by Faith Gibson
“What if he is?” Sixx asked. Something in his gut told him he was on the right wavelength. “What if this hacker was the one who set up Katherine in the first place, and now he’s giving Julian breathing room to work the puzzle out.”
“An enemy with a conscience?” Nik asked. “That’d be a first.”
“There’s been no movement from Kallisto. When we released her, she traveled back to the compound, where she’s been ever since. I’ve spoken to Xavier again. He and Athena are secretly meeting with the Kings they feel they can trust. Once they’ve filled them in, we’re going to gather to discuss Alistair. There’s never been a Council meeting to discuss removing a King from power. Never has one gotten so out of hand it came down to a ruling. If the Council can’t or won’t come to a decision, those of us opposed to war will have to decide how to handle the situation.” Rafael downed his beer before continuing. “I will not allow my uncle to continue on this path he’s on. I will take his head before he harms another one of our mates.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Cousin,” Julian said as he rounded the corner of the house. “We’ve all seen firsthand how deceptive he is. We don’t see him coming. We have no idea how he knows who among us have found mates. I have no doubt Katherine is sitting in prison because she is my mate, even though I’ve kept my distance. Nothing I’ve done these past few months would indicate she means anything to me.”
“Is that why you haven’t visited her in the Pen?” Gregor asked.
“Yes. I refuse to give the bastard any more reason to target her. Victoria’s doing all she can to keep the Feds away, but I’m running out of time,” Julian seethed. They all knew he was taking the situation with Katherine personally. He was taking everything that happened to any mate personally. Whoever was getting the best of him was an affront to his genius, not to mention his Gargoyle loyalty. “Now, can we talk about something much more pleasant, like babies?” Julian held out his hand, and Sixx handed over the spatula. Julian needed to keep busy, whether it was tapping away at a keyboard or flipping steaks.
“Or loud as fuck rock concerts!” Tessa boomed as she led the parade of mates out the back door. Each female found their respective Gargoyle, and the patio was soon overflowing.
When Rae reached Sixx, she was smiling. Not any smile, but the smile of a woman surrounded by friends. He knew the feeling well, and was thrilled to have helped her find it again. She had spent so many years alone, hiding from the world because of what she was. Now, Rae no longer had to hide. She had the support of women who were in the same boat she was. It didn’t hurt that Tessa and Sophia had given them all their own prosthetics to wear if they ever wanted to hide in plain sight.
“When will Desi be here?” Tessa asked.
Trevor answered, “Their bus gets into town around three.”
“Thanks for the update, geek boy. I was talking to Sixx,” Tessa said and play punched him on the arm.
Sixx, along with everyone else, everyone except Julian, laughed at the banter between Tessa and Trevor. “He’s right. I have tickets for anyone who wants to go as well as all-access passes for everyone to get backstage. After we eat, we can head down to the arena.” Sixx and Rae had been to two concerts already. Rae had worn her mask, and Sixx had done his best to not look like his son. So far, it had worked.
After everyone got their bellies full, those who were going to the show piled in their various vehicles and headed downtown. Sixx and Rae stood with their family on the floor in front of the stage. Everyone except Jasper and Trevor. They were taking full advantage of the all-access passes and were hanging out with Desi and the guys backstage. Desi had set it up so that they could get in an hour before the crowds. “Hey!” Simone said as she made her way to where they were standing. Sixx made the introductions to those who had yet to meet his son’s mate.
“How are you doing, sweetheart?” Rae asked their daughter-in-law. She and Desi had gotten married in a simple ceremony on the beach a week after they were mated.
“I’m great! The opening band asked for me specifically to help with their set design. I called a few friends, and we got it put together fairly quickly. You’ll get to see it tonight.”
“That’s wonderful. How’s Desi? Anymore blackouts?” Sixx asked. When they found out what happened during the mating, they had been worried that the poison was still affecting Desi.
