Chapter 22 – Gabe
GABE
True to my word, I spent the entire night savoring every inch of my woman over and over again. I was impressed when she woke up at five a.m. to help Andi make Christmas breakfast for everyone.
I’m sitting at the table with some of my brothers, talking and drinking my morning coffee while watching the two women lay the spread of food out on the bar.
Kaylie’s squeal of excitement cuts through the chatter.
“He came! Santa came! I knew he would find me! Look Carter. Look Everly. Come see. Come see.”
Everyone turns to watch as she and Carter sprint to the Christmas tree. Mason and the other prospects spent several hours putting together bikes and stacking presents under the tree.
Everly comes to a halt at the foot of the hallway when she sees what has Kaylie so excited. She turns to Mason, who’s smiling from ear to ear, and mouths, “How did you?” Mason shrugs, then takes her by the hand and leads her to sit beside Kaylie.
I lift my cup of coffee and offer a nod of gratitude to Vincenzo, who lifts his cup in return.
“He’s never going to let you live this down, Pres.
” Hawk shakes his head beside me. He’s wearing a shiny green elf costume complete with tight-fitting butt-cut shorts, shiny red suspenders, and a red hat with bells dangling off the tip.
He’s even got green shoes with bells, like a real elf you see on television.
It’s his punishment for losing the bet at the Velvet Pearl.
When he thought he was going to have to surrender a night of submission, Hawk was convinced it would be something sexual in the bedroom.
Sadie, however, being the master manipulator that she is, explained how the bet was “One night of doing whatever the other asked in total submission. We never specified it had to be in the bedroom or for sex.”
Of course, the rest of us saw this coming that night. It’s why we all blew the deal for him in the first place. Not only did we get our women away from the dancers and back home, but we knew Sadie would make his ass pay for even thinking he should make the bet in the first place.
“Maybe not, but I’ll get some payback on your wife at least for getting the asshole involved without consulting me.” Hawk’s expression is now one of concern. To go against the president or behind his back is a huge offense within the club.
“What do you have in mind, Pres?” he asks.
“There’s a gift from me under the tree for Sadie. When she opens it, I want you to tell her it was the least I could do since you’ve been ordered to paddle her ass until she can’t sit comfortably for at least a week.” Hawk smiles.
“You want me to mete out her punishment?” He leans back, crossing his arms. “What did you get her?”
I lean back, matching his posture. “A butt pillow.” Hawk’s laughter booms through the room, drawing attention to our table. He’s still laughing when Sadie approaches, sitting herself down on his lap.
“What are you laughing at, elf-boy?” Sadie teases Hawk.
“Oh, thank you, Pres. You just made this whole getup I’m wearing worth it in the end.” Saidie’s eyes move between me and Hawk, clearly contemplating what we could be talking about but not knowing whether or not she should ask. She opts to keep her mouth shut.
“I’m fine, Declan. Stop fussing.”
Violet and Declan are seated on the couch watching and laughing as Carter inspects his new bike and the helmet Dec bought with stickers to match his own.
Violet groans and makes a face. She’s pale again this morning, and from the worried look on Declan’s face, he’s not happy about it.
“We need to get you to the doctor. I don’t give a shit about the snow. I’ll ask Parisi to borrow his rig with the plow and clear the streets myself if I have to,” Declan declares.
“Violet?” Mili calls. “Honey, have you eaten anything yet this morning?”
“Not yet.”
“Did you take those pills I gave you yet?” Mili continues her round of questions while taking a seat beside Violet on the couch. “Without food, they can make you feel nauseous. You have to take them with a bite of something.”
Violet nods.
“What pills?” Declan asks Mili. “You know what’s wrong with Violet? Why didn’t anyone tell me about any goddamn pills?” He’s getting upset. Linzie comes up behind me, placing her hands on my shoulders. I clasp hers in mine when I hear her mumble, “Uh oh.”
Violet sits up, placing her hand on Declan’s chest. “Baby, calm down. I’m fine. I promise. Mili checked me out yesterday and offered me some pills to help things along.” He still looks confused. Violet calls to Carter. “Carter, sweetie. Bring me Declan’s gift from me, would you please?”
“Here you go, Mama.” Carter hands her the box and stands close to his mother as they wait for Declan to open his gift.
“I don’t want to open my fucking gifts, Dove. I want to know what the hell is going on!” Declan demands, shaking the box in his hand.
“Baby, please. Just open it. I promise to explain once you do,” Violet pleads.
With a disgruntled grunt, Declan complies, and rips open the wrapping paper and then the box lid is dropped onto the floor.
Declan rummages through the tissue paper until he reaches something else.
Dragging a shirt out of the box, he holds it up facing himself.
He’s quiet for a moment, but we can all tell that whatever he’s looking at has him choked up.
“You’re sure?” he asks quietly. Violet nods.
Her eyes are glassy, but she’s smiling. Declan drops the shirt in the box, tosses both to the floor and then lifts his woman onto his lap, kissing her hard.
The room fills with catcalls and whistles.
