“Told you, man. Lucky motherfuckers.”
The two of us get up and pull on some clothes while she showers. When Rhett storms in a few minutes later, he finds me resting against my headboard, trying to ignore the pain in my back, while Noble sits on the couch with his cell in his hands.
“Where is she?” he asks in panic, as if we’d ever actually let her out of our sight.
“Shower. She’s—”
“Look after River,” he demands, dragging his sister into the room and storming toward the bathroom. “Put some music on. My sister doesn’t need to hear this.”
“How about we go and find some breakfast?” I suggest, also not really wanting to sit here awkwardly while Rhett fucks Sadie in the shower.
“Sounds like a plan, man. I’m starving,” Noble says, jumping to his feet.
The scent of smoky bacon hits my nose the second we enter the hallway, and by the time we get down to the clubhouse where Dee and Rosita are serving up, my mouth is watering and my stomach is growling.
“Morning, kids,” Dee chimes as she starts loading up plates for us, and my respect ratchets for one of the women who holds this club together in a time of crisis “Sleep well?”
“As well as could be expected.”
“You doing okay?” she asks me, her eyes narrowing in concern.
“Yep, just a few scratches. Nothing to worry about. How’s everyone else?”
“The clubhouse is a sadder place this morning, Stray…” She trails off, swiping her eyes before pasting on a weak smile. “Jango and Cooper will be hugely missed.”
“That they will.”
“Stray,” a familiar deep voice booms. “Where the fuck is my daughter?” Ray steps up to me, looking between the two of us.
“Uh, she’s with Rhett, Prez. No need to get your panties in a twist.” I smile. “We’ve got her under control.”
He scoffs. “I very much doubt that. You’ve met my Sadie, right? Part of me isn’t surprised it takes three of you to handle her.”
I stare at him, dumbfounded. I guess that’s where Sadie gets her attitude from when shit gets hard—just laughs it all off and hopes for the best.
I guess it’s not all that different to how I handle stuff either.
“We’re all meeting in thirty,” he grumbles. “Got some big decisions to make today. Make sure Savage is ready to go. Pretty Boy, can you control Sadie while we meet?”
“Of course. I know how to handle your daughter, sir.”
Ray’s lips flatten. “I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not, son.”
He holds Pretty Boy’s eyes for a beat before spinning on his heels and demanding his main men stop stuffing their faces and follow him to Church.
30
Sadie
My dad and the guys are gone for what feels like forever. My leg jostles up and down as Wes sits with me, Quinn, and River, while the wives and girlfriends prepare yet another buffet table.
If there’s anything I’ve learned growing up in the club, it’s that no matter what is going on, bikers need the three F’s: food, fast rides, and fucking.
The world could be ending, and there’d still be time to ride hard, stuff your face with Rosita’s infamous taco salad, and fuck until you see stars.
It’s club life.
But I’m grateful to be here, surrounded by the only people who know what it’s like.
Growing up, I never considered becoming an old lady. I always wanted to be the first female member of the club. Princess turned queen. But now, I just want my family, the guys I care about, to make it out of this thing alive and unharmed.
We’ve already lost two good men; I can’t stand the thought that we might lose more before this thing is over.
It’s why I didn’t protest this morning when Dane and Wes woke me up with their lips and teeth and tongues. Or when Rhett joined me in the shower, making me come on his tongue before fucking me against the tiles. Life is precious. Even more so when you live by a different code to the rest of society.
“They’ll be okay,” Wes says, gently rubbing my knee. I flick my eyes to his and smile weakly.
“I know.”
Because anything else is simply not an option. But Dane has already been hurt twice. And it could have been him or Wes in Cooper and Jango’s places yesterday.
It could have been any of us.
A shiver runs through me, but then a commotion sounds down the hall, demanding my attention. Guys start filing into the room. The married ones go to their wives, hugging and kissing them, while the others break out a fresh bottle of whiskey.
I guess whatever was decided wasn’t good.
“Daddy!” I leap up when he appears ahead of Rhett and Dane.
“Come here, sweetheart.” He pulls me up and into his arms. “We got a lead, Sadie Ray. Ritz reckons he knows where Darren is hiding out. We roll out within the hour.”
Fear like I’ve never known clamps down on my heart like a vise.
“Ritz is going to ride with you?” I ask, because more guys mean better odds of catching Darren and his crew.
“Yeah, we’re going to wait for him and his guys to cross into town, and then we end this.”
I inhale sharply, my attention going to Rhett and Dane. They both look fierce, bloodlust shining in their eyes. My knees go weak at the knowledge that it’s all for me and our club. They’ll do whatever they need to do to make sure we’re safe.
To make sure I’m safe.
“Pitbull and Pacman are going to stay here with a couple of the other guys. Dee and Rosita know the drill. Nobody comes in or out until we’re back. River, come here, sweetheart.”
I step aside, letting him hug her. She looks terrified, her bottom lip wobbling as he whispers something to her. Nodding, she hugs my dad tight, and this time, I feel none of the jealousy I did before.
This is bigger than me or her or what my dad did with Julia. This is about our family. She and Rhett already lost their dad at the hands of the Reapers. I know she doesn’t want to lose him too.
“Come here, Riv,” I say to her, offering her my hand. She takes it and I wrap my arm around her. “It’ll be okay.”
River nods, too choked up to reply. She rejoins Jax, who looks as fierce as Rhett and Dane, and I know he’ll protect her with his life.
“Pretty Boy,” Dad says, and Wes shoots up. “I need you to do something for me.”
“Anything, sir.”
“I need you to watch out for my girls while we’re gone.”
“You have my word.”
“You ever handle a gun, kid?”
Wes's brows knit. “My dad and I used to go to the range, but it’s been a while. I’m probably rusty.”
“Rhett, Stray, find him a piece and take him out back to show him how it works.”
“Daddy, is that really necessary?” I balk.
“It’s okay,” Wes says. “I want to do this. I want to help.”
“Right answer.” Dad claps him on the shoulder. “I need to go handle some things, but when this is over, you and I need to sit down and talk.”
Wes nods, but I don’t miss the way his eyes flash with fear.