Chapter 20 Naughty Marshmallows, And Incoming Sugar Bombs #2
“When did she become your Gwen? I thought she was mine,” I complain at once.
“Nope,” he says proudly. “Gwen loves me. Don’t you?”
Her eyes shine, and she kisses his forehead. “I sure do.”
I wrap my arm around her and squeeze my boy close.
“Maybe I can make Gwen love me too.”
“Yeah,” Caleb says. “Then we can be a real family.” Something settles deep in my bones once more. It’s not a new feeling. I’ve been feeling it since getting one look at Gwen.
I clear my throat. “Rocky, Knife—this is my old lady, Gwen. Gwen, this is Rocky, the club’s Enforcer, and Knife, our Sergeant-at-Arms.”
“Hey guys,” Gwen says quietly, her cheeks heating.
“Good to meet you, Gwen. We’ve been hearing a lot about you,” Rocky says, making her smile.
Knife grins. “The kitchen looks like it exploded.”
“All the best cooks have messy kitchens,” she counters.
“Yeah!” Caleb declares. “And I’m the best!”
“He’s modest, like his dad,” Gwen teases.
I kiss her forehead. For a minute, everything else fades away. Then Caleb breaks the moment by pulling on Gwen’s arm. “Get them my cookies, Gwen! I want to show them how good I bake. Knife loves cookies.”
“He’s right about that. I really do,” Knife laughingly agrees.
“I’m going to step out and call Storm and get him and Benji or Pie—whichever is free—to come over to watch your house while you and Gwen are out,” Rocky says, with a nod in Gwen’s direction.
“Thanks, man,” I acknowledge.
Caleb worms his way to the floor and follows Gwen to get the cookies that she’s been keeping in an airtight container on the island. She hands them to my boy, and he takes them proudly, strutting over to Knife with a confident look on his face. “Here, Uncle Knife! Try one!”
Knife grins. “Thanks, Bub,” he says, taking the container and pulling out the cookie with the white frosted Grinch with bright green eyes. Seeing it makes me smile. Knife stares at it for a moment and then surprises me. “It feels strange to eat the Abominable Snowman, but he sure looks tasty.”
“See, Dad! I told you it wasn’t the Grinch.”
Knife looks back at the cookie and then at me and Caleb. “Why would you think it was the Grinch, Horse? The Grinch is green. This guy is clearly white.”
I roll my eyes, muttering, “Whatever,” making Gwen and Caleb both laugh. I look at my woman—regretfully. “Baby, why don’t you go clean up and help Caleb change while I pick up in here and talk with my men?”
She looks at me funny, but nods. “Okay. Knife, it was good meeting you.”
“You too, Gwen. We’re all really looking forward to spending Christmas Eve with you.”
“Make sure you come hungry,” she orders, making Knife smile. “Caleb, sweetheart, why don’t you put the cookies on the island so Rocky can get one if he wants? You and I better need to go get cleaned up. Mal will be here soon, and when she does, she’ll be bringing a surprise for you.”
“I love surprises. Let’s go!”
I shake my head as I watch them leave. My son is on cloud nine. He feels so good that he’s not even nervous about being alone with Mal. Still, having Storm here will make things better. He loves Storm.
I go to the broom closet across from the fridge and take out a scrub brush, a large dustpan where the handle comes up to my hip, and the broom that’s attached.
I busy myself using the brush to rake all the sugar onto the floor.
Then sweep it into a pile so I can capture it with the dustpan.
I’m mostly keeping myself busy until Rocky comes back, but this will be less work for Gwen.
“This cookie really is the shit, man. A woman who looks like that and creates magic in the kitchen. You better hold on to her.”
“Man, my Gwen creates magic anywhere she’s at. That’s just the truth. I definitely plan on hanging on to her, though. I’m going to put her name on my body, give her a cut, and put a ring on her finger.”
Rocky lets out a long whistle as he steps back into the room, clearly having heard everything I just said. Good. I want all of my men to know how important Gwen is.
“Damn. You’re going to tie her to you big time, huh?” Rocky croons.
“Oh, yeah,” I agree at once. “Hell, I also plan on knocking her up as soon as she’ll let me. She has a career. I don’t want to interfere with that, but I plan on making sure she knows that she’s mine and always will be.”
My men look at each other and then back at me. “We’re happy for you, brother. The whole damn club is. We know how bad Dee chewed you up and spit you out. It’s great seeing you with a good woman now.”
“Shit, she’s not good, boys. Gwen is the fucking best. I’m a lucky bastard.”
“Well, we need you to hold on to that, Horse, buddy,” Rocky replies with a sigh. “I’ve got to give you some bad news.”
The men sit down at the island as I get us some beers out of the fridge. Once we all take a large pull, I stare at them. “Well, shit. Let me have it,” I mutter.
Knife looks at Rocky.
“You tell him,” Rocky says with an enormous sigh.
Knife clears his throat, clearly not wanting to give me the news, but pushing through.
“Horse, man, I was right. Rebbie is working with those assholes. The crazy woman has it in her head I’ll take over the club if something happens to you.
The three of them are going to meet tomorrow night at some damn club in Grover.
We've got a lot on the tap, but we don’t feel it’s enough.
Whatever we do, we need to make sure the proof is ironclad.
I mean, there’s enough to hold them, but if you want them nailed to the wall, we’re thinking we should tape their meeting tomorrow. ”
I look at my men with so many emotions hitting me it’s hard to name them all.
Disgust and anger are the ruling ones, however.
My attention moves to Rocky alone. “How are we going to tape them so we have a nail in every single one of their coffins? I don’t want to take a chance they’ll get off and then be breathing free air and my son left vulnerable. ”
“That’s why we wanted to talk to you. I think we should get Detective Pratt in on this.
I think we let him know what is going on so they can set up a sting operation.
If they get it on tape, it will be part of their operation and totally okay.
They can plant an undercover close by, and that will only strengthen the case against them,” Rocky answers.
I rub the back of my neck and nod my head. “I’ll call him now. You two stick around, and we’ll go into my office and call before I take Gwen out.”
“Sounds good,” they answer in unison.
The three of us head out of the kitchen. Gwen and Caleb aren’t in the living room, but I notice that Marshmallow isn’t on the mantle. They’re in the bedrooms cleaning up. I go to the hall and call out, “Gwen, honey? I need to make some calls in the office, but I’ll be back soon.”
“No worries,” she answers at once.
I lead my men into my office and close the door. Once we’re all settled, I look at them over my desk. “Is there anything else I need to know before I make this call?”
“Nah, brother,” Knife answers.
“You’re okay with what will happen to Rebbie?”
“You know where I stand on that,” he says. I stare at him and nod.
I hit the speakerphone button on the landline and dial Pratt’s private cell.
I hope to God this works. I need it taken care of.
I don’t want Gwen freaking out, and I desperately need to make her and Caleb safe.
I won’t let anything happen to either of them.
If that bitch of an ex tries to make Gwen run away from me, I’ll kill the bitch with no remorse.
I won’t let anything—or anyone—take Gwen away from me. Ever.