by Mara McBain
“Why do you always whip my first name on me when you want your own way?”
“It’s not a matter of wanting my way. It grabs your attention.”
“How do we know they’d even do it? Zeke is always grumbling about the three he has.”
“Gin will do it. I promise. She’ll convince the big man.”
“Our queen does have a way with the prez.”
“It’s not much of an issue anymore, but if anything had happened to Gin and Zeke we would’ve raised their three.”
“Oh, we would’ve huh?” Crux asked flatly.
Kat stomped on his foot and gave him a look. He chuckled.
“Please. It’s important to me.”
“Okay, baby. If it’s okay with Ginny and Zeke, we’ll have something drawn up,” he said with an indulgent smile. “Now I have to get back to work before Bowie fires my ass and you need to get out there and reassure the women I haven’t strangled you. Stay out of trouble and be careful!”
Kat yelped as a hard swat directed her to the door.
Ginny hurried over the moment Crux stepped clear. “You okay?” she asked, a worried gaze giving her the once over as the men left the kitchen.
“I’m fine,” Kat promised, taking her son. “Just a gentle reminder to watch my lip if I don’t want a fat one. It seems my tone hasn’t been real dulcet lately.”
“At least he issues a warning,” Gin said with a half shrug.
“Yeah, my old man is good like that. As short-tempered as he can be with others, I rarely get more than a growl,” Kat said with a laugh. “Of course that could be because when he growls, I’m generally smart enough to listen.”
“There is that,” Ginny said with a nod. “I was thinking. The family hasn’t got together since Cam joined the ranks. Why don’t we use the men’s meeting Friday night as an excuse for a carry-in at the clubhouse? It will be nice to just hang out.”
“That sounds fantastic. I miss everyone so much and anything to get out of the house. I had to come up here today to escape the fumes at home. You know how I get when I’m bored.”
“Go a little overboard with the bleach again?”
“I think it was the combination of cleaning supplies that did it,” Kat said with a laugh. “I decided it was best to get Cam out of there.”
“Drama aside, I’m glad you did,” Ginny said giving her a hug. “I’ll get us an order of potato skins going and then we’ll sit down to brainstorm. Right now, you go reassure Lee that you don’t hate her before she hyperventilates.”
Following Ginny’s pointed look, Kat rolled her eyes. Lee’s gorgeous dark eyes were brimming with tears and her bottom lip trembled. Settling the little man in the crook of her left arm, Kat stepped over and hugged the younger woman tight with the other, rocking her slightly.
“Don’t cry, Lee-Lee love. Everything’s okay.”
“I’m sorry. I was afraid for you.”
“I know. I’m sorry I gave you shit. You did the right thing.”
“Reaper will be livid if I pissed you off,” Lee whispered and Kat felt the shudder that ran through the girl.
“You didn’t piss me off, honey. Calling the cavalry was the right call,” she said, leaning back and tenderly tucking a strand of Lee’s hair behind her ear. “As for Reaper, if we were fighting, it’s best we don’t involve the men in our spats. They overreact.”
Lee’s teary eyes searched her face and then she slumped in relief. “Thank you.”
“No reason to thank me. Besides, the old ladies need to stick together just like our men. We’re sisters, a family. Don’t forget that. You can call on us anytime. Look at the way you all rallied to help me clean up the mess after the search. That’s what family does.”
“Was Crux—”
“No worries, little sister. He was just reminding me to watch my lip. It had nothing to do with you. I promise.”
“Lee!”
Both women jumped at the cook’s bark.
“I better get back to work,” Lee said as they both fluttered a hand over their hearts with a laugh.
Shaking her head at her jumpiness, Kat grabbed her purse and the diaper bag off the counter and moved into the lounge to wait for Ginny. She froze spotting the crumpled envelope in Cam’s carrier. She looked over her shoulder and bit her lip, almost afraid to touch the damn thing. Her lips twitched at the image of picking it up with kitchen tongs that flashed through her mind. Squatting down, she picked it up between her fingers and eased Cam into the seat.
