Finding Me: Dominant Devils Book Three

by H. M. Stewart

  I watched as Romy walked to Avery taking her left hand to look at the ring Axle put there in the time the girls have been home. Axle looked to Ghost holding an emotional Izzy in the back of the room. He nodded to Ghost before addressing the group. “Prospects, Boomer, and Viking hang back here at the house. You get on the phone if anything seems out of place. The rest of you follow me. We’ve got a little more interrogating to do.”

  I was behind Axle when he stopped in front of Avery. “You good babe? I’m not sure how long I’ll be. Think maybe you should get some rest before our little monster wakes up in a few hours. I love ya, babe,” he said placing a kiss on her forehead. I turned away as she responded to the Prez’s show of affection. While I waited for them to finish their silent conversation my eyes sought of my own women. When my eyes locked on Bree she was now comforting Izzy. They were both sitting on the couch. Bree had her arms around Izzy while Izzy leaned her head on Bree’s shoulder. My girl must have known my eyes were on her because she looked up to look back at me. I was able to shoot her a quick wink, causing the smallest of smiles, before Axle tapped me on the shoulder to follow him outside.

  Blaze was pacing in the driveway like a caged animal. As soon as Axle stepped on the deck he laid into him. “I want in on trying to crack this bitch, Prez. She has to have known they would be going after my sister’s,” Blaze said.

  “She’s all yours, brother. Remember though we voted to leave her alive for Athena and Carrin to have a go at her if they choose to. Let’s go see what we can pull out of the cunt.” At the Axle’s words, we were on the move. Time to head out to the barn to see what the bitch had to say.

  Bree

  The somber mood of the house was quickly changed as soon as Axle mentioned planning a wedding. When the guys left, the women of the house moved to the kitchen for fresh coffee and to discuss all things wedding.

  “What’s wrong with you, woman? I haven’t seen you with a cup of coffee all day. You still not feeling well or what,” Madison directed towards a panicked looking Avery.

  “Pregnant women aren’t supposed to drink coffee dumbass. You girls will have to grab her some decaf the next time you make a supply run,” Tabby stated before Avery could answer. At her mother's words, Avery looked right at Romy with a freaked expression.

  “Oh, don’t be blaming Romy. I assume she knows being she went with you to the doctor today, but nobody told me anything. I knew it before we even left for California sweet daughter of mine,” Tabby announced with a smirk.

  “Hold the fuck up! You mean to tell me you’re pregnant, and you didn’t tell me! I’m wounded sweet-cheeks. That’s fucked up,” Trevor squealed in his diva's voice.

  Everyone stared at Avery waiting for her response. “Trevor, you really can be such a girl. I wasn’t keeping it from anyone I just had to make sure first and then break the news to my baby daddy. I managed to tell Axle about our little bundles right before the fire took all the attention. I honestly thought I would be going in to have my birth control shot renewed and have my medical files transferred when I went to the doctor with Layla. I soon found out they wouldn’t be giving me my shot because I’m pregnant with not just one but two little O’Sheas,” she told the room. “Axle knows but the rest of the guys don’t, and I expect each-and-every one of you to keep it that way. Ax should have the privilege of announcing to everyone he’s going to be a daddy. He hasn’t even seen the sonogram pictures yet. Before you ask, no you aren’t looking at them until he sees them first.”

  With tears in her eyes, Momma Bear made her way over to pull Avery in for a tight hug while chanting, “I’m going to be a mommom again” over and over and again.

  When Momma Bear finally released Avery we all took turns hugging and offering our congratulations. Hyde was the last one to approach her sister, “Well, little sister, it seems you’re finally getting everything you wanted. I’m so happy for you and for the fact that your home for good. I’ve been lost without you. Now all we’ve gotta do is get a wedding planned. If I know Axle, I’m sure he’ll be dragging you off to the courthouse in the morning. You at least have to give us a few weeks.”

