Chapter 21
Street accompanied Rosa proudly to the next cookout.
He’d brought his Little girl’s favorite treats, deviled eggs.
She walked into the group with an entirely different attitude than she had those first few days in the Devil Daddies’ compound.
Her shoulders were back, and her lips curved in a big grin as she greeted everyone.
“Nice hairdo, Street. You’re going to start a fashion trend,” Vex teased him as he eyed the pink ribbons Rosa had tied into his hair.
“Daddy, I love them. Can I have ribbons next time?” Angel asked, dancing eagerly at Vex’s side.
“Of course you can, Baby girl.”
“Daddy? Can I fix your hair too?” Angel asked.
Street watched Angel bat her pretty eyes at Vex and predicted Vex would crumble in seconds. He grinned with delight when Vex met Street’s gaze and hissed out of the corner of his mouth. “I’m never going to forget this started with you.”
Plastering a smile on his face, Vex turned to the sweet woman in front of him. “Of course, Angel. But only if we can match like Street and Rosa do.”
“Perfect, Daddy!” Angel ran over to tell Rosa. The two women squealed and bounced around in a joyful circle.
“Dudes.” Razor shook his head at them both and headed for Honey as she made her way slowly toward him.
“Should I text Scythe and warn him?” Street asked Vex.
“Too late,” Vex said, nodding at Winnie, who raced to Rosa’s side to ooh and aah over the ribbons that streamed down the length of her hair.
As they watched, Rosa pointed proudly at her Daddy.
Winnie’s mouth rounded into a circle before she raced to Scythe as he carried a crockpot toward the food table.
“Scythe brought us nacho cheese dip,” Vex said.
“I’m going to be lucky if I’m not wearing that hot concoction by the end of the night when Scythe figures out what’s happening,” Street said, grinning as Scythe’s gaze followed Winnie’s wild gesture toward him. He lifted a hand to wave and watched Scythe’s eyes close for a good four seconds.
“You might need this,” Lucien growled, handing Street and Vex bottles of beer as he juggled his own.
“We need to find your Little, Lucien,” Street told him.
For all the ribbing going on, each of the Devil Daddies would proudly wear matching outfits and ribbons to make their Little girls happy.
Once he’d understood how important the coordination was to Rosa, Street had planned several ways they could mirror each other.
He was tickled to have the world know they were together.
Rosa’s excited chatter had shown him how important this was to her.
“If I’m ever that lucky,” Lucien said, his tone more world-weary than Street had ever heard from the MC president.
“She’ll reveal herself,” Vex said with confidence. “Tell me. When does the next shipment come in?”
“Three AM. Enjoy one beer. I’m going to need everyone clearheaded tomorrow.”
Street and the guys nodded. They’d savor the malty brew and then switch to a soft drink. Street especially didn’t want to move the shifting cargo he’d taken to Warehouse Five impaired.
“Daddy, would you set up the badminton net? We want to play,” Angel called to Vex.
Razor and Scythe accompanied Vex to help, leaving Street alone with Lucien. Street seized the opportunity alone with Lucien to ask the question that had banged around in his mind since he’d moved those storage containers. “I shouldn’t pry….”
“But you’re going to anyway, right?” Lucien said, leveling a look at Street that held every bit of the intimidating force that seeped into the MC president’s presence.
“I am. What’s in those containers?”
“Once you know, you open yourself up to consequences. Now, you can claim you’re simply doing your job.”
“Consequences like jail time?” Street asked as he did his best not to stare at Lucien’s facial tattoos. Even to his uneducated status in criminal activity, Street could figure out some, maybe all, of the symbols etched into Lucien’s skin held a prison meaning.
“Probably not. But subsequent actions could lead you there,” Lucien said, studying him.
“Forget I asked. I just found my Little girl. I don’t want to lose her.”
“Good choice. Follow my directions and you’ll have plausible deniability.”
Fuck! Street nodded his understanding. Lucien was protecting him while doing something vital. Street would have to squash his natural curiosity. That was going to be difficult.
Rosa’s delighted giggles made him glance over at the game his MC brothers had helped set up.
Armed with rackets, the Little girls had divided up into two.
Rosa, Angel, and Caroline battled Honey and Winnie with Razor added to their team to even the numbers.
Rosa danced in a circle before serving. On the other side, Honey, Winnie, and Razor had to twirl like ballerinas on their tiptoes before returning the birdie.