“Not since the first time. Dr. Mercato is keeping close tabs on him, but so far his bloodwork has come back normal every time. Oh, look,” she said and pointed to the stage. Trevor, Travis, and Jasper were helping the roadies move equipment around.
“Morgue man’s living the dream,” Tessa said, shaking her head.
Seers For Sages opened the show, and Sixx had to admit, the new set was amazing. He was proud of Simone for being the one to spearhead the design. The band played their set, and then it was time for Cyanide Sweetness. Jasper and Trevor remained backstage while Travis came down front to stand with Frey and Matthew. Trevor’s brother had physically recovered from his run-in with Theron, but mentally he was still trying to get over the loss of his girlfriend. Another casualty in Alistair’s war on their Clan. Frey had taken Travis under his wing, and the Gargoyle was both mentor and friend to the young man.
Finally, it was time for Desi and the band to take the stage. Sixx loved live music. He’d seen countless concerts over his many years, but none compared to the ones where Desi and his friends were the stars. The lights dimmed, and his own son walked out onto the stage, taking his place in front of the band. With the bass drum pounding, the lights came on, and Desi threw his arms open wide, commanding the crowd’s attention. Not one pair of eyes in the whole arena dared look anywhere other than at the man in the middle of the spotlight. In that moment, he wasn’t Desi, Sixx and Rae’s son or Simone’s mate. He was Desmond Rothchild, Vampire Rock God. Desi flashed his fangs and the crowd went wild.
For over an hour, Sixx and Rae, along with their family, rocked out to the hard pounding sounds of Cyanide Sweetness. Desi sang, growled, chanted, and mesmerized. Tyson shredded. Zach thrummed, and Brett beat the skins. Together, the four childhood friends rocked the fucking house down. After two encores, the house lights came up, and everyone in their family was ushered backstage. Sixx remained hidden while Desi did a shortened meet and greet. Sixx’s appearance on the news a few months ago had died down, overshadowed by Desi’s abduction. That, too, was old news now that the band was back on the road entertaining the masses night after night.
The band was staying with Desi and Simone at Sixx and Rae’s home. Sixx had convinced Jasper and Trevor to give them the first night alone with the kids if they promised to have a get-together the next day. The pout on Trevor’s face had been hilarious until Jasper promised to keep him otherwise occupied.
The following morning, random people began showing up earlier than expected. Sixx opened the door to an excited Matthew, the whirlwind that was his little sister, Amelia, and an apologetic Frey and Abbi. “Good morning. I know we’re early, but I’ll cook breakfast for everyone to make up for it,” Abbi offered sheepishly. Matthew was an even bigger fan of Desi’s than Trevor and Jasper were. He had been the first one to alert Sixx to the fact he had a son in the world. If it weren’t for Matthew, none of them would be having this little get-together anyway. Sixx smiled and welcomed them in.
Before he got the door closed, the sound of motorcycles rumbling down the driveway met his ears. Sixx was glad he’d already had his shower since it seemed their party was getting started a few hours early. He called out to his mate, “Rae, company’s here.”
His mate, looking less like a mother and more like a rock star groupie, bounced down the stairs dressed in tattered jeans and a worn out Mötley Crüe t-shirt. She smiled when she saw Abbi and Amelia. Frey and Matthew had found the band, who were already awake and hanging out in the game room. Simone peered around the doorway from the kitchen and said, “I guess I need to make more coffee?”
“Defi
nitely,” Sixx said. He returned to the front door where Tessa, Gregor, and Lorenzo were parking their Harleys. “Come on in.” Jasper and Trevor arrived next, and Travis wasn’t far behind. Dante surprised Sixx when he, Isabelle, and Connor showed up. Pretty soon, the house was full and the cookout turned into breakfast. Sixx stood back while everyone talked, laughed, and ate. The three guys from the band were welcomed into the Clan and treated like family.
