Chapter 26
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SIX
Sawyer
“What in the fuck?” Brew barks.
“Absolutely not,” Logan agrees.
Haze is the only one speechless. That’s a first.
“Let’s not get crazy,” I say, trying to placate them with my hands after telling them the plan. “It was just an idea.”
“Let’s cut to the chase,” Cash interrupts.
“What you’ve suggested isn’t a bad idea, and it wouldn’t implicate the club in any way if one of the girls goes in.
I don’t like Nova goin’ in there alone, though, but with an ol’ lady or club sister, it could work.
It’s not ideal, but I take it you’re not exactly protesting? ” He nods to Nova.
Needless to say after telling them the well thought out plan, there’s been a bit of kickback.
“I’m volunteering willingly,” Nova says and I hide my smile. She knows it’s a big deal being in here, and not to talk back.
Brew and Logan begin to protest, but Haze holds up a hand.
“We all know that Nova can get the information quicker than any of us could, without breakin’ any bones or causin’ havoc,” he says.
“I don’t see the issue. It’s not like we’re forcin’ her into it, and we’ll be right outside if anything goes pear shaped. ”
“It was my idea,” Nova pipes up, but nobody is paying her any mind.
“That isn’t the point!” Brew bangs a fist on the table. “It isn’t Nova’s job to interfere with club business, especially business like this. It’s dirty. Nobody should have to see that. She’ll be on their radar as soon as she steps foot in there, do you really want that?”
I can see his point, really I can, but nothing is gonna harm her on my watch.
“I didn’t like it at first either,” I admit.
“But we all know that Nova can do it, and old Forest and his pals will be thinkin’ they’re gonna get even more chicks to make up for the raid.
He’s not gonna go to the lengths of kidnappin’ them on a busy street in broad daylight when they’re gonna come willingly. ”
“It’s happened before,” Logan mutters. “People get snatched all the time right there on the street. If I recall it happened to Deanna many years ago—”
“And I thank Pipes every single fuckin’ day that he stood in the way and protected her,” Cash says, recalling the memory.
“It’s one of the reasons he moved quickly from prospect to patched in, but this isn’t the same thing.
This is planned, and under the security of the NOLA Rebels.
If they do anythin’ untoward, we’ll be right there to stop them. ”
“To sweeten the deal, I’ve been thinking of things to say,” Nova says and all the heads in the room turn her way. That’s my girl. Always breaking protocol. “Like: I’ve got some friends who’d love to come to the party. It’d really make them think they’re gonna score big.”
“Should she even be in here?” Tag asks, cracking his knuckles, looking bored.
“And why not?” she shoots back. “I’ll bet you a hundred that I’ll get what I need in under five minutes. Men are fickle and weak, all I have to do is flash a little skin and shake my tits and I’ll have him.”
I frown at the same time Brew, Logan and Haze all chime. “No you won’t!”
Jesus fucking Christ. Who even let them in here?
“Babe,” I say, shaking my head. “Too much.”
“I’ll take that bet,” Tag replies. “But now we’re talkin’ about puttin’ Luna in danger too? Over my dead body.”
“Luna’s fine with it. She has as much street cred as I do,” Nova says, and it’s then I know the two have been conspiring and kept Tag in the dark. That won’t go down well. “And together we could be unstoppable.”
Tag shakes his head. “You’ve lost your goddamn minds.”
“Let’s not get ahead of yourself, you gotta walk before you can run,” Haze says, unimpressed.
“Let’s just all take a beat.” Ryder tries to smooth things over, motioning for the brothers to sit back down.
“We all know tensions are high and you care a lot about Nova, but she’s talkin’ some sense.
Women do get information out of idiots faster than we ever could.
These are the same people probably linked to the ones who took my wife.
Any chance to kill a trafficker and I’m there with the rest of you, but gettin’ the jump on this Regi guy would be smart. ”
“It’s not as easy as that,” Logan says. “We don’t use the Rebels women as bait. We don’t do that.”
“In a secured environment, I think Nova’s plan will work,” Harlem cuts in.
“And she’s at low risk. You will all be there, us too, we’re not gonna let Nova, or Luna, or anyone waltz in there without surrounded protection.
It’s risky, but what other option do we have?
We need to be the ones a step ahead of these guys before they shut the whole thing down and go underground. ”
“Not at Nova’s expense,” Brew maintains.
