Chapter 18
Eighteen
LOKI
I t’s been two months since we moved into our house, and to say it’s been fucking incredible would be an understatement. The kids have adjusted perfectly, becoming one of the most important parts of our family. They don’t flinch away from us. They aren’t nervous around the brothers, and they just went on their first bike rides last week. I had to take turns with them on Kitty because I don’t trust anyone else with my kid’s safety. They did incredible and, of course, now they want their own bikes for their sixteenth birthday. Luckily, we have nine more years before that becomes an issue.
“You almost ready to head over to the clubhouse? I want to make sure Piper and Izzy have enough help before everyone shows up,” Halle says, sticking her head out of the bathroom.
“I’m ready whenever you are, pet,” I tell her, meaning that in more ways than one. I have a few surprises for Halle at this patch party. Not only will Beau, one of Halle’s best friends and the bane of my existence, finally get patched in as a full member of the club, but she will get her cut as my Ol’ Lady. I’ll also surprise both kids with “Property of Loki” mini cuts when I give them the adoption papers I had rushed through the system. Everything is set, and after today, Rae and Rome will officially be mine and Halle’s forever.
“Are the kids dressed yet?” she asks for the third time. She knows Beau is getting patched in today. Since they are so close, she helped make this a big surprise for him. She’s nervous and worried something will go wrong.
Honestly, she’s not the only one. After the last club party, I think we are all a bit on edge. However, we took extra precautions after the previous incident. We thought we were good to go, untouchable behind the gates of our home. It was a hard lesson to learn just how wrong we were, and we ended up paying the ultimate price.
With all the additional security measures we have taken and implemented, no one will get through those gates. Comp has gone above and beyond with his tech, and even though it’s a celebration, all the brothers are on high alert. If someone somehow gets in, and that’s a big IF, they will be dead before they can blink.
“They have been ready to go for an hour now, pet. Actually, I’m surprised they aren’t beating down the door,” I tell her, and she nods before going back into the bathroom.
It’s another ten minutes before she comes back out and takes a deep breath.
“Alright, I’m ready,” she says.
“Great, let me just take a quick piss, then I’ll put my shoes on,” I tell her, and she growls at me. I look at her, confused.
“You rushed me, gave me so much shit for taking so long, and now you tell me you’re not ready,” she says flatly, hand on her hip and tapping her foot. I’m lucky she doesn’t have her gun on her. She would have pulled the trigger before huffing her next breath. Damn, I fucking love this woman.
“I am ready… well, mostly,” I tell her, shrugging and giving her what I hope is a charming smile.
“Keep this shit up, and one of your pretty knives, along with a picture of this room, will be hanging on my trophy wall,” she huffs before walking out. I laugh before finishing what I need to do and heading downstairs. Shit, I'm pretty sure she was serious about that statement. Yeah, my pet fucking loves me too.
“Come on, Loki! Uncle Beau said he’s got a new dance for me,” Rome says, grabbing my hand and pulling me to the door.
“Yeah, and Uncle Comp told me he found a new game he thought I would like. I really want to try it out before the party starts,” Rae says, grabbing my other hand.
I roll my eyes, but I let them lead me out to the four-wheelers in our garage. We all four have one. Rae and Rome’s are much smaller than mine and Halle’s, but the kids love them. We each climb on while Rome and Rae fasten their helmets. When we all get ready, Halle on the back of mine, I tell them to go first. I want to be in the back, watching, making sure they are safe. Of course, the protector Rome is when it comes to his sister, he always makes sure she takes off first and then follows close behind her. Rae lets loose, going as fast as she can up the trails that lead to the clubhouse, and before too long, we are pulling around into the lot and parking.
“Rae, that was too fast. Loki, tell her she was going too fast,” Rome says, standing tall and crossing his arms at Rae, waiting for me to back up his statement.
“Can it, Dad,” Rae mocks him, sticking out her tongue. I laugh, as does Halle, before we all make our way into the clubhouse.
“Oh, thank god you two are here. We need help with the food setup,” Piper says, grabbing Halle’s hand and pulling her toward the kitchen.
“Rome, Rae. Uncle Comp was looking for you two not too long ago,” she says, and they don’t waste another second before running off toward Comp’s office.
“Damn, am I just chopped liver?” I ask, looking around the empty area.
“Loki, Swift could use some help with the grill out back,” Piper says at about the same time Swift walks in with a plate and tongs in his hand.
“Sugar! Stop telling people I need help. I’m the grill master around this fucking place. I don’t need no damn help with grilling,” Swift says, puffing up his chest, and I swear he seems like a pouting child. Piper walks up to him, kissing his lips softly and patting his chest.
“Of course, you don’t need no help, baby. Loki looked lost. I was trying to give him something to do,” she tells him. Now it’s my turn to be offended.
“What the fuck? I was not lost,” I tell her, crossing my arms over my chest.
Shit, am I pouting?
