Chapter 14
T he news that Toni Anderson had been able to get Steel released came just as Dosia, Pumpkin, JJ, and SJ were leaving A Wrinkle on a Page.
Under Angel’s threat of telling their wives, Lucky and Bulldog had indeed gone back to their homes to shower and nap.
Bear had spent the afternoon taking pictures of baby Stephanie behind various “bars” from stair railings, a crib, a baby gate across a doorway, and even Aunt Jenna’s garden gate.
He sent the pictures out on the club’s group chat with messages like:
Bear: Stephie doesn’t like bars either. [image]
Bear: No prison can hold me! [image]
Bear: Escape from Crib-atraz! [image]
Bear: Stephanie “Hilts” McQueen wishing you a Great Escape. [image]
It was hilarious in a twisted way, but then again, it was Bear.
Pumpkin was desperately trying to push the conversation he had with Ghost aside. Now was not the time to consider the implications of that conversation .
As Darrin was taking Pumpkin to the bookstore, freshly bathed and newly rested Lucky, Ghost, and Bulldog were heading back over to the station.
About an hour after Pumpkin arrived, Solstice came with JJ from school and Pumpkin’s little family climbed into the SUV.
He didn’t think he’d ever get used to being chauffeured around.
The idea that he’d heal faster if he stopped overexerting himself came to mind, but that would involve not having as much sex with Dosia, so he nixed that thought as quick as it came.
At the club’s entry gate, Pumpkin hit one of the garage buttons on the roof of the SUV between the driver’s and passenger’s seats. The gate started to open without having to press in a code.
Based on the number of vehicles that were parked outside the clubhouse, most of the club had started to congregate in anticipation of Steel coming home. Pumpkin wasn’t sure if they beat him back, but the missing club SUV hinted that it was a good possibility.
Pumpkin showed Dosia where to park and then got out of the cage.
He came around the front, pulling on his cut.
He might not be able to drive right now, but he’d be damned if he still didn’t open the door for his woman.
As Dosia got out, he reached into a tote bag he had brought with him and held out her leather cut.
The words Property of Pumpkin had never been so arousing as they were when he got to look at her ass as he read them.
He also pulled out a denim cut for JJ. His daughter loved her cut, and Pumpkin got lots of smooches in appreciation before he lifted her out of the tall vehicle.
His back only protested slightly. Taking JJ’s hand in one hand and his cane in the other, they stepped up onto the sidewalk to wait for Dosia and SJ.
He pulled Dosia against his chest, SJ sandwiched between them and JJ hugging both their legs. “You ready for this?”
“No,” she answered nervously. “But I’d rather get it over with.”
“They don’t bite,” Pumpkin reassured her.
“They’re gruff and tough and loud and curse like a bunch of drunken sailors, but every single one of them would lay his life down for you and our kids.
” He kissed her gently, keeping in mind Keys had this entire place wired and of their children. “As would I. ”
“That both reassures and terrifies me,” she whispered.
He kissed her quickly again. “I know, but you need to get used to it, because that fact will never change.”
Dosia crinkled her nose adorably. JJ started jumping up and down, clearly impatient to meet all the cousins Pumpkin had told her about.
He took JJ’s hand again, she grabbed her mom with her other hand, and together, the four of them headed into the clubhouse.
It was crowded and noisy, filled with club brothers, ol’ ladies, and club kids. Pumpkin hooked his cane over his elbow, brought his fingers to his lips, and let out a shrill whistle.
Everyone paused, turning to look at them. Dosia’s face turned bright red, which only made Pumpkin smile broadly.
“I told you assholes she does exist,” he announced to the room.
“This is Theodosia Woods, my pumpkin lady.” Several jaws dropped, but Pumpkin was just getting started.
“Also,” he continued, pointing at SJ. “This is my baby.” He held up JJ’s hand.
“This is my baby.” He pointed to Dosia’s stomach, “And this is my baby.”
Other jaws dropped.
There might have been a bit of arrogance emanating from Pumpkin in that moment.
Scotty was sitting at the bar. His eyes went wide with worry. “Does this mean SJ’s not my cousin anymore?”
Harper immediately reached for his hand. “No, baby. But it seems you have two more cousins to add to your long list.”
Scotty’s smile lit up the room. “Yay, more cousins!” He came rushing over to them, stopping in front of JJ. “What’s your name, new cousin?”
“JJ,” she answered. “What’s yours?”
“I’m Scotty.” He held out his hand to her. “Come on, I’ll show you your new aunts and uncles and cousins. You have a lot now.”
JJ looked up at Pumpkin for permission, and he nodded his encouragement. She took Scotty’s hand and he started leading her away.
“Are you part pumpkin, too?” Pumpkin heard Scotty ask his daughter .
