Chapter 18
Chapter
Eighteen
SKULL
Iglare at Hamish.
“What have you done?” I growl as Glitch walks over to Cowboy and hands him the baby.
“What I’ve had to. You’ve left me no choice.” I move Ivy beyond me and start to back us up towards my clinic.
“Hen, put my mask on.” I feel her hand leave my arm, but I don’t dare look back to see if she’s following directions.
“Just address the issue head-on and name me your successor. You have no heir. It’s just a technicality.” Hamish has never once asked for anything.
He took on my role without complaint, and it gave me the freedom to do with my life what I pleased. We both knew one day this day would come, and if I didn’t have my family to consider, I’d go out there and tell the whole of England and the bloody King himself to feck right off.
“Ivy?” I glance over my shoulder and find her face covered.
“Wait!” Seer says, rushing over to me with a cut in his hands.
“It’ll help her blend more. We’ll take care of the official declaration later.” I nod at my president and take the cut from him.
“Property of Skull?” Ivy reads it as I shake the leather out and open it so she can slip her arms into it.
“Aye, you are. Let’s go.” I look back at Hamish and shake my head.
“Don’t ya dare follow us. You have no idea the damage you’ve done.” His face turns stone cold.
“I’ll do what I must to ensure our family name.” For the first time ever, I’m looking at a man I no longer recognize.
“And I’ll protect my family with my life. Don’t you dare put them in jeopardy.” The words leave my mouth like the threat they are, and Hamish’s eyes fly from mine to Ivy, who is cradling her middle protectively.
“Wait!” My brother reaches for her, and I snap.
“Touch her, and I’ll bury you next to Father. You’ve done enough! Go back to Scotland.” I turn us away and head to the back door.
“This isn’t good,” Ivy whispers when the back alley behind the courtyard is a buzz of voices.
“No, Hen, it’s not. We’ll drive fast.” I help her with her helmet, and we mount my Harley.
“Need a hand with a distraction?” I turned to Mayhem and Nova, who were standing in the shadows watching the shit show the paparazzi were causing in the alley just beyond the privacy gate.
“Yes, what do you have in mind?” My question has the brothers exchanging looks.
“Strip,” Nova says as he starts taking off his clothes.
“How the bloody hell is an orgy going to help here?” Mayhem yells at his twin brother, who rolls his eyes.
“Skull, hand over your skirt,” Nova says, ignoring Mayhem.
“Kilt,” both Ivy and I say in unison.
“A match made in Scottish heaven. Come on, before your woman sees my dick, and you’ll want to kill me.” I curse and start undoing the pins holding my kilt in place.
“I’m giving both of you underwear for every major holiday. What the fuck is wrong with you?” Mayhem averts his eyes as Nova, and I switch clothes.
“Maybe you should try it so you aren’t so fucking uptight. There, we’re done.” Nova hands me his keys and takes mine.
“Kilt and Scottish flag blue bike go towards Jackson, Mississippi. You two go to my house. You aren’t allergic to cats, are you?” Nova asks Ivy, who shakes her head.
“Great, Simone knows you’re coming.” We get off my Harley, and he takes off, almost running over a few pedestrians, but the paparazzi take the bait.
Five minutes later, the coast is clear, and Mayhem follows us to Nova’s house, where Jester and Whip are waiting.
“Glitch is inside,” Whip says, stomping out a joint he just finished smoking.
“How bad?” I ask as I help Ivy into the house.
“Abel will be here in five hours.” Oh, that’s just fantastic.
We enter the house and find Simone holding one of her cats with an annoyed look on her face.
“Had I known this club would be so demanding, I would have let Maddox put in the extra room he wanted. Will my dining room forever be a command center?” She pets the orange cat rather aggressively as she says it.
“Sis, my brother is a massive drama queen, but when it comes to things this club needs, it’s best to just give him his way.” Mayhem kisses her temple and then backs away from her quickly.
“Wrong twin,” she shivers and walks into her kitchen, where the other cats surround her quickly.
“Are they going to eat her?” Ivy’s concerned voice makes me laugh.
“They would never. Would you like to hold one?” Simone offers Ivy the small white one, but she backs away.
“I can’t. I’m pregnant. Cats aren’t recommended.” The room grows quiet.
“Skull?” Mayhem arches a brow.
“Aye, we’ve got a bairn on the way. Yes, I’ve claimed them both. Now stop gawking.” I hug Ivy and kiss the top of her head.
“Have you ever heard of dating?” Whip says while he slaps my shoulder in a congratulatory manner.
“Overrated. When you know, you know.” I think back to her face that first day.
“Love at first sight. Ain’t that sweet. Wanna tell me why your face is all over the fucking news, your Earlship?” Abel’s voice sounds over the speaker system, and I glare at the room.
“Ya said he be here in five hours, not that he was currently on the feckin phone.” I curse some more as Ivy steps away from me and walks closer to the table.
“Abel, does he know where I am?” Her voice sounds so small and broken, but her posture is different.
She isn’t trying to curl up in a ball and hide. Instead, she looks ready to face whatever is coming, and I’ve never been more proud.
“NO honey, I don’t think so, but you need to stay hidden even more now. If one camera gets a good picture of you while your man’s brother is in town, causing problems, you will need to work fast. Just stay put until I get there. And Milton?” I turn towards Ivy before I answer him.
“Ya,” I growl as she walks back into my arms, making it easier for me to breathe again.
“You have an heir now. It changes things.” The line goes dead.
“Does someone want to clue us the fuck in? Heir? Earlship? What the fuck Skull?” Mayhem crosses his arms, waiting, and I sigh.
“Simone, can you put a kettle on? Sit down, I’ll explain everything.” It’s about bloody time they all know who I was born as and why I left it all behind.