I shook my head. “We’re half siblings. He was born with my mother’s maiden name. I have my father’s and what became my mother’s married name,” I explained, fighting back the urge to add that neither name was anything to write home about as it turned out.
He nodded in understanding.
“Thank you for coming out,” I said, walking him to the door.
“Have a good day,” he returned, clasping my hand briefly before turning and heading out to his car.
I looked down at the envelope in my hand. “I’m almost afraid to open it,” I admitted quietly once we heard the banker’s car rumble off down the road.
Ax pulled me close to his body, hugging me tightly. “You know we don’t need it, right? I can take care of us. I will take care of us,” he spoke, his voice low and commanding.
I looked up at him. “I know.”
“All that time you struggled.” He swallowed against the anger I saw rising to the surface. “You could have been taken care of. You wouldn’t have had to work so damn hard.”
I shook my head, stopping him from going down that road. “You know what? It’s okay.” I shrugged, shocking us both with my response. “Was it hard? Hell yes. But I proved a lot to myself. I took care of me and Mad after being sheltered and coddled my whole life. I’m glad to know I have that in me.”
“You’re so fucking strong, baby,” he murmured reverently, pulling me close again and rubbing his hands up and down my back.
In the end, we finished breakfast, got Mad dressed and only on our way out the door did I open the envelope.
I studied the sum, realizing not for the first time how money and privilege had stifled me throughout my life. It had constrained me with expectation and pedigree. I’d be damned if I let the same thing happen now – not when I was finally free.
I didn’t want the life I knew in Hawthorne to change too much. It was shaping up beautifully as it was.
Chapter 8
It was my first time at the club since I’d arrived back in town. We walked in with coffees in hand and I found myself feeling comforted by the smell of leather, engine grease and men. My eyes swept the common space noting that not much had changed. The pool table still sat in the corner near the bar. The pictures documenting the club’s history still hung from the walls.
I smiled warmly as Cal, the club’s president and Cole’s father, wandered in from down the hall where they had a private meeting room and some other rooms whose purpose I didn’t know.
Nor did I really want to.
“Sophie,” he greeted with a grin that crinkled the edges of his beautiful blue eyes.
“Hi, Cal,” I smiled, accepting his brief hug.
“We’re glad to have you back,” he noted sincerely, sweeping a large hand affectionately over Maddox’s head. “No doubt who your daddy is,” Cal chuckled, looking down at Mad.
Axel made a noise of approval in his throat in response.
Cal looked to Axel. “Hank and Wes are here, in the back. The rest of the guys are en route. He cocked his head toward the hall in silent direction that they head that way.
“Sure, be right there,” Axel grunted before turning to me. “Sal’s bringing Kat to hang with you. I’ve got to brief the guys. You gonna be okay?”
“Fine,” I assured him.
Pride flickered on his face as he regarded me. “Good girl,” he replied, stooping to kiss me briefly. I was surprised at the display of affection and it must have shown on my face. “Gonna take your mouth anytime, anywhere, babe,” he assured me with a slow grin.
I nodded, liking the sound of that entirely too much.
It wasn’t long before Sal and Kat swept into the room. Her belly seemed to be getting bigger by the day, protruding like a little beach ball on her thin frame.
“You all right, birdie?” Sal asked, eyeing her with concern.
“Fine,” she sighed, sitting down on the couch with a huff.
“Hi, Soph,” he added, grasping my shoulder briefly.
“Hey, Sal.” I smiled as he swept a hand over Mad’s head of hair. All the guys seemed to do this with him. It was such a tender gesture from such badass men.
“You get a visit this morning?” I asked with a cocked brow.
“Yep, fucking shocked the shit out of me.” He shook his head, seeming stunned.
“I bet,” I smiled softly.
“Now we just gotta figure out why the fuck another club would be trying to get at you,” he growled. “That’s way more important than some unexpected cash.”
I nodded, watching him throw another concerned look to Kat before he stalked back to the offices.
Cole sauntered in not long after, followed by Mack, Tag and Xander.
“Where’s Ryker?” I asked Kat, referring to Axel’s younger brother.
“He’s not patched in yet so he and Jeb don’t get invited to these meetings,” she informed me.
“Patched in?” I asked with a tilt of my head.
“Jeb and Ry are still prospects. There’s a whole ceremony where they become officially part of the club. I think it might happen soon for Ry, not sure about Jeb.”
“But he got stabbed trying to protect you!” I exclaimed, surprised he wouldn’t be part of the club already. It was then I realized I hadn’t seen Jeb around since being back.
She nodded. “I know, but I guess there’s more to the story. I don’t know the details,” she shrugged.
I nodded, though I was still perplexed and went about setting up Mad’s Pack ‘N Play.
Kat kept me company while the guys met. We played with Maddox in the main room before taking him into the sunshine out back.
“You feeling okay?” I asked when I noticed how tired she looked.
“Yeah,” she nodded. “The doctor just discovered my iron is really low which is why I’ve been so tired. I should be feeling better soon. Of course, Sal is acting like I’ve been diagnosed with something terminal.” She rolled her eyes. “If he makes me another burger or tries to slip spinach into another smoothie, I’m going to throttle him.”
I tried to smother my laughter but nodded sympathetically. “I know he can be overprotective but I’m glad you have someone to take care of you,” I said.
Her eyes opened wide. “Oh, shit, Sophie, I didn’t even think about how you were alone. I must sound like an ungrateful bitch,” she lamented.
“Not at all!” I rushed to assure her. “I’m just glad you and my brother have each other.”
“Me, too.” She reached over and squeezed my hand briefly.
“So what’s all this about anyway?” she asked, cocking her head inside to where the guys were. “Sal didn’t want to share much. I think he was too pissed to talk about it.”
“Jill called me last night to say that some bikers broke into my old place. It seems as though they were Black Riders.”
“Oh, shit, Axel must be ready to blow a gasket,” she exclaimed when I was done.
“Just about,” I agreed. “Now with what we learned this morning, Axel seems worried my father is somehow connected which…oh crap,” I breathed, my eyes opening wide with realization.