Connor being Connor had drawings in his hand. At Christmas, he had presented every member of their Clan with a picture of some future event. Thinking back, Sixx had found his present from Connor odd. It was a picture of two women, shown from behind. They were sitting down, side by side with their heads touching. He now knew those two women were Rae and Simone. As Connor handed pictures to both of the women, the room got quiet. The Gargoyles and their mates knew something big was happening. Those who had never met the boy or heard his story sat quietly, wondering what was going on. Rae and Simone studied their drawing, looked at the other woman’s picture, then at each other.
“Thank you, Connor,” Rae said. Desi went to Simone and pulled the drawing from her hand while Sixx did the same thing with Rae. Sixx stared at the picture before finding Rae’s smiling eyes. “I guess we’re making babies,” she announced. Sixx picked Rae up and swirled her around.
“Woohoo! We’re making babies!” Sixx shouted. When he didn’t release Rae, she wrapped her legs around his waist. She cocked her eyebrow when he continued grinning like an idiot. “What?” he asked.
“Don’t you want to know what was on Simone’s photo?” Rae asked, pointing to their son who was doing a great imitation of his father. “We’re not the only ones making babies?” When she grinned, Sixx carried Rae over to where their son and his mate were looking at a drawing of a beautiful little boy.
The four of them hugged and the women cried. Pretty soon, the whole room was passing around the drawings, and Isabelle was explaining Connor’s visions to the guys from the band. The cookout that turned into breakfast turned into an all day celebration. The doors were opened, and the party spilled out onto the deck and into the back yard. Not only was Sixx going to be a father again, but he and Rae were going to be grandparents. First Kaya and Sophia, now Rae and Simone were bringing life into the Stone Society Clan. Sixx knew these were just the first of many children that would be added to the family. He would do whatever it took to make sure all these children were safe and secure.
Sixx had been formulating a plan ever since Nikolas suggested Alistair’s computer genius was possibly toying with Julian. What if this was just a game to him? Sixx had a plan. One that would draw out the hacker. If his gut was right, he and Julian would set a trap for the unknown man. One that would help destroy Alistair Gianopoulos once and for all. He would worry about that tomorrow. Today was a day for celebrating life.
Sixx couldn’t help the smile that was plastered to his face. Desi was surrounded by the friends he’d grown up with and the new ones he’d made recently. And there on the edge of the deck at the steps sat Rae and Simone. Their heads were touching, just like in the drawing.
This was what it was all about. Living. Loving. Making babies.
Coming Soon
Sin
Stone Society Book 8
Finding Me
The Music Within Book 3
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Playlist
Love Bites – Def Leppard
Is This Love – Whitesnake
Satellite – Collective Soul
Big Machine – Goo Goo Dolls
Crow and the Butterfly – Shinedown
Come Again – Damn Yankees
Home Sweet Home – Motley Crue
Indestructible - Disturbed
Kickstart My Heart – Motley Crue
Welcome to the Family – Avenged Sevenfold
Primal Scream – Motley Crue
Cast of Characters
http://www.faithgibsonauthor.com/stone-society-family-tree.html
About the Author
Faith Gibson is a multi-genre author who lives outside Nashville, Tennessee with the love of her life, and her four-legged best friends. She strongly believes that love is love, and there's not enough love in the world.
She began writing in high school and over the years, penned many stories and poems. When her dreams continued to get crazier than the one before, she decided to keep a dream journal. Many of these night-time escapades have led to a line, a chapter, and even a complete story. You won't find her books in only one genre, but they will all have one thing in common: a happy ending.
When asked what her purpose in life is, she will say to entertain the masses. Even if it's one person at a time. When Faith isn't hard at work on her next story, she can be found playing trivia while enjoying craft beer, reading, or riding her Harley.
Connect with Faith via the following social media sites:
https://www.facebook.com/faithgibsonauthor
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Send her an email: [email protected]
Other Works by Faith Gibson
The Stone Society Series
Rafael
Gregor
Dante
Frey
Nikolas
Jasper
The Music Within Series
Deliver Me
Release Me
The Sweet Things Series
Candy Hearts – A Short Story
Troubled Hearts
Spirits Anthology
Voodoo Lovin’ – A Short Story