Nova is about to say something to Brew until there’s a commotion at the door.
“Ugh, I’m late!” Luna says, storming into the meeting room. “Sorry, Cash, don’t mind me.”
“Jesus Christ,” Haze puts a hand over his heart. “You almost gave me a fuckin’ heart attack.”
I turn to Tag. “So you were saying?” I smirk. “About women being in the meeting room?”
Nova snickers.
Luna stops in her tracks. “You did not just say that,” she voices her comment to the big man at the end of the table. He has the good grace to look at least a little sheepish.
“This isn’t a women’s space,” he grunts. “It’s club business. That isn’t sexist, before you give me an earful, it’s just how it is. To protect you. The less you know the better.”
“Uh, huh, well it sounds a lot like you’re being a big grumpy ass,” she says, plopping down on his lap “Play nice, baby.”
He mutters something but kisses her instead.
I clear my throat. “Now that’s taken care of, let’s get back to the vote. I didn’t like the idea at first either, but it’s growing on me because of what we can achieve. We can get ahead of these pricks once and for all.”
Brew narrows his gaze, zoning in on me. “You’re talkin’ like you’re her old man. We love you like a brother Sawyer, but she’s not your ol’ lady, you don’t get to tell her what she can do.”
“And you can?” I throw back. “Because you’re her cousin.”
“Yeah, that’s right, wise ass.”
“Well I’m someone too, I am her old man.” I take a breath, running a hand through my hair as I take Nova’s hand with the other. “That’s the other thing we’ve come to talk about.”
Brew’s eyes widen, Haze pinches the bridge of his nose and Logan gives me a pitying look.
“Her old man?” Brew repeats. “What the fuck?”
“Yes,” Nova says, stepping closer to me.
“We’re together, together. And before you get your panties in a twist, it’s recent.
Very recent.” She takes another breath, looking up at me.
“We haven’t been sneaking around, it just kind of happened.
I love him. He’s claiming me at the table because it’s what we both want. ”
“Holy shit,” Logan mutters.
Brew just looks annoyed.
“I’ll be damned, finally grew a pair,” Harlem chides.
Tag is still busy with Luna.
Ryder isn’t shocked, he just shakes his head.
Haze on the other hand looks between me and Nova a couple of times like he didn’t see this coming. “Huh?”
“Everyone shut the fuck up,” Logan sighs, then turns to his brothers.
“Don’t act shocked you two, we all knew this was gonna happen.
They’ve been each other’s second for over a year now.
They’re good together. Look how far they’ve both come.
Instead of tryin’ to knock them down we should be supportin’ them.
Isn’t that what bein’ a family is all about?
We stick together. We support one another.
I hate to break it to you, but they’re both grown adults. ”
Well, I’ll be damned.
“That’s debatable,” Brew mutters.
“I’ve no issue with you claimin’ Nova,” Cash says. “But there is a moral code and rules Nova will have to follow if she’s gonna be part of this club as your ol’ lady.”
Luna snorts and Cash side eyes her. She rolls her lips and whispers, “Sorry.”
Tag rolls his eyes but kisses her on the back of the head, whispering something none of us can hear. So much for women not being allowed in the meeting room.
“We love each other,” I say. “We’ve only recently discovered all of this, but through our friendship and support of one another we fell in love. I didn’t mean for it to happen, but it just did. We don’t want to keep it a secret, so that’s why we’re here.”
“Aha, so you we’re sneakin’ around,” Brew grits. “I fuckin’ knew it.”
“I never lied. We weren’t doin’ anything back then. Like I said, we’ve only just realized it for ourselves, that’s the truth. Of course, we both knew how you’d take it, and that’s why we kept it to ourselves for as long as we could,” I explain.
“He has a point,” Haze admits. “We can be a little over bearin’ when it comes to Nova.”
“Overbearing?” Nova almost screeches. “You had me on lock down for six months when I showed up in New Orleans.”
“That was for the greater good,” Logan quickly points out.
“Yeah, you were in a bad way, Nova, don’t even pretend to deny it,” Brew huffs. “That’s the thanks we get for caring.”
I don’t know if it’s because Nova realizes she has to treat them like little kids and not infuriate Brew even more, but she moves forward, dropping her tone.
“I love you guys. You’re my family, but so is Sawyer.
He’s the one I want to be with, and you love him, too.
