Chapter 25
CILLA
*Cilla, listen. The supplier is Maddog Hughes. He is still in Bayswater town. The dealer here in town is Byron Briggs. He’s targeting the college*
“I already warned them about the drugs in town, Bono.”
*You need to tell them this. It is extra information*
“I will tell Mason when I see him. How about that?” I ask.
We’ve been so busy the last two days that we are both exhausted.
I’ve worked a double shift, tidied the yard, and caught up with house chores and laundry.
Mason has been walking the streets to see if anything regarding the drug issue comes to light.
*No, go to the clubhouse and tell Tracker. The college has a big party planned for the holiday, and this bastard is sending drugs over that are bad. Kids will die, Cilla*
“Oh, for goodness’ sake. Okay, I’m going. Now be quiet.” I grab my purse and truck keys and head out, mumbling all the time about menacing ghosts not leaving me alone for over five minutes at a time.
*The supplier is looking for more dealers in town. He is targeting all the surrounding towns, too. That is in Tracker’s territory, so he’s going to want to know*
“I’m going, Bono, just be quiet and let me concentrate.”
Driving through the gate, I wave at Ian, the prospect on the gate. He gives me a bright smile as I pass. I totally ignored the young man behind him who has half his head missing. Seeing ghosts is not always pleasant, so don’t let anyone tell you anything different.
Walking into the clubhouse, it is quiet, with only Jet behind the bar. Club women are nowhere to be seen. Nope, it’s dead quiet, which means everyone is at work or walking the streets of town.
Knocking on Tracker’s door, I enter when I get the gruff enter. “Good afternoon, Tracker. Bono...”
“Wow, slow down. Take a seat, Cilla." Tracker looks at Cap, who is sitting near the window. “Get Cilla a drink of that nasty tea. The one that smells like something died.”
Cap chuckles as he walks out of the office. I give Tracker a shocked look. “What do you mean? It’s chamomile, you know, it’s a flower.”
“Still smells and tastes like dish soap." Tracker scrunches up his nose, and I would tell him that look is cute, but he’d probably get his gun out and shoot me.
“Okay, well, besides the tea. Bono is here, and he’s hopping about, wanting me to tell you what he has found.”
Tracker leans forward and places his elbows on the desk, steepling his fingers, and watching me intently.
Now I have his full attention, I continue, “In Bayswater town is the supplier of the drugs. His name is Maddog Hughes. I cannot tell you more than that about him at this point in time. The dealer here in town is Byron Briggs...”
“That fuckin’ weasel...” Tracker snarls right as Cap walks into the office carrying a mug of tea.
“What’s going on?” Cap asks as he hands me the tea, but keeps his attention on Tracker.
“Byron Briggs is what happened.” Tracker looks at Cap with such a stony expression that it causes goosebumps to run up my arms.
“What has the pathetic little shit done now?” Cap asks as he pats my shoulder. I’m sure trying to show comfort. For what reason, I’m not sure.
I quickly speak mainly to stop Tracker from blowing his fuse. “Um, Byron Briggs is the one dealing in town.”
“The fucking little weasel. Okay, Pres, leave it with me.” Taking out his phone, Cap makes a call, and I brazenly listen. “Finger, we need to find Byron Briggs because he is the dealer.”
Bono is jumping around in front of me, not seen by the other two in the room. But, jeez, give me a break! “Bono, stop. It’s a good thing. They know who the person is, but we don’t need to get involved.”
*If you were a witch like in the fairy tales, you could zap his ass. Hocus Pocus...*
I don’t give him an opportunity to carry on, I snap at him, and not in my head.
Both Cap and Tracker look at me with more than a touch of interest. “Bono, shut your mouth.” Noting the attention I’m attracting, I shrug.
“He’s getting on my nerves. I wish I could transfer his ass to one of you.
” Not waiting for a response I turn and storm out of the office and head to Mason’s room, because my stomach is feeling queasy with all the bullshit I’m coping with.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I breathe in and out until I feel my stomach settle down. Bono, Tank, and Pyro are all three now standing in the room watching me, but thankfully quietly. “Are you three ever intending to move on, you know, go to wherever you are supposed to go?”
*I’m stayin’, I enjoy being able to help my brothers* Pyro tells me and doesn’t look even a little apologetic. In fact, he has a little flame in his hand that he is weaving through his fingers.
Tank looks at me with a show of softness and understanding. *I’m staying, Cilla*
*Of course, I’m staying. I brought these two assholes here* Bono puffs out his chest as though what he said is something to be proud of.
Running my hands down my face, I know I’ve got some trouble to face in the future. These three standing in front of me, giving me stupid smiles could easily be the three wise monkeys, or reversed to the three idiots!
*Aw, Cilla. That’s not nice* Tank tells me with a smirk that if he were here, I would smack him for it.
I settle on the bed and close my eyes for a while. I will go help with serving supper in a while, but for now I need to have a small nap.
Waking with a start, I only have a moment before my stomach churns, and I need to go to the bathroom.
I dry heave for a while before my nausea settles.
Sheesh, this is not good. Washing my face and looking at my image in the mirror above the sink, it comes to me that I have not had a period in a while. Holy shit...
I panic a little and rush downstairs to Scalpel’s room, and without waiting to knock, I rush inside and slam the door behind me, pushing my back against the door.
Scalpel jumps to his feet from where he is working on something at his desk. “What’s wrong, Cilla?”
“I think I’m pregnant...I missed a period...oh, my...Mason may want to kill me...”
