“She can be a handful, like her mom, that’s why,” he told the ten-year old boy. “Why aren’t you playing with the others, Crux?”
Crux’s bushy brows didn’t move from his hard little expression he kept on Keira. “I think she wants to be free.”
“She’s fine,” Gavin assured him, seeing Keira was perfectly content with her blocks and books. He didn’t care for the way Rider’s son was constantly staring at his daughter anytime she was around. “Now, go on and play with the rest of the kids.” Reaper shooed him off with a wave of his hand.
“Whatever,” Crux grumbled, his eyes finally leaving Keira’s to give Gavin a look his father had given him many times before.
It took everything Gavin had to let that slide as he watched the boy drag his feet off.
Going back to Leah with her now empty bottle, he raised her onto his shoulder and began burping her. It was too late for him to realize his mistake, forgetting the burp bib on his shoulder to catch the spit up.
“Shit.” The white goo going down his shoulder had him grabbing some wipes.
“Need some help?” Ginny asked with a smile, taking Leah from him so he could clean himself up. “Gavin …” She suddenly paused. “Where’s Keira?”
“What do you mean?” he asked, wiping up the last of the spit. “She’s right ther—GODDAMMIT, KEIRA!”
The playpen was empty, and the leash that had been around her waist was now tied around the big bunny on the inside.
Instantly, his instincts kicked in. His eyes did a quick sweep of the area trying to find her. Viper and the brothers immediately started searching, while the women rounded the other children to keep them within sight. His heart was in his throat when he realized she wasn’t in Viper’s yard, and he started running down to the parking lot.
“God, please don’t do this to me. Please, God, don’t let her go to the road ….”
Seeing the road was empty, he looked up the side of the hill where the long flight of steps were, his eyes going wide when he saw Keira crawling up the top of the stone steps.
Keira went to stand. Seeing him below, she then started to squeal proudly. “I did it!” She jumped. “I did i—”
Even though Gavin had already taken off running the second his eyes saw her climbing, he held back his yell, not wanting to startle her into falling. Rider, at the end of the porch, came to the bannister and saw what was happening. He started running at the same time. Seeing Rider running startled Keira, and she started to tumble over.
Reaper heard Ginny scream behind him as he raced up the steps, expecting to see Keira come tumbling down the stone steps. Looking upward, he saw Crux take a flying leap off the porch to land on his feet, catching Keira as she fell forward. Reaper didn’t stop breathing, waiting for the two of them to come falling down at the force that Keira’s body hit the boy.
Crux planted his feet on the step as he managed to hold his balance, keeping the two of them from falling. Holding Keira tightly, Crux turned and started carrying her down the steps to meet him.
“Thank you,” he wheezed out, trying to get air back into his lungs, holding his arms out for Keira. Then he narrowed his eyes into slits when Crux didn’t appear to want to give him back his daughter.
“You’re welcome.” Crux shrugged after Gavin had to pry her out of his hands. “You should really keep a better eye on her next time.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he gritted through his teeth.
Rider’s son was clearly smart enough to start walking away.
Ginny tried her best not to laugh as she waited at the bottom of the steps with Leah. “I told you that wasn’t going to work.”
“No,” Gavin grumbled, this time to his wife, as he held Keira to him tightly, walking back down the steps that Viper should bulldoze. “The playpen and leash would work on a normal child. Just not yours.”
Ginny shook her head, still wearing a smile. “I wasn’t talking about the playpen.”
“Oh.” Gavin’s eyes went back to slits, watching Crux fist-bump the man who used to be the biggest manwhore in the club, understanding what Ginny meant. “I don’t give a flying flip”—he tried not to cuss around Keira, as she was starting to repeat words—“what your stars say. That boy is not ending up with my daughter. If I keep his as—butt away from her, he’ll get distracted by other girls, just like his father.”
“Gladiator”—Ginny reached up to touch his cheek softly, giving him a pitying look—“the stars don’t write themselves … destiny does. That’s one battle you’re not going to win.”
Epilogue
TWO
Six Months Later…
“Want another hit?”
Reaper took the tiny stub that Greer left for him, crossing one ankle over the other as he listened to Silas and Greer continue their arguing over Greer giving Silas his goat back that had escaped a week ago.
“I want her back, Greer. I drove to Tennessee to buy that goat two weeks ago. I’m not going back for another one. I’ll give you another one, but you can’t have Josie.”
“The kids are already attached to her. You should have made sure she was tied off good so she couldn’t take off.”
Silas narrowed his eyes on him. “Pretty damn convenient that she got loose when the boys and I went to town for lunch.”
“Are you accusing moi?”
“Yes!”
“That’s not a very cousining thing to say.”
“What should I say, then?”
“Cousin, since them youngin’s are attached, you should buy me another one.”
The sound of motorcycles could be heard in the night air. Turning in the canvas chair, Reaper saw a motorcycle pull up to Silas’s truck. When the light flicked off, he could see a shadowy figure coming toward them. He moved his hand away from his gun when Viper came within the glow of the campfire.
“I thought I would join you guys.” Viper’s voice was hesitant as he lifted what was in his hand. “I brought beer.”
The three men looked at Gavin for his reaction, leaving it to him whether Viper stayed or left.
Reaper held his hand out. “Give me one. I hope it’s colder than the ones Greer brought.”
“Why’s everyone busting my balls tonight?” Greer complained as he reached into his pocket to bring out his plastic baggie. Opening it, he took out another joint to light. “You sons of bitches don’t deserve the treat I’m going to give you tonight, but I’ll share anyway. It’s the cousin thing to do.” Lifting the joint, he took a hit before he started passing it around.
Reaper took a hit. “Damn, Greer, you’ve been holding out. This one is different.”
“Damn right. This is the one I only light on special occasions. We celebrating tonight, boys. I don’t have to bring the beers anymore, and I can tell the youngin’s they can keep Nan.”
“I didn’t say you could keep my goat!” Silas protested.
“The night’s still young. By the time this joint is finished, Nan will be the newest member of my family.”