  It was what sent the wedding planning into hyperdrive. At some point, Avery placed her phone in the middle of the table allowing an enthusiastic Ember to join in via face time. While the rest of us sat around throwing ideas about the wedding, Avery talked to Layla on her mother's phone. The consensus of the group was a quick but elegant wedding. I was informed that Axle would most definitely want Avery sharing his last name before the next additions to their family arrived. With little input from Avery, she seemed fine trusting the women of the family to take charge, the group decided on a three-month window. Giving Layla and Ben enough time to become acclimated to being parents and Avery wouldn’t be that big walking down the aisle. That would put the wedding sometime in August. It also meant that Madison would be here to see her brother marry the love of his life before hauling tail to California for school. I’m secretly hoping that with the wedding planning and Avery’s band family integrated with her club family Madison’s choice to move would go over smoothly.

  “Okay girls, if we’re having this wedding in August where the hell are we going to have it. I doubt we'll be able to book anything but the fire hall or the bar on this short notice. I know it’s a shotgun wedding so to speak but it doesn’t mean it’s gotta be trashy and thrown together either,” Hyde asked the group.

  “Why don’t we consider renting one of those huge tents? You know the ones you set up outside. There’s enough rough here for parking, the tent and maybe even an altar. If it's too hot, you can rent the tent with the sides and the big conditioning units to help cool it down. Plus, if you do it at dusk, it’ll be cooler, and we can string the twinkle light throughout the tent,” I said really getting into the planning myself.

  “That’s a great idea, Breezy. I’ll call first thing tomorrow and price them. I’ll see how much it is to rent it and then to buy one, too. It probably would be a good idea to have one on hand for future get-togethers. Hell, when they have the annual meeting of the clubs in September it would come in handy. I never thought of it before,” Madison explained.

  I smiled, feeling again like I was truly a part of the family. I tried not to let my thoughts wander too much from the task at hand. I know without a doubt that even if I wasn’t still living here in three months I would still be invited to the wedding. I’d even don the bartender duties if they need me to.

  By the time Avery was pulling us away, the group had decided on colors, the venue and most of the small details. We all agreed to meet tomorrow afternoon, along with the band members via video chat, to hash out the duties each one of us would take on to make this wedding happen. I gave each and every female a hug as the dispersed to their chosen sleeping stations. I stayed seated at the table looking out the window taking it all in. With everyone gone I was able to lose myself in my thoughts of wanting to belong to this. It’s weird but I keep feeling this strong pull to this family of misfits. It’s like the stars have aligned and placed me where I’m supposed to be for the rest of my life.

  I was thinking about how nice it would be to have a home here on the grounds. I’ve heard a few people talking about building their own homes throughout the compound. I’d love to have a log cabin buried somewhere in the woods, close to the falls. A home where Tank came home to me every night and Deisel would curl up and sleep on the front porch. A place where I would raise my babies, Tank’s babies, and grow old. Not sure how long I sat there staring out into the night with visions of my would be life dancing in my head before I could hear my mother’s voice breaking through. I knew she wasn’t here with me but I could hear her none the less. She was telling me how much of a disgrace I was to the family. How I’d never fit in with my own family, let alone the bunch of criminals and delinquents I wanted to belong to. I could feel my happiness cracking while a listen to the voice in my head. I was on the verge of crying when I heard another voice pull me back to
reality.

  Chapter12

  Avery

  After everyone went their separate ways for the night, I hung back to make sure the doors were locked and the lights off. I was just about to turn the lights off in the kitchen when I noticed Breeanna sitting at the table staring out the window in the dark of night. I waited to see any sign she knew I was in the room with her. Quickly I realized that I wasn’t the case. She seemed to jump when I spoke to her. “Hey girl, why are you still up here? You ought to head downstairs before everyone gets the best spot. When it comes to a soft spot to rest your head that pack of women will show no loyalty. It’s every woman for themselves,” I said trying to get a laugh out of her.

  Instead of laughter, it seemed as if I caused the dam to break. Breeanna began sobbing uncontrollably, and I hadn’t the slightest idea on how to comfort her. I walked over and pulled the chair out front as I took her hands in mine. I started rubbing small circles on the tops of her hand as I asked, “what’s wrong girl? You seemed so happy just a few minutes ago. What’s changed since then? If it was about the sleeping arrangements don’t worry, I give you permission to kick Trevor out of his spot. You can send him up here to sleep with the rest of the guys.”