Before I can say more in my panic, Scalpel walks over slowly, takes my hand, and leads me to a seat.
“Finger will not be angry about it if you are pregnant, Cilla. He will be delighted. He’s always wanted a family, and he loves you.
We can all see how much you mean to him.
He’ll be protective and you’ll have to keep him calm. ”
“God, I am on the pill and have never missed one, Scalpel.”
“It happens. Nothing is a dead cert. Well, you know, apart from the direst option.”
My eyes must be rounded with the shock of what he is saying. I mean, I don’t want to have a hysterectomy, and I can’t even think of Mason having a vasectomy either. Not at this point in our lives. “Do you have a test here?” I ask gingerly.
“Yes, I keep some in case the club girls think they could be pregnant. But they have the shot, and I administer that, so they are highly unlikely to slip, as the brothers use condoms too.”
“Okay, let’s test,” I mumble.
The test is complete, and both Scalpel and I are waiting for the timer on his watch to tell us when the time is up. We have done three tests of different brands, so we don’t have too large a margin for error. Scalpel has also taken a blood draw.
“Are you ready, Cilla?” Scalpel asks, and I give him a tiny nod of the head. We both lean forward and check the tests that we have lined up on the counter, which Scalpel covered with paper towels.
They all three tell us positive. I wipe a tear that escapes, and Scalpel pulls me into a hug, murmuring, congratulations and that he knows I’m going to be an incredible mother.
“Do you want to tell, Finger?”
Nodding, I say, “I will after supper. I think I’ll ask him if we can stay here at the clubhouse tonight.”
“Good idea. If you need me to help, you know I’m here. We’ll monitor you closely, and you need to take the vitamins I’ll get for you. No excuses either if you start feeling too tired. You working at the diner may be a bit much for you when you get further into the pregnancy.”
Nodding slightly again, “Yeah, if it gets too much, I’ll ask Mason if I can stop working.”
“Cilla, he may demand you stop straight away, so be prepared. You know we are all obsessive bastards and having a baby isn’t something simple to us.
It’s like a miracle. Many of us never thought we would get home from the service in one piece.
To get a woman and child is the world to us, and we would and will burn down the world to keep you safe.
That isn’t just Finger. You will find all of us will be protective.
” Scalpel gives me a look that says, Be prepared.
Stepping out of Scalpel’s office after giving him a hug of thanks, I stop walking toward the common room when I see my grandmother standing in the hallway, blocking my passage, I have to add.
*Cilla, my heart. I wanted to come and say congratulations on my first great-grandchild. I won’t tell you what you are having, but know the child will be a beautiful one, in spirit, mind, and body*
“Thank you, Grandmother. Why have you not moved onto a higher plane?”
*I want to watch your mother* Grandmother leans forward as though she’s telling me a secret, *She is a troublemaker even over here. But I’m going to stop her once and for all. If she comes to you don’t pay her any attention. Oh, I have to go now, Cilla, but my heart, live well*
Before I can say anything more, she fades away. Turning, I see Tracker watching me closely. “Someone else?” he asks curiously.
“Yeah, my grandmother.” I walk into the common room without telling Tracker what she had to say, or what Scalpel confirmed.
Ninety minutes later we have eaten supper and cleared everything away. Dishwashers are running, and the kitchen is clean once more.
I walk into the common room, and all the brothers are here laughing, drinking, and some are making out with the club women. The few that are left that is. Because losing Violet has left only four, which Tracker has stated is all they are having at the clubhouse from this point.
Mason is standing at the bar drinking a beer with Cap and Hot Rod. He said he’d only have one and then we’d either retire to our room or head home.
Daisy, however, who I admit I have seen eyeing my man walks up to him and runs her finger down his bicep. Nope, that is not happening.
Pyro, Tank, and Bono appear at the side of Mason, who, of course, cannot see them. The three give me an encouraging look. Pyro has fire running in and out of his fingers, to which I shake my head, not to do whatever he’s planning.
Mason steps back and snaps at Daisy, but I’m on her before she has time to move.
I grab her hair with both of my hands, and I drag her back with all my force.
She screeches, which attracts everyone’s attention.
I drag until she’s at the main door of the clubhouse and I throw her outside, gaining scratches down my arms in the process.
“Stay out there until you understand he is mine, only mine, and you touch what’s mine again, and I will ask Tracker for permission to shoot your ass. ”
Tracker chuckles as he nods his approval. The brothers look at Mason, then me, but the smiles they all give me tell me they are not angry at my outburst.
Mason walks over and does his best to wrap his arms around me, but I push him off and point at him.
Right before digging my finger into his chest. “You stay away from all these women. All of them. Oh, and you need to get us married, and married quickly because I’m not having any of my children out of wedlock. You get me?”
“Are you telling me we are having a baby, Cilla?” Mason asks so softly I hardly understand what he is asking.
My tone softens as I respond, “Yes, we are having a baby...”
I don’t get the opportunity to say more before Mason picks me up and spins me around, laughing loudly. Placing me on my feet but keeping his arm around me, Mason bellows, “I’M GONNA BE A DAD!”
You can imagine the backslaps, congratulations, and high-fives that happen.
Tracker, however, walks over and takes me from Mason.
Wrapping his arms around me as he kisses the top of my head.
But the reverence he shows makes my eyes water.
“Our first old lady, and now our first mamma, giving us the next generation of brothers. Thank you, Cilla.”
I hug Tracker in return, and with my eyes twinkling I state, “It is my pleasure, Pres. Yeah, it was a great pleasure.” Which makes him laugh loudly along with all the brothers.