Chapter 7
HAMMER
Staring at the closed door, I look over at Malice. “What’s your take on this?”
The grimace the other man gives me should be answer enough, but I want to hear his input.
“We’ve all known Zinnia since she was fifteen,” he starts.
“We knew her brother along with her. The fact the bastard sold her to pay his debts shouldn’t surprise me.
But what pisses me off is he pinned two cartels against each other.
The Cintron Cartel aren’t morons as some would like to think them to be. ”
“No, they’re not.” I nod in agreement. The Cintron Cartel are the ones Avery’s fucked up siblings were trying to use to toy with her.
Since she and I first started out, I found out about the shit they’ve pulled on her.
Hell, I went to her parents and one of her siblings’ homes, killed them all, and took the kids that are Avery’s nieces and nephews.
They’ve been living with Lissa, Bruiser’s mom.
She’s been great for them, and I think the feeling is mutual between those kids and her.
Between all the shit my woman’s been through, she feels the blame for it each and every time her fucking siblings try something against the club and someone gets hurt.
This being no different even when it’s not directly from them fuckers, but rather, one of the men they work for.
It’s not something she needs to be dealing with, though.
Not now when she’s pregnant with our second child.
With this one being a girl, it scares the hell out of me.
I get it’s because of my past with what happened with my brother and his wife.
I nearly lost my nephew and did lose my niece for years.
By some freak chance, Hades had reunited with her, and in return, I got her back in my life as well.
“You know, with Zinnia being back in Gunner’s life, he’ll die before he lets anyone take her from him again,” Malice says, telling me something I already know.
“He’ll kill the bastards who try to take her from him. It doesn’t take a genius to know she’s been through hell. Basa De La Rosa is one sick bastard who deserves a bullet to the head,” I retort, leaning back in my chair.
“Willow said she saw a drawing Zinnia was working on.”
I cock a brow, wondering where he’s going with this.
“Said it was of Gunner and Delilah.”
“Fuck!” I breathe and rake a hand over my face. “Zinnia’s always loved Gunner. You and I both know if someone threatens his little girl, she’ll give herself up to save her, because she’s Gunner’s. More than that, to save him the heartache he would feel.”
“Yeah, I know. We just have to make sure no one comes near Zinnia, but at the same time, she needs something to feel like she’s not mooching off of us. You remember that first time we helped her out at the house she and her brother used to live in?”
I smirk, remembering it all too well. “Zinnia was a spitfire, not wanting to let us fix the roof for free. Demanded to work or do something. She ended up cleaning the entire clubhouse, rooms and all, to repay the club for their work.”
“I think she should look into working at the tattoo shop. She’s talented, and if she gets trained and does an apprenticeship with one of the guys there, she might start feeling grounded again and not be so jumpy and skittish.”
I nod in agreement. “Talk to Gunner, get his input.”
A knock comes at the door before Malice can respond, and it opens. There’s only one person who knows they can come in here at any time if they’re not a brother.
My Avery. And she’s never done it before.
Avery steps inside, her hand on her stomach, her brow creased in the middle.
“Everything okay, Sunshine?”
“I need to go to the doctor,” she whispers in response.
Without questioning why I shoot up out of my seat and move to her side. “Let’s go, baby.”
When it comes to her and our kids, I don’t ask questions first. Avery’s got a good head for knowing if something’s going on, and if she needs to go to the damn doctor, then I’ll fucking get her there. Malice can handle everything while I put my family first.