  Breeanna was trying to get her sobs under control but, at least, my little remark about Trevor got a little smile out of her. “I’m sorry Avery. I thought I was the only one left up here. I didn’t realize you would still be up, and I surely don’t want to rain on your good news. I’ve just got a few things on my mind, and I’m not sure what to do about them.”

  “Honey, you’re not raining on my good time. Why don’t you try telling me what it is you have going through that gorgeous head of yours? I know it always helps me to get things out. Lord knows, Trevor and Romy have had to listen to me a lot over the last few months. It might be good to help someone else for a change. Go ahead girl let it out,” I said trying to coax her to talk to me. Breeanna is normally a quiet thing without being upset.

  “It’s nothing major, really it’s quite silly.”

  “It doesn’t seem silly if it has you this upset chickie. My mom always told me it takes a lot to make a strong woman cry and if she’s crying there’s always a truth behind the madness. So, go on and tell me what’s so silly that has you upset.”

  Breeanna sat looking me in the eyes like she was trying to decide if I was true or not. I know for a fact she always keeps herself very reserved around everyone. She’s not rude in any way, quite the opposite actually. She seems to always focus on everyone else’s happiness before her own. She never jumps in anything like the rest of us do without being invited unless it’s something to do with one of the kiddos. She’s always quick to offer any help with Tivie or Hunter without having to be asked but other than that she just hangs back with her puppy Diesel. I say puppy because it’s only six months old but, the damn dog is the size of a full-grown lab. That mastiff is big enough already for Hunter to put a saddle on to ride and, yet the puppy still thinks he’s a lap dog. At first, the constant drooling and chewing plucked my last nerve but, after watching the loveable dog play and interact with everyone, I’d have to say he’s growing on me. Both of them are, actually. I’m beginning to consider her, and the drooling wannabe lap dog as part of our family. Maybe that’s what this is about. Maybe she isn’t feeling included. I was about to ask her about it when she started to speak.

  “I’m not going to go into all the horrid details because we would be here until tomorrow this time but, I’ll give you the clipped version of what I ran away from.” Breezy takes a second to get her thoughts in order before continuing, “when I was little I was the apple of my father’s eye, but my mother was a totally different story. My earliest memories of my mother were those of her telling me how fat I was and how I was never going to land a respectable-southern-gentlemen that would fit into our family. My childhood consisted of diets, workout routines, and personal trainers. My mother wanted me to be a respectable size six at all times. I wasn’t allowed any junk food or even a soda. Heck, I was lucky to get fruit juice, and that was only when the family maid would sneak it for me. I spent many of nights with a bottle of water and two rice cakes.”

  “That’s fucking crazy! You are not fat Breezy, hell I’d love to have a little of what you have going on in the hips and ass department,” I tried to interject.

  “I know that now but, it took me a long time to come to grips with being a size ten and being comfortable in my own skin. I take after my grandmother on my father’s side, God rest her soul. She was the only one I ever really got any nurturing from, but she died of cancer when I was fifteen. It was then that I started taking a stand against my mother. Yeah, I still stuck to my diet and exercise while I was at home but, when I went to school my best friend would sneak me peanut butter crackers or a pop tart. When I went away to college, that’s when I started lashing out at my father too. He had always stood up to my mother about my size yet when it came to the career path I wanted to pursue he joined ‘team mom.' You see I wanted to take up journalism but, both my mother and father expected me to get my master’s in business. The first two years I was there, I managed to take the classes that would count for both degrees while I kept pushing for them to let me choose my own career. At the end of my sophomore year, I was on the dean’s list and had more than half of the credits needed to get my bachelor’s degree in either major.”

  “Holy shit girl, that’s fucking fantastic. Tell me they were proud of you, hell I’ve only known you a short time, but I can honestly say I’m proud of you girlie,” I told her honestly.