I know you do. So give me one good reason why you think we shouldn’t be together.
” She puts her hands on her hips and I’m tempted to yell ‘Go baby girl, go!’ but I refrain.
“Can’t argue with that,” Cash mumbles.
“I can’t imagine anyone more perfect for Nova than Sawyer,” Logan says, glaring at his brothers. “We trust him. We know he’d lay down his life if it came to it for any one of us, Nova included.”
“You’re right.” Haze palms the back of his head. “Should’ve seen the signs I knew were right in front of my face. Cocky little shit.”
I shrug sheepishly.
“Fine,” Brew says, then points a finger at me. “But you fuck this up and hurt her, don’t even think about skippin’ town. I’ll find you. You know how good I am at that.”
I move closer to Nova. “Not gonna do that. Home is where my heart is, and my heart is here.”
“So, we will have to vote on it, and when the other committee members are here, we’ll add to the vote,” Cash says. “All in favor.”
‘Aye’s’ are muttered around the room, and Luna — who has somehow managed to be quiet this whole time — leaps out of Tag’s arms to hug Nova and me.
“I’m so happy for you two!” Luna beams. “And this is gonna be so much fun! I’m totally in for trying to get the bad guys.”
“Not discussin’ that right now,” Tag barks.
“Don’t be a grouch, this is gonna be fine.” She pats Tag on the shoulder. “We can do this.”
“Woman,” he growls, but it doesn’t deter Luna. Nothing deters hurricane Luna.
“Don’t woman me. You know this is the quickest way to get what we need, even if you won’t admit it.”
I smirk at the way she says we.
He’s a lot like a bull ready to charge, but just gives her a glare. Luckily, Luna and the rest of us are used to him and barely give him a second glance.
Cash clears his throat. “If we’re done with all the mini speeches and micro managin’, I think we need to get back to the matter at hand, and as soon as we’ve put the vote to the table, I’ll let everyone know what the final decision is.”
Nova turns and hugs me. I glance at Brew over her shoulder and he makes a ‘I’m watching you’ motion with his fingers.
“Appreciate it, Cash,” I say.
“Remember, nothin’ about this gets said to anyone, got me?” Cash looks mainly at Nova, then Luna. “Don’t need you flappin’ your gums to the other women, you got me?”
Even Luna doesn’t sass the big boss, she just nods.
“Got it,” Nova says.
“Good.” Cash bangs the gavel down, then he gives me a chin lift. “She wantin’ a cut?”
Nova turns to him. “Of course.”
“See Jas, she’ll sort it out for you,” he says.
All of a sudden, Brew, Haze and Logan are crowded around us as the others get up to leave.
“So, you think you’re worthy of our little cousin?” Haze slaps me on the back hard.
“I don’t know about that,” I say with a cough. “But I’m damned sure gonna keep tryin’.”
“Yes, he is,” Nova puts in, her arms moving to wrap around my waist. “And don’t even think about any more threats. We’re adults and we can think for ourselves. Neither I, nor Sawyer, need your permission to date each other. You all need to get a grip.”
“Is that what we’re callin’ it?” Logan mutters.
Nova gives him a thump on the arm for his trouble. “I’m serious.”
“I’m growin’ to like the idea,” Haze tells us. “I mean, we know he’ll protect you, and we do like the guy, so it’s win-win.”
“So glad I’ve met with your approval.” I smile.
“We’ve known each other a while, and we’ve worked together on some pretty rough shit,” Brew says.
“I’ve seen Nova change since she got here.
She’s become her own woman — thinkin’ for herself and makin’ a new life here, one she can be proud of.
I don’t want to see that flame go out because you broke her heart. ”
We all gape at him. I don’t think Brew has said more than a few sentences his entire life. Well, maybe more to Erica, but he mainly just grunts.
“I won’t do that,” I promise. “You know me by now. You know I don’t fuck around with anyone. Maybe subconsciously I always knew it was Nova. I’ve never felt this way about anyone and I’m not gonna do anything except hope and pray every day I can be the man she always wanted.”
“You already are,” Nova coos, leaning her head on my chest.
“Pass me a bucket,” Haze laughs, running a hand over his face.
Logan squeezes my shoulder. “I told you they’d come around.”
“What do you mean by that?” Brew says, his attention suddenly on the eldest Dawon.
He gives me a wink. “Oh, nothin’.”
I think we may have had our first win.