“Oh my god, would you two please go man the grill before the next thing over the fire is your asses?” Halle says before stomping toward the kitchen.
“What did we do?” Swift asks, looking at me, confused.
“She’s on edge about this party. She wants everything to go perfectly,” I tell him, and he smiles.
“It will, but why don’t you grab us a beer, and I’ll flip the burgers?” he tells me, and I raise a brow.
“Please tell me there are some beers in the outside cooler. I really don’t want to go into the fucking viper’s pit right now,” I say with a fake shiver, and he chuckles.
“Yeah, there are some outside. Hitter, Grim, and Grease were in the shop not too long ago, but they should be back soon,” he says. The shop, another one of our businesses, is about two miles down the road from the compound.
“Everything alright?” I ask, concern clear in my voice. Ah, shit, I think becoming a parent has turned me soft. No way can I let my brothers get a read on me. Right away, they’ll want to add an extra patch to my cut with big block letters reading ‘PUSSY’.
“No. Seems like someone decided to break into the shop and steal Dread’s bike. It was supposed to go to Vice and Drift, but now we have to find a way to tell them it’s disappeared. Unfortunately, so far, we have no idea how it was taken. Strange, cause everything was locked up tight, and it didn’t seem like the place was touched at all. If I didn’t know any better, I would say it was an inside job,” Swift tells me in a low voice, so we’re not overheard by unwanted ears. We might still be on club property, but not everyone is privy to club business.
Hearing all this shit, though, really pisses me the hell off. Not at him, but the fact that our brother’s bike was stolen from right under our fucking noses. Liars and thieves. Nothing pisses me the fuck off more. Who the fuck does that? No way in hell would any of our brothers, or even the prospects, be stupid enough to do it. Who else would have the fucking balls, the access, the knowledge, or the ability? Never mind disrespecting the club and our fallen brother pulling a stunt like this.
“You got Comp on it?” I ask, fuming, already knowing the answer.
“Yeah, but we will have church to discuss all this shit after the party. Tonight, let’s celebrate and leave all this other bullshit for another time,” he tells me, and it’s the best plan I’ve heard all day. Just need to push this to the side for the moment; I want to celebrate my expanding family, and there’s no better way than with my club.
“As you all know, we have a member who hasn’t been with us very long but has proven himself over and over again. He has put his life on the line for his brothers in this club on more than one occasion, and I think it’s finally time to make it official,” Swift says just before the party really gets started. I look over at Beau and see he’s looking around, too. When he realizes everyone’s eyes are on him, his go wide before he looks at Swift and points at his chest.
“Me?” he asks. Swift smiles before nodding.
“Come on up here… Rodeo,” he announces, and cheers go up around the yard.
Rodeo looks at everyone, brothers patting his chest and shoulders as he passes to stand up front with Swift.
“Alright, quiet the fuck down. Rodeo, you have become the annoying country fucking brother we never knew we were missing or needed in our lives. I think it’s pretty obvious how you got your road name in more ways than one. As a prospect, we put you through hell and back to judge your worth, trust, loyalty, and honor to see if you would be a good fit for our club, as a brother, as part of our family. There’s so much more to ROMC than just being able to ride a Harley or shake your pasty white ass at Devils Crossroads; here, you’re given a purpose and given a home if you choose it. While you’re prospecting, it’s up to you to respect this club and all those who call us family. Not just the brothers, but also our Ol’ Ladies and our children. We’re not a one-percenter club and never will be, but we’ll always shed blood in a heartbeat of those who try to disrespect or harm our family. You know this as ROMC law since you’ve witnessed some of the shit we had in the past, and you were a vital part of the solution. On several levels, you proved yourself to everyone standing here today, and I’m proud to be the first to call you my brother. Welcome to the club as an official member, as a brother, but most importantly, as family of the Reckless Omens MC. Now, take that fucking prospect cut off and put on your new one,” Swift commands as he hands Rodeo his new cut and slaps him on the back. Again, the place goes up in cheers, and everyone is yelling and stomping.
Everyone takes turns congratulating him, but when it’s the ladies turn, through a few tears, they throw their arms around his neck, kissing and hugging him tightly. Even though Rodeo is her best friend, and Halle only places a kiss on his cheek, it still causes me to growl at the fucker and pull her back into my chest protectively. Rome and Rae rush to him, and each hugs his knees.
Good luck trying to get loose of my kids, you fucker.
“Welcome to the club, brother. Just a little reminder, brother or not, I will still shove a knife through your temple if you cross the line,” I tell him, holding my hand out. He takes it and shakes, looking at me more seriously than I’ve ever seen him before.
“Thank you. I’ve been lost for a very long time, brother. It feels good to finally have a place, a home, a family,” he tells me honestly. I open my mouth to say something, knowing I need to address his statement, but before I can, Swift speaks up.
“We have just one more announcement. Then you fuckers can eat and drink all the beer in sight,” he bellows, causing a round of yelling ‘Cheers’ to go up.
