“Grab a twin,” Shotgun ordered and headed for the passenger side. He unlocked Wade from the car seat and picked him up. “Keep hold of them because there are a lot of tools about.”
“Okay,” Allegra agreed, but Shotgun could see her wariness.
“This is my home, our home,” he stated and led Allegra up a couple of wide stairs. There was a wraparound porch, then the house’s timber frames.