Everlyn Chapter 19 #2
“Aksel always was a sneaky bastard, but I don’t know how he could hide an entire MC.
They have to come to town to stock up on supplies or socialize occasionally, I would think.
Some bikers came through town in singles, pairs, or small groups, but none wore club cuts, or, if they did, they were from other clubs.
Bone said they’ll keep their eyes open and ears to the ground to see if they find anything. ”
“Well, that sucks. What about the Albany chapter? Are they hidden like Aksel’s?” I asked.
“No, they’re easy to find. Icelander and Norse went up there yesterday.
It’s about a four-hour drive there. They said they only had to ask a few people and were pointed in the right direction.
They took a ride out, minus their cuts, and found it.
It sits on a piece of property outside of town.
It’s a rundown piece of shit place, according to them.
Fenrir is planning to poke around in that way he does.
We never do anything without preparation. ” Zephyr finished saying.
“I know I’m no fighter like you all are, but if there’s anything you can think of that I can do, please tell me. These kinds of things aren’t just on your shoulders. I’m part of the club and this family. I want to be treated like it,” I told him.
“Evie, you don’t know how much it means to hear you say that. And the rest of the club will love it. Speaking of loving it, are you ready to give your gift to them?”
I’d gotten so involved with speaking to the prospects, and now Zephyr, I’d momentarily forgotten.
“Oh yeah, let’s do it. I hope they like them.”
Together, we got up, and I went to find the bag I’d stashed. It was over in the kitchen. As I got it, Zephyr worked to get their attention.
“Hey, everyone, can I have your attention for a few minutes?”
He waited for everyone to get quiet. As if ordered to do so, they all moved to sit at the large table that seated all of them.
It was where they liked to have a communal meal.
That would make it easy to pass out the bells.
Each bell had come in a small black velvet bag with drawstrings. When they were seated, he continued.
“Alright, I’m turning this over to Everlyn. Elskling, it’s all yours,” he said, then stepped back, leaving me to face the long table of curious faces. It was a good thing I didn’t get nervous in front of crowds.
“Thank you, I promise this won’t take long.
I want to say thank you to everyone for taking me into your club and giving me family.
I’ve had only Allegra and Jeremiah for years.
And now losing him has been a terrible blow.
However, meeting Zephyr and then the rest of you has helped to fill that gaping void, so I thank you.
“Now, to show you how much I already care for all of you, and to help protect you, I got everyone a tiny something that I hope you like and accept in the spirit that it is given.”
Not delaying any longer, I started with Raider and then moved down the table, handing out the bags. They all said thank you or nodded, but no one opened them until everyone had one. Then, as if by cue, they pulled the drawstrings. As they exclaimed over the bells, I had to add something.
“I learned of the gremlin bell legend when I was shopping with Slayer and Spoiler at the rally. I saw them and this one in particular, and thought of all of you. I took the vendor’s card and placed the order online while we were still there.
They shipped out the next day. Although they were probably wondering why I needed so many. ”
Thor and Sea Rover were seated with them, checking out the bells and grinning.
“Everlyn, these are wonderful. Thank you. To receive a gift, especially one of protection, is a very Viking thing to do, like your bracelet and necklace. Thank you so much. We have something that is in process for you that we’ll be presenting soon, so you know how fully you’ve been made family,” Raider announced.
“Then I look forward to seeing it. I hope these run off all the road gremlins.”
There were loud cheers, and then one by one, they came to me, insisting on hugs and placing kisses on my cheeks. Everyone appeared to like them. As Harbinger thanked me, he had to make a remark.
“Look, even more reason to take her and run.”
“That might not be so simple. You have competition, and it isn’t me,” Zephyr replied.
Harbinger narrowed his eyes. “Who do I need to kill?”
“That would be Sea Rover and Thor. They threatened to take her not long ago after we got out of Thing,” was the answer he got.
Their silliness made me laugh, and others, hearing us, egged it on, drawing the prospects and Harbinger into a comical verbal battle that left me in tears and my heart light as a feather.
?
It was Monday again, and I was back to work. As usual, the weekend passed too quickly as I spent most of it with Zephyr and the club. The last time Allegra came over to the compound, she helped me decorate the house for Christmas. There was no use doing mine when I was never there.
