Chapter Five.
Grace
I ’d gone to find Isla as soon as I noticed she was missing. Instead, I overheard a conversation between her and Savage that I think he would have hated me knowing. The pain in Savage’s voice as he spoke of his past gave me pause. I wasn’t the only one hurting or with a bad past. I felt a momentary bond with Savage, which faded as I saw the look on his face. As dark as my history was, I sensed Savage’s was darker, and I didn’t want to intrude.
Isla had already hurried home, not seeing me behind the bush that separated our homes, so I crept away.
Harper chattered to herself when I arrived back, having not noticed my absence, and I smiled. My daughter loved gardening—something she didn’t get from me or her father. Honestly, I killed everything I attempted to grow, but Harper was determined to try.
Isla sat on the steps observing quietly, which was her usual demeanour now. The days when Isla used to run around like a loon were long gone.
It didn’t matter how often I tried to reassure them; Garry and Lin had permanently changed my girls’ happy-go-lucky personalities. Seeing how quiet they were and always checking before doing something killed me. That was another thing I was working hard on, getting them back to using their initiative in certain situations.
Then again, Garry and Lin had worked their nasty kind of magic on the girls for several years. Time was needed, and I understood that. But I yearned for the days of happy, playing children. You didn’t realise how much it meant until something like that was taken from you.
Viciously, I kicked a lump of soil, anger at Garry rising, and laughed when it shattered and covered Harper with debris.
Harper turned with her mouth open in outrage, and I kept laughing at her expression. I picked up another soft clump and crumbled it in my hands before throwing that over Harper.
Harper blinked, and I wondered momentarily if she would curl up and cry, when, suddenly, she threw a handful of soil in my hair.
We both laughed as I hurled some in return, and we began launching it at each other.
Isla hissed as she received a face full of dirt where Harper misaimed, and we stared, wondering what she’d do.
Isla’s screwed-up expression hinted at a possible tantrum, which would have been welcome. Instead, Isla scooped up a handful and threw it straight at Harper. Before we knew it, we were all rolling around in the yard, throwing soil everywhere and laughing.
Savage
Curiously, I peeked over the fence. The laughter had roused my interest, as it was usually quiet next door. I was amused when I saw Grace, Harper, and Isla launching dirt at one another. All three were giggling and having a great time, and a warm feeling settled in my stomach. The three of them were so silent that this noise level was surprising.
A smile crossed my face as I watched them finally act like a family. But even in their merriment, I couldn’t help but notice they were muted. It wasn’t loud like the Hellions. My gut tightened as their quiet joy seemed to confirm all the other signals I had seen of an abused family.
That was the one thing I wouldn’t stand for: abuse. Whether male or female or vice versa or same sex, it was all the same. I’d no worries about beating down an abuser, something that Drake had taken my pulse on when I’d joined.
Phoe had texted me telling me to bring Grace and the girls to a cookout tonight, and I told her to contact Grace herself. Then I received a message from Drake ordering me to do as Phoe asked, and I sent a sharp reply about his meddling wife. Drake had replied with a smiley emoji—fuckin’ shock that Drake knew what they were—and then said that if Phoe was concentrating on me, she was leaving him alone. Bastard.
I had planned on attending the cookout and then crashing in my bed at the clubhouse. Now, I guessed I would be expected to ensure Grace and the kids got home okay.
Wonderful.
If it wasn’t obvious from Phoe, I’d also had other messages from the old ladies. They were in match-making mode. My reply had stated that Ghost and Slate were still single and to leave me the hell alone. Most had sent laughing emojis back.
With the girls next door so clearly enjoying themselves, I walked into my kitchen to make some lunch and decided to speak to them in a bit.
◆◆◆
“Hey,” I called over the fence an hour later.
Grace and the kids looked up. They were planting flowers and shit and had cleaned up the evidence of their fight.
“Hi,” Grace said and offered me a puzzled stare. I didn’t blame her. It’s not as if I sought her out.
“Phoe texted and told me to tell you there’s a cookout at Rage. She’s invited you and the girls.”
“Oh,” Grace replied and looked surprised. “I had plans.”
“You got Phoe’s number, yeah? Send her a message,” I suggested.
“Thank you, Savage; it’s kind of you to invite me, but the girls come first,” Grace said apologetically.
“Not me, it was Phoe,” I responded before thinking and winced at the look on Grace’s face. It was as if I’d slapped her.
“Thanks.” Grace cut any further conversation short and gathered up the youngsters, herding them indoors.
Isla offered me a shy smile and wave, and I lamely waved back.