“Those are interesting rules,” Lucien said without changing his expression one bit.
Street laughed and excused himself. “I think I need to get into this game.” He took two steps away and turned to Lucien. “Thanks.”
Lucien nodded once and headed over to speak with another group. Street wondered who protected Lucien. The biggest target their enemies had rested on the president’s shoulders. He sent his hopes out to the universe as he walked over to grab a racket.
Please let Lucien find his special Little girl.
Street focused on his Little girl as she ran to hug him. “Can I be on your team, Dinorosa?”
“Of course. We’re matchy-matchy. We can’t be on separate teams! Besides, I love you, Daddy.”
“I love you, Rosa.” Street cupped her cheek and pressed a kiss to her lips.
“Hey! There’s no kissing in badminton,” Vex called across the net.
Street flipped him off and exchanged another long smooch with Rosa. When he lifted his head, everyone had taken a kiss break. He whispered into his Little girl’s ear, “Quick, go serve the birdie.”
With a stunning grin, she snatched up the white birdie, pirouetted, and smacked it over the net to hit Razor’s shoulder. “One for me!” Rosa called, as Razor looked up.
Giggles filled the air. Street sent out a wish for this much happiness for his Little girl and himself for the rest of their lives. She deserved it.
Street’s job was to ready the forklift and wait at the warehouse as the other members of the Devil Daddies rode to meet the shipment at the docks. Razor lounged against the heavy machine next to him as the locator got closer. Street didn’t ask. Razor’s presence indicated Lucien expected a battle.
A voice clip popped up in the chat for the Devil Daddies. Razor pressed the play button first.
Code Red.
Wraith’s growly voice was tense. In all the skirmishes Street had witnessed, he’d never heard the big man’s tone sound like that. Razor didn’t hesitate. He ran to the health center and returned with two large bags of emergency supplies.
“Go grab the stretchers for me. They’re in the main warehouse in the supply closet,” Razor ordered, watching his phone for any more updates.
Street took off without asking questions. As he returned, the rumble of trucks and motorcycles reached his ears, growing louder at a fast rate. He dropped the stretchers next to Razor and headed for the gates. They were coming in hot.
The enormous metal barrier rattled, moving slowly on the motorized track.
The ten-foot-tall solid panels weighed a ton and provided secure protection for those inside, but they needed to allow the MC to enter.
As he reached the control center, Street spotted Gamble holding the switch open to speed it across the drive.
A distinctive horn combination grabbed Street’s attention.
“Gamble, do you hear that? Only open a gap as wide as the trucks. Reverse the lever as soon as the last one passes. Someone is chasing them.”
Gamble waved a hand to signal Street that he understood.
Whoever was chasing them might squeeze into the compound if they were close.
He’d need to help the machinery. Street scanned the area, looking for something to use as armor.
He spotted several industrial barrels off to the side.
Dashing to that spot, he wrapped his arms around one and hoisted the heavy container up several inches to clear the ground.
Lugging the barrel to the gate, he waited where Gamble had halted the barrier.
The first flatbed raced in with Fury at the wheel. A second with Pirate and the third sped in so close together the long vehicles seemed glued together. Street couldn’t even identify the driver of the last one in the millisecond gap. The bikes roared into the warehouse drive.
“Close it, Gamble,” Street yelled, grabbing the barrel with one arm and wrapping his left hand around the gate’s edge.
Hunching over, Street’s heart pounded in his chest as he concealed as much of his body behind the container, but his arms and feet were exposed.
He pulled with all his might, speeding up the barrier’s pace.
Pings sounded around him. Gunfire. Several thudded into the barrel, almost knocking him down.
“Now! Get the gate locked now!” Lucien roared as he skillfully maneuvered his massive bike through the small opening. The MC President had taken his customary position at the rear of the group.
Street heaved, straining his muscles, as he hunched behind the barrel.
The gate bucked in his hand. Street didn’t let go.
He spotted the front tire of a motorcycle wedged in the last few inches of the gap.
The biker gunned the engine, making the wheels smoke and grinding the metal of the front fender against the metal.
Street kicked the wheel with his steel-toed boot.
A sting and wetness told him the bastard had shot his foot.
Fortunately for Street, the attacking biker’s move to aim his gun had interrupted him from accelerating.
The bike rolled backward, and the gate snapped closed.