When they finally come up for air, Carter is standing in front of them holding the shirt up and shouts, “We're having a baby!” The entire clubhouse fills with shouts of congratulations and squeals of joy.
The brothers take turns slapping Dec on the back in support. The women all hug Violet, laughing and teasing about how it’s about time he figured it out.
Linzie sits on my lap, her arms around my shoulders. She smiles up at me and says, “You knew, didn’t you?” I nod.
“I had my suspicions but didn’t want to spoil the surprise. Violet’s always wanted more kids, and Dec, well, he loves Carter, but he’s always hoped to have a kid of his own someday. It’s the perfect gift for them both.”
“There’s more,” Violet says sheepishly, tugging on the bottom of her shirt. Declan pulls her into him, cupping her face in his hands.
“More what? Is everything okay, Dove? You look scared,” he asks Violet.
She looks to Mili, who nudges her to speak. “I don’t know how to tell you this.”
“Just say it, Dove. Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it together.” Declan encourages.
Violet breathes. “We’re going to have twins.”
Declan looks like he’s ready to pass the fuck out. The room goes up in cheers once more, and Carter tackles his mama and Declan in a hug.
“Are you sure?” Declan asks Mili, looking paler and paler by the minute.
“Yes, Dec. The doctor confirmed it when I went in for my first visit.”
“Oh, fuck.” Declan grunts, pulling Violet into his chest for a hug. Carter is still clinging to both of them.
“Can I help name them?” Carter asks excitedly.
“Yes, of course, but I’m only a few months along, sweetheart. We have plenty of time to figure out their names.”
“All right!” Hawk calls out to the room. “Let’s get this show on the road! Declan, Vi, congratulations. Now, who wants their present next?”
“What the fuck are you wearing, Hawk?” Ghost asks, laughing.
It’s Sadie who answers for him. “He lost a bet, so he’s going to be Santa’s helper and pass out all the gifts in his sparkly new elf costume.”
“You know better than to make a bet with your woman, Hawk,” Cash teases. “Sadie can outsmart you every fucking time.”
“I must agree with your friend, Hawk. Sadie has proven to be wiser and more competent in several situations. Matteo was very impressed by her skills,” Vincenzo says, goading him.
Hawk lost his shit when he found out Matteo and Sadie partnered together and went undercover as a couple to help take down Cusenza.
“Fuck you, old man,” Hawk snipes.
“Hmm, Gabriel, again I must ask about the level of disrespect your men show me. You should really teach them what it means to fuck with the kingpin.” Vincenzo’s words are directed at me, but his glare is fixed on Hawk.
“Stop it, Vincenzo.” Mili chides. “It’s Christmas, and there are children present. You men can have your pissing contest elsewhere later.”
“Careful, Gattina,” Vincenzo admonishes. “I may not be able to do anything to Hawk for his disrespect, but you aren’t under the protection of the Kings. Your ass is directly under my supervision.” He raises a taunting brow. Mili audibly gasps.
“Well, hot damn.” Andi gasps, placing her hand against her chest. “Rich, hot, and domineering. Where do I get one like that?” she asks Linzie.
“I couldn’t tell you. Maybe try Mobsters R Us?” Linzie teases.
“Linzie, there’s one under here for you, babe,” Hawk calls out. I growl at him for calling her babe.
Asshole.
Hawk skips his happy jingle bell ass over to our table, setting her gift on the table in front of her. She tries to move off my lap, but I hold her to me. “Open it, baby.”
She looks at me, smiling, excitement flickering in her eyes. She tears through the tape, fighting hard not to tear up the paper.
“Oh, for shit’s sake,” Andi balks. “Tear the shit open.”
Linzie listens to her friend and rips the paper and the box open.
Her eyes slide to mine before the lid is completely off the box.
“Gabe,” she whispers. I nod, encouraging her to open it all the way.
She does, then grips the dark leather vest in her hands, lifting it up for everyone to see.
The women gasp. My men hold their celebration until they get the go-ahead from Linzie.
This is her moment to accept my claim or walk away.
“We just talked about this last night. How did you have time to get this made?” she asks, staring at the Ol’ Lady cut in awe.
Turning her chin in my hand, forcing her eyes to meet mine.
“I told you I knew you were mine a long time ago. I had the cut made before the shit went down with the Feds. I was just waiting for the opportune time to give it to you. After our conversation last night, I brought it out of the closet and had Trevor put it under the tree.”
“Trevor knew about this?”
I nod. “I made sure he was good with it before I asked you.”
Linzie’s eyes well with tears. She grabs my neck, hugging me tight and kissing along my jaw. I capture her mouth with mine, and the room erupts once more.
“You’re all mine now, baby. No going back from this.” She smiles, kissing me again.
“Did you see the name patch?” I ask.
“Doesn’t it just say Linzie?” She asks.
“Take a look.”
“Vixen?” she asks, laughing.
“You’ve earned the name.” I lean in, kissing below her ear and whisper, “Merry Christmas, my naughty little Vixen.”