I discovered the club hadn’t been big into the holiday.
I understood their heritage was in the old gods rather than Christianity.
And while they were willing to concede God as real, he’s merely another god to them, not the only one.
They still prayed to Odin and the other Norse gods, which I truthfully didn’t care about.
However, they knew that Christmas was a big deal to me.
Jeremiah had made it so, and so had my mom before him.
I was encouraged to decorate wherever I wanted, including the clubhouse.
The only thing I had to do was ask for help and direct them.
Thor and Sea Rover turned out to be a massive help.
Since I couldn’t allow Allegra into the clubhouse, I got her to decorate Zephyr’s place with me.
She loved the holidays as much as I did.
She planned to return this upcoming Saturday so we could hang out and wrap gifts together.
She adored the house, and when Zephyr was busy outside, she told me to move my ass in and never leave.
I assured her I was contemplating when it would be best to move.
Zephyr had hinted about it more than once.
I decided to wait until after New Year’s and do it in January after the holiday rush.
Today, I didn’t bother going to the office first. I went straight to the worksite. Zephyr had work to do first thing. Everyone had a packed day. I assured him I could handle it. He made me swear that if Bishop showed his face, I would let him know immediately. I assured him I would.
Liam and I were walking the site, checking on what had been done and what hadn’t.
The workers had been working their asses off to resolve this project.
The city council had been quiet, and so had Bishop.
I kept hoping that was a positive sign. Martin was happy.
By the end of this week, we could call the job finished and move on.
Everyone was more than ready to do that.
We’d been at it an hour when the sound of a loud engine coming up the dirt road to the site was heard.
Whoever it was seemed to be in a hurry, judging by the sounds of the engine.
We turned to watch the road. There was a curve as it came out of the trees.
When the vehicle popped around it, I groaned.
I recognized the car. It was Bishop Reeves’s fancy sports car.
“Liam, I’ll handle him. You keep everyone on track. We’re not allowing Bishop to disrupt our day,” I muttered.
“Got it, but I’ll stick close by just in case. He’s not someone I trust. Whatever you do, don’t go into the trailer alone with the bastard. I’ve heard unsavory things about how he treats women,” Liam warned.
I nodded and said, “I won’t.”
I said it as I removed my cell from my pocket and found Zephyr’s name. I had only a few moments, so I sent him a short message instead of calling.
Me: Bishop here. Just arriving.
As I stood there, making Bishop come to me, I thought of what else I’d done this morning before coming here. It was as if I knew the dumbass would come today. My cell buzzed in my hand. I glanced down at the message.
Zephyr: Stay calm. Coming. You know what to do.
Me: (thumbs-up emoji).
Bishop came storming across the mud toward me in his spotless suit, wearing those ridiculous dress shoes he seemed to favor. When would he learn that wasn’t what you wore to a work location like this? Clearly, never. It was a miracle he found his way to work and home every day.
“What’s the idea of letting me trek all the way to you? This fucking mud is ruining my Italian shoes. These cost hundreds of dollars. I should make you pay for them,” he growled.
“I’m working, and I don’t have time to traipse over to you.
You knew where you were coming. We have mud.
That’s what happens when one mixes dirt with water.
And since this entire area is nothing but dirt, and it rained last night, one would assume an intelligent person wouldn’t wear those shoes or dress in a suit when they planned to visit such a site,” I replied.
I kept my tone calm and pleasant. I watched his face turn beet red as my words, and the underlying condescension, hit him.
“Don’t take that tone with me,” he snapped.
“What tone? I’m simply explaining my worksite’s specifications,” I said back cheerfully.
My hands rested on my hips. He might think it was due to indignation, but it was so that my hands were close to my friend, not that I thought he’d try anything with so many witnesses, but one couldn’t be too careful.
“You know what tone. Stop with the stupid game, Everlyn. I don’t have time for it. I want to talk to you. Let’s go into the trailer,” he demanded.
Without waiting to see if I agreed, Bishop turned his back to me and began heading toward the trailer. He walked approximately ten feet before something alerted him to the fact that I wasn’t following. He whipped around to glare at me.