Grace
There was no explanation for this apparent insanity, I decided as I drove to the Rage garage. Phoe said their clubhouse was behind the walls surrounding the garage.
I’d done as Savage had suggested and messaged Phoe, only to be bombarded until I agreed to attend the cookout. And it wasn’t just Phoe. All of the old ladies I met also sent messages. Eventually, I said we’d go for an hour.
Phoe had told me to bring swimsuits, as they had a large swimming pool that was heated. She also advised that I bring a suit or bikini, as they had several hot tubs at Rage, but that was a step too far.
My figure was slim, but I had a belly still. The little baby bump that never flattened. I liked my legs and hated my stomach and ass. My boobs were a decent size, just a handful, but enough to keep a guy happy.
Not that it mattered. There’d be no man for the rest of my life.
My mind flicked to Savage’s expression this afternoon, and I cringed. He’d believed that I thought he was inviting me.
A part of me had longed to yell at him not to be so arrogant but had decided it wasn’t worth it. From his point of view, I suppose Savage guessed women saw him as a meal ticket. And honestly, he could be one. Savage worked nights, which meant he wouldn’t hang around the home much. To someone like me, or what he knew of me, I guess Savage was correct in thinking he was a catch.
I pulled into Rage and wondered where to go. A figure waved from a gate in the wall that surrounded what I assumed was the compound. For a brief moment, I considered throwing the car into reverse and running for it, and then a couple of the old ladies appeared, and I was trapped. Aw, damn it.
Parking where the guy, Harley, on the gate pointed to, I let the kids out, and they walked quietly with me towards the entrance.
“Welcome,” Phoe said with a smile on her face as I offered a tentative one back and accepted a hug. “Come on, be warned, it’s loud in there. All the Hellions are present tonight.” Somehow, that didn’t reassure me. Nor did a girl about twelve years old when she approached at speed.
“Hey, remember me? I’m Eddie, that’s my Mama Phoe. I’m in charge of the Princesses. Would you like to join us?” Eddie questioned.
I noted how Phoe kept a sharp eye on her daughter.
“Mommy?” Isla asked as another girl joined us.
“Hi, I’m Davy, and I’m ten. We met the other day. Will you join Eddie and me?” she inquired warmly.
“I’m Harper, and I’m eight, and this is my little sister Isla, and she’s six,” Harper finally replied.
“Great, come with us. We’re plotting something for the Legacies,” Eddie stated with a wicked smile.
“No cattle prods, no sharp-ended objects, no lassos or ropes. No bricks, dye, catapults, bows and arrows, baseball bats—and no fricking tasers, Eddie!” Phoe said to my horror.
Eddie rolled her eyes as I tried to decide whether to snatch my girls up and run.
“And no stealing Aunt Artemis’s nun-chucks, throwing stars or garottes,” Lindsey added.
“Mom, you’re boring,” Davy stated, grabbing Harper and Isla’s hands and dragging them away.
“Tell me you’re joking,” I demanded as my kids disappeared into the crowd.
Phoe was craning her neck, clearly looking for somebody.
“Yeah, they joined with Aria and Alyssa. The Legacies will get their comeuppance tonight,” Autumn said as she approached.
“Hellions? Legacies? Someone explain, and are my girls in danger?” I snapped, my voice rising.
“Hellions are what we call the children as a collective. Legacies are the boys because they are their father’s legacy to the club. As a child born to or adopted by a brother, they have the immediate right to join as a prospect. Princesses are the girls, although ours are rather sneaky and not fairy tale princesses,” Phoe explained.
“The princesses are more dangerous than the Legacies, but the boys don’t learn. They bait the girls, who then plot dire revenge, and the Legacies lose out. But they are as stubborn as their fathers and refuse to give up,” Lindsey added as she walked towards various large hot tubs with several women in. Lindsey shucked her shorts and tee and climbed into one.
Silvie nodded at me as she took up a huge area. She seemed at ease as she floated in the oversized tub.
“The hot tubs help Silvie with her condition. So, we always ensure she has plenty of space to stretch out if she needs it,” Carly explained, popping up beside me.
“You fucking damn well will attend that appointment, Jett, or believe me, I’m taking two bricks to your balls!” a screech went up.
A frown crossed my face as I looked around for the commotion.
“That is Sin, and she’s pregnant again.” Carly grinned.
“Sorry, I don’t understand,” I admitted.
“Jett has given Sin five kids in six years. Plus, they have an older daughter. Despite his promise, Jett continues to knock Sin up. Even if they use protection, it still happens. And she’s prego again. It seems Jett has potent sperm,” a woman called Casey explained.
“Holy shit.” I gasped, horrified.