  “They weren’t exactly what I’d say was proud, it was more like I did what was expected of me. My parents would have accepted nothing less. Anyhow, it was the summer before my junior year of college, and I was just returning from the club, country club that is when I walked in on mother in the arms of one of my father’s most trusted friend. I got out of dodge quickly not wanting to have a confrontation with my mother, and I sure didn’t want to explain it to my father. That day I decided that I would find a way to do what I wanted to do, no matter what.”

  “That had to be something chick. I know there have been a few relationships around here over the years were the men have gotten caught cheating. I’m lucky enough to say that my parents have always been faithful to each other,” I added.

  “Yeah, I quickly found out that most of the couples around here are completely committed to each other. It’s one of the main things that drew me in,” Breeanna said.

  “I’ve got to ask, girl, how in the hell did you go living a life of luxury to waiting tables at the dinner and the bar? What sent you running?”

  “Well, when I went to register for my classes for my junior year my parents shot down my dreams yet again. I was at the point where I had to start taking classes pertaining to one major or the other so like the good little daughter I was supposed to be of course I took the path in business. The lack of attraction to the business field soon showed in my grades. A ‘C’ was the best I could manage. After a quick trip home for Thanksgiving break, I made my choice to run.”

  “What happened during that break from school that would send you running? Don’t be mad because I’m surely not judging. Hell, just look at the mess I’m still trying to clean up because I ran,” I questioned again.

  Breeanna went on to tell me how during her last break in college she went home to nothing but angry parents. They lectured and threatened that whole four days she was home apparently. Her father threatened that if she didn’t get her grades up and earn her degree in business that he would make sure she would do the next best thing to ensure her family legacy. Her crazy ass dad threatened to marry her off to the son of the man she caught her mother fucking around with. Before she left, with her parents thinking she was returning to school, she made a stop to drain her bank account and get the title for her car from the safety deposit box at the bank. Next thing she did was make her way to Nashville, where she picked up a P.O. box to use for an add
ress and then proceeded to trade her car in for what she said her parents would refer to as a downgrade at the first dealership she came to. She left the Mercedes behind with her cell phone in the cup holder and drove off in a new Chevrolet pickup. Using the card her dear old dad gave her for emergencies she decided to buy as many gift cards to Food Lion and Piggly Wiggly as she could, as well as all the fuel cards she could muster. She kept her cash for emergencies and had the gift cards to ensure she would have food and gas to get away. I soon found out that she only had roughly two thousand dollars’ cash when she left but, was able to get close to nine thousand dollars in gift cards before the credit card company made the call to her father for suspicious activity. With the cash, gift cards and new truck, she took off to a destination unknown.

  “Okay, so how did you end up here in Great Falls? It’s not that I’m not happy you did, I’m just curious why here? You could be in Key West or out in California soaking up the sun and, yet you chose here,” I said putting her on the spot.

  “This is where the silly came into play. I was making my way through South Carolina looking for a place to hold up for the night and a Piggly Wiggly to grab some grub to pack my little cooler with. I was planning on trying to make it to Texas to set up roots, but when I stepped into the Piggly Wiggly, I met not only Carrin and Brookes for the first time but also Happy and Tank. I had been on the road for almost a week by the time I ended up walking into the store in town. After a brief conversation with the group I was hooked,” she explained before I cut in.

  “Oh, my! So, you met Tank your first day in town, and it was love at first sight. Hot damn my boy must have charmed the pants off of you,” I said jokingly.

  Breeanna laughed a bit before crushing my thoughts. “I wish that were the case but, it was the total opposite. You’ve seen how the guys can be to outsiders. Happy and Tank weren’t rude per say, but they weren’t throwing out the welcome wagon either. Carrin ended up talking me into walking over to the diner to join them for dinner. Other than Olivia, my best friend in high school, I never really had any friends. So, when Carrin extended me the offer I jumped at it. I could tell the guys were a little hesitant but by the end of dinner everyone, but Tank was cutting up and carrying on. Happy found it hysterical that I didn’t use any foul language, which I must say is slowly but surely wearing off on me after almost three years at the bar.”