“Loki, your turn, brother,” he says, looking at me. I walk to the front and stand beside my Prez.
“First, I want to ask my woman to come up here, please,” I say, holding a hand out toward Halle.
She smiles, bends, and kisses both Rome and Rae’s foreheads before she comes my way. Comp slides closer to my kids to watch over them. He’s taken to Rae and Rome almost as much as Halle and I have. I think it helps they have never cringed or even let on that they noticed his scar. He’s just their Uncle Comp, and that’s that. They love him unconditionally, as only children can. Once Halle makes it up to the front with me, I start.
“Pet, the first time I saw you gluing a man’s dick to your kitchen table, all bloody and sexy as hell… I knew I wanted to marry you. I ain’t no speech talker or nothing, so I’m going to make this short. You know that being my Ol’ Lady is just as good as a sheet of paper saying you belong to me…”
“And you belong to me…” she pipes in, raising a brow and placing her hand on her hip. Fuck yeah, there’s my woman!
“Hell fucking yes. You own me, pet. Heart, soul, mind, and, most importantly, dick. We can get married later, but for right now…” I say, pausing, turning, and taking the box Swift hands me.
“You gonna be my Ol’ Lady?” I ask, removing the custom ‘Property of Loki’ from the box.
Halle screams, “Fucking hell yes!” before grabbing the cut and putting it on. Piper and Izzy also have theirs on, and Halle looks at them.
“We’re like the Pink ladies now, huh? I call Rizzo!” Halle yells, pumping her fist in the air, making everyone laugh.
She turns to me and jumps into my arms. She attacks my mouth, wrapping her legs around my waist, and we’re quickly losing ourselves in each other in front of the crowd. Swift clears his throat, fucking interruptions… I was just getting started, and his next words are the only thing that can pull me away and under control for the moment.
“The kids' surprise, Loki, keep it in your pants for now,” he whispers. Oh, fuck, that’s right, my kids' surprise.
“Alright, and probably the most important announcement of the night. Could our kids, Rome and Rae, come up here now?” I ask, holding out my hand to them next as they head our way. They look around nervously but walk slowly up to Halle and me while stealing glances back to Comp, who smiles at them. I haven’t even told Halle about this surprise yet, but I already know for a fact she’s going to love it.
“You all have met our kids, Rome and Rae. These twin hellions came into our lives in the most unexpected way. They haven’t had it easy in their short lives, but Halle and I have worked hard to change that. Today, I’m hoping to take the final step to keep them here, with us, safe, and forever,” I say, turning and getting the other two boxes Piper hands to me.
Rome and Rae don’t waste any time. The minute I hand them the boxes, they tear into them eagerly. Halle looks at me with a smile, but her eyes show confusion. We both look down when Rae squeals in excitement. They both pull out their very own “Property of Loki” Mini cuts out of the boxes. We had them specifically made for them so I could ask them the most important question of all our lives. As I get on my knees in front of the kids, I pull the papers out of my back pocket and hand them to Halle. She gasps loudly when she reads them.
“I got you both a cut just like Halle’s. It tells everyone who sees them you belong to this club, to me. You are protected by us. You are my family. I wanted to ask you both if that’s something you want. If you want Halle and me to officially adopt you?” I ask them. Halle bends down to them, smiling as well.
“You want to keep us here with you? Forever?” Rome asks, looking down at his cut and trying to secretly wipe the moisture from his eyes.
“Of course we do. You are my son, Rome, and Rae is my daughter–Always. That is, if you want to be,” I say, looking at them both, getting nervous as fuck. Shit, what if they say no? I’ll be fucking heartbroken, and I know my pet will be devastated, but I know we wouldn’t love them any less. It feels like time is standing still, and my heart stops beating, but thank fuck, I don’t have to wait any longer. Rome turns and slams into my arms with a quick look at his sister, holding on tight to my neck. Rae puts her cut on before doing the same thing.
“Does that mean yes?” Halle asks, still on her knees and moving closer to us, and the kids turn to hug her as well.
“Yes, yes, yes!” they both say excitedly. Rae pulls back, looking down shyly while playing with her vest.
“What is it, my baby girl?” I ask her, lifting her head with my finger under her chin.
“Does that mean we get to call you mommy and daddy?” she whispers. My cold, crazy heart melts, and I hug all three of them tightly.
“Of course you can.” I force the words out through my tight throat. We take a moment to stay in our own little world as a family. Then the club joins us, and we get congratulations, and the kids are spoiled that much more. After the announcements, the party continues, but we decide to take Rae and Rome home before it gets too rowdy. We are about to leave when Comp pulls me aside.
“I have more information on Rome and Rae’s biological parents’ brother. Can we talk tomorrow?” he asks me in a low voice so no one else overhears. Tonight is for celebrations. If any trouble is heading our way from what Comp has discovered, tomorrow will be here soon enough, and I’ll deal with it then. I give him a chin lift in acknowledgment before grabbing my family and heading home.