“Yeah, Jett swears no more babies, and then bam, Sin’s knocked up. These constant pregnancies are playing havoc with her. Hi, I’m Aurora Victoria. I’m Klutz’s old lady,” a beautiful lady said, reaching out to shake hands with me from the hot tub.
“Hello,” I replied lamely.
“Jett, you better run, you pussy assed wimp!” Sin screeched, and the women laughed as I craned my neck.
The man I recognised as Jett was running through the gates like the hounds of hell were after him. Standing close by were several brothers I’d not met. Sin whipped around and glared at them, and they all blanched.
“I’m relaxing tonight. If that pussy assed bastard doesn’t come back, you are all in charge of my kids. And you better look after them,” Sin gritted out through ground teeth.
The men nodded vigorously as Sin made her way towards him.
“I’m going to chopp his fuckin’ dick off,” she complained as she sat down.
Silvie popped up from the hot tub and asked, “What did I miss?”
“I hate you, bitch. I bet that water is too hot for me to float in. You didn’t hear? It’s twins,” Sin whined.
“Oh shit,” everyone whispered.
“Jett got you pregnant when on the pill and hit you with twins?” Silvie asked, her eyes wide.
“And we used condoms! Fuckin’ twins! Can you believe it? Jett either gets the thing snipped professionally, or I’m gonna tie string around his balls and slam a door,” Sin threatened.
Looking at the annoyed woman, I felt rather sorry for Jett. Then again, he got her pregnant with a condom and while she was on the pill? Damn.
“Baby girl, I didn’t need to hear that,” a guy said, dropping next to Sin and shifting his chair behind her.
“Manny!” Sin wailed and slouched back. Manny began massaging Sin’s shoulders as he winked at another woman. She leaned over as she noted my puzzlement.
“Hey, I’m Andi, and Manny is my husband and old man. But he’s Sin’s alternative, and when she needs comfort, Manny provides it because he loves fuckin’ with Jett. Manny and Sin are good friends, nothing else,” Andi explained.
“Alternative?” I asked, wondering if this was a wife-swapping situation.
The old ladies all jumped in to explain what an alternative was and who had which brother. It was confusing, but Manny appeared to have the magic words and touch to calm Sin down even while she plotted Jett’s death in painful ways. To my amusement, Manny helped her plot away with Andi and the other women throwing in suggestions. I caught sight of a guy recording everything, and he sent me a wink.
“This’ll do the rounds, and Jett will grovel for the remainder of Sin’s pregnancy. He’s so pussy whipped, he’s unbelievable,” the man said with humour.
“And you’re not, Calamity?” an older woman asked as she sat down carefully.
“Of course I am. I married a goddess,” Calamity replied.
“You remember that, pencil dick,” a hulking guy added, slapping Calamity around the head.
“Sure thing, Pops,” Calamity snapped, leapt to his feet, and limped quickly away.
“Calamity is married to Texas’s daughter, Rosie. That’s Texas,” Phoe explained as the huge guy chased after Calamity. But I noted how Texas slowed his pace to give Calamity a chance to escape, and then a brother blocked Texas and began talking to him. In the meantime, Calamity disappeared into the crowd.
“Hey, I’m Penny, Texas’s old lady. I love how they still do that,” Penny said, nodding towards Calamity.
“Oh?”
“They pretend to chase Calamity but hold back to give him pride and let him think he outrun them,” Penny whispered.
“Oh, I see,” I replied, and I kind of did. It was a level of compassion I hadn’t expected from the MC.
Chatter rose around me, and I listened and learned. When the guys manning the grills yelled food was ready, I was shocked that no adult moved until the children had a plate and were sat in a huge group. Considering how many kids there were, I was surprised when Phoe announced that each kid was settled and the adults could eat.
Then, the brothers descended like locusts.
“Nobody eats until the youngsters have full plates,” Penny explained as she hung back with me. She looked over my shoulder and held two fingers up and, turning, I saw Texas nod.
“Do the men eat before us?” I asked, puzzled.
“No,” Penny said with a laugh as guys began appearing and handing the old ladies plates laden with food.
Texas brought Penny and me a plate each before wandering back to get his own.
“Wow. He’s a unicorn,” I gasped, staring at my plate. The women chuckled. “You have a herd of them.”
“Do we?” Phoe laughed.
“Hell, yes. Never seen men who would put children and then women before their own appetites,” I whispered, stunned.
“Then you’ve dated the wrong guys,” Lindsey stated.
“Clearly,” I agreed, taking a bite of a burger.