Pumpkin suppressed a groan.
Harper was the first to approach them. “It’s Dosia, right? We’ve actually met before.” She held out her hand. “I’m Harper. I brought my kids in for story time last week.”
“Oh, right!” Dosia took Harper’s hand. “You bought the new Little Truck books.”
Harper’s eyebrows went up. “I did. I’m surprised you remember.”
“I’m awful with names,” Dosia confessed. “But I’d never forget a face and a book.”
Harper laughed. “Well, you have a lot of new names to learn, I’m afraid.”
“Pumpkin’s been helping me learn all of you. You’re married to Lucky, right?” Harper nodded. “Kids are Sissy, Scotty, Conner, and Stephanie?”
“Very good,” Harper beamed.
Other ol’ ladies approached them and Harper helped with the introductions. A hand on Pumpkin’s shoulder had him turning to see Cage.
“So how much did you pay her to say she’s your mystery lady?” his brother asked, a mocking smile on his face.
“None,” Pumpkin said honestly. “It’s really her.” He pointed to JJ. “And she’s really mine.”
Cage’s jaw dropped. “You’re serious?”
“Deadly.”
His brother whistled. “Damn, man. I did not see that one coming.”
Pumpkin chuckled. “Me either, but trust me. She’s mine. I got my cut on her back, my ring on her finger, and my baby in her belly.”
Cage’s mouth gaped open. “Geez. No wonder you haven’t been around much. She’s really pregnant?”
Pumpkin nodded, choosing to believe Calliope’s prediction. “Apparently, I have super sperm.”
“Fuckin’ hell, you do not!” Cage argued.
“Do too,” Pumpkin insisted, puffing out his chest. “Got three kids to prove it. No condom can contain my essence.”
Cage made a face. “This is going to be a thing with you, isn’t it? ”
“After six years of being pumpkined ?” he snapped back with a glare. “Fuck yeah.”
Demo approached them. “Glad to see you finally brought them around.”
“Wait, you knew about this?” Cage demanded.
Demo’s expression turned insulted. “My BFF would never keep a secret from me.”
Pumpkin punched his ‘BFF’ in the arm.
The double doors opened behind Pumpkin, and he, Demo, and Cage stepped aside as Lucky, Bulldog, Ghost, Steel, and Jenna entered the clubhouse.
Pumpkin reached for Dosia’s hand, pulling her and SJ towards him. “Steel, this is Dosia, my woman. Dosia, I’d like to introduce you to Steel. He’s our President.”
Though clearly exhausted, Steel came forward, an arm firmly around Jenna’s waist. “It’s nice to meet you, Dosia. I’m glad Pumpkin finally grew a pair and brought you around.”
Pumpkin stiffened. “You knew?”
Steel’s gun-metal gray eyes leveled on him.
“Of course I knew. There’s not much that goes on in my club that I don’t know about.
” Steel tightened his hold on Jenna’s waist. “This is my much-better half, Jenna.” The women shook hands.
“Forgive us, but there’s some kids I’d very much like to hug. I’ve been away for several days.”
“Yes, of course.” Dosia stepped closer to Pumpkin to give them room to pass.
Jenna touched Dosia’s arm. “We’ll talk later. I promise.”
Dosia nodded, though she didn’t look all that eager.
Pumpkin leaned down as Dosia adjusted SJ on her hip. “We’ll head to the house in a few.” Louder, he said, “And this is Lucky, our VP, Bulldog, our SAA, and Ghost, our Enforcer.”
Dosia held her hand out to each man. “I have no idea what any of that means, but it’s nice to meet you.”
“Same,” Lucky said.
The door behind him opened up again, and Scar came through.
Pumpkin saw Dosia’s eyes go wide, but then, Scar was an intimidating presence.
His bright sapphire eyes locked on Tally from across the room.
Ignoring anyone and everyone else, Scar made a beeline for her, and despite the crowd, managed to make it there without touching a single person that stood between him and his goal.
As soon as he was near enough, he lifted Tally up, tossed her over his shoulder, and headed out the hallway of the clubhouse apartments. Giggling, Tally raised a hand to the room before twisting to say to Scar, “Clearly, your lessons in manners are not working, my love.”
Unsurprisingly, there was no answer from Scar.
They disappeared from sight, and Pumpkin figured they wouldn’t see either of them for several days. Scar had a habit of locking them away in their new apartment and not resurfacing for a long time.
Dosia turned to Pumpkin, clearly confused, but he just shrugged. “And that’s Scar. Trust me, your introduction to him could have gone a lot worse.”
“I wasn’t introduced to him at all.”
Pumpkin shrugged. “My statement stands. Come on, let’s grab JJ and head to the house. I want to show you?—”