◆◆◆
The women were riotous in their blunt speaking and dry humour. I could understand why they were so close; they had created their own family. I got told titbits of their lives, and what I heard was hair-raising. None of them seemed to have had an easy go of it, which made me relate to them even while I held my story tight. With so many kids around, keeping up with my girls was hard. Whenever I saw them, I was relieved they were having a great time.
For the hour and a half we had been here, I’d seen more signs of my daughter’s old personalities than in the last eighteen months. It was a relief to know that somewhere deep inside them were the cheeky little monkeys they used to be.
I returned from the toilets and admired the room attached to the rec room on my way back, as Phoe called it, when I bumped into Savage.
“That’s a great idea,” I said, nodding to the area which held sleeping babies and toddlers.
“Family comes first,” Savage replied. His eyes fixed on me as if seeking my soul.
Well, he couldn’t have it.
“That does seem a priority here,” I agreed.
An uneasy silence lapsed between us.
“Thought you weren’t coming,” Savage finally said.
That made me bristle.
“I’m sure you must think every single mom is after you, but I can assure you that is not the case with me. After my marriage, I’m very happy being alone. You may be God’s gift to some women, but not me. Phoe begged me to come, so I did. I didn’t come to get into your pants or trap you into anything else. Trust me, a guy like you is the last thing I want,” I snapped, feeling defensive.
“A man like me?” Savage demanded, his brows drawing together dangerously.
An old English saying sprang to mind, in for a penny, in for a pound.
“Yeah.” I poked his chest with a finger, and Savage looked down at it before raising an incredulous gaze to me. “Handsome, drop-dead gorgeous, sexy as fuck, kissable all over, muscles on muscles, and a face that could grace a romance novel. Don’t worry, Savage, I know you can have the cream of the crop in your bed, and I’m chewed corn, not cream.”
“Chewed corn?” Savage murmured, sounding amused.
“Rub it in. I’m frumpy, tired, and have wrinkled before my time. I’m nothing like the women you take to the bedroom, and, quite frankly, there is nothing you can offer me that my vibrator doesn’t!”
Savage’s lips quirked.
“No?” he asked huskily.
Defiant, I put my hands on my hips and leaned forward. “Nope,” I hissed.
The next thing I knew, I was hauled off my feet, plastered against a firmly muscled body, and kissed within an inch of my life.
My world narrowed to one focus: Savage and his lips and what it was doing to me.
This was what being kissed felt like. Not have some asshole shove his tongue in your mouth and think it’s sexy. No, Savage made love to me with his tongue, seducing me with just that alone. When the kiss ended, a soft sigh left my mouth.
My eyes fluttered open, and I saw the smug but intense gaze on Savage’s face.
“Like to see your vibrator offer you that,” Savage stated and walked away. And shit, his ass looked great in those worn jeans.
“Wow, that had chemistry,” a voice announced, and I turned and spotted Ellen, the oldest of the old ladies.
“Don’t tell anyone!” I squealed in horror as what happened began to sink in slowly.
“Girl, I am a vault. Whatever I see, hear, or get told stays with me. That, however, was something I didn’t see coming. Savage worried me; I don’t think I’ve seen him with a woman. Now I’m quite happy after seeing that kiss. Good luck with him. You are going to have your hands full,” Ellen drawled, amused.
“There’s nothing between Savage and me. He’s… well… look at him and then me. It’s not happening, anyway; I don’t want a relationship.”
“Girl, wake up and look in the mirror. You’re beautiful and tired, but a good fuck will rectify that. And I’m sure Savage knows plenty of ways to wear a girl out and ensure she gets a good night’s sleep.”
“It’s not like that!” I denied instantly.
“Do you have any idea how many times I’ve heard that? How many of those out there fought their destinies and soul mates? Get in line, Grace; you’re just another one. Once you let go of your defences and embrace Savage, you’ll find a love like no other,” Ellen replied, amused.
“It’s not love! If anything, it’s lust! After what happened to me and my girls, I don’t want a man.”
“Grace, I know who you are. I don’t think anyone else does. But I recognise you and deeply respect you. Do not let that motherfucker pull you down. Rise above him and live a life filled with happiness, laughter, and love. That’s the best revenge to get on him,” Ellen explained, shocking me completely.
“Are you going to tell anyone?” I asked, worried. I didn’t need my story upsetting the girls again. We’d settled here.
“A vault, Grace, remember,” Ellen answered, leaning forward to hug and kiss my cheek. “Welcome to the family.”
My growl was answered by her giggles as she moved away.
“No!” Phoe shouted, suddenly making me jump. “All Princesses come here immediately!”
Curiously, I rushed to the door, and my jaw dropped in dread.