She sighed as she sat down on the couch and stared at her name scrawled in her father’s bold hand on the front of the envelope. Why was he doing this? What did he hope to gain? If he wanted an heir why not just remarry? Not that she would wish that hell on any woman or child. She shuddered.
“Are you okay?”
Kat’s head whipped up at the quiet inquiry. She blew out her breath and shrugged as Gin nudged the door shut behind her and pulled a small table over to set the potato skins on. Spearing one of the appetizers onto a small plate, Kat picked at it with a fork. Her gaze crept back to the envelope.
“What does it say?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t looked at it,” she mumbled, sucking in air around a bite of the hot food.
“How many zeros are we talking?” Ginny asked, helping herself to a potato skin.
Gin’s casual tone did nothing to break the tension in the room. Kat licked her lips and gave another small shrug.
“According to my husband, a shit load,” she muttered, taking another bite so she didn’t have to say anything else.
“I’m surprised Crux left it.”
“Which is why you gave it to him,” Kat said, trying to keep the bitterness out of her tone.
Ginny’s eyes darted toward her. Worry and her self-righteous belief that she knew what was best for the family warred on the queen’s face. Kat refused to let her best friend off the hook. She waited while Gin struggled with her conscience.
“Maybe I should’ve waited for you to bring it up,” she said slowly.
Kat nodded. “Yeah, you should have. But you didn’t trust me to handle it any more than he does.”
“That’s not true!”
“Isn’t it? You made sure to remind me the other day that something like this would destroy Crux and then today you couldn’t wait to put it in his hands. I know you love me, and are trying to protect me, but I’m a big girl, Gin. I ran from my father for a reason. I was brave enough at eighteen and I’m so much stronger now. So why does everyone think I’m going to crumble?”
A guilty flush colored Ginny’s cheeks but her tone was defensive.
“When times are tough and we know our men are stressing over finances, it’s easy to forget about their pride in our need to fix things.”
“I get what you’re saying, but I would borrow money from you before I would ever take a cent from that murdering asshole.”
“Don’t make borrowing money from me sound like making a deal with the devil!” Gin said with an offended huff. “You’re closer than a sister to me. I’ve always told you that other than my old man, what’s mine is yours.”
“I feel the same, but Crux would blow his stack if I borrowed money from the prez.”
“I get that he is a proud man, but family helps family. If you’re short we could keep it between us, or call it a payroll advance.”
“We’re fine. The point is, we’ve been through tighter times than this. Why all of a sudden after all of these years, do the two people that should know me better than anyone think that I would crawl back to that bastard for money of all things? Up until I got prego I wouldn’t have accepted a kidney from him!”
A soft smile lit the queen’s serious face. “It’s amazing how they change everything,” she said, looking down at Cam. “Maybe that’s why Crux is so worried. I’m sure he’s feeling the same thing; that overwhelming sense of responsibility that only a child can inspire. Think how protective he is of you, and then multiply that by the
defenseless factor.”
Kat’s shoulders slumped. She bit her lip, staring at the letter. “My father’s minion kept talking about a parent’s love. He said that as a new mother I should understand, and asked if there was anything that I wouldn’t forgive Cam.” She shook her head and slid her plate onto the table. “It isn’t my father’s feelings I’m concerned about. Even if I could forget the pain that perverted fuck put me through, how am I supposed to forgive him for taking my mother away from me?”
Ginny enfolded her in a tight hug. “Some things are unforgiveable,” she whispered.
Kat took a deep breath and fought the stab of anguish that memories of her mother always brought on. The last vision of her mother tattooed itself on the back of her clenched eyelids. Blood had marred the corner of her mother’s perfect lips but she had forced a smile, trying to comfort her. She’d promised everything would be okay and urged Kat to go back to bed. Back to bed where she was safe from the monster. Her mother had been wrong. Nothing was ever okay again. She was gone the next morning. After all these years, Kat had no more answers than she’d had before.
“I need a big favor.”
“Name it, little sister.”
Kat pulled back from Ginny’s embrace and took a calming breath. “I need you to talk to Zeke and convince him that if something happens to Crux and me you two will raise Cam.”
“You even have to ask?” Ginny cried in disbelief.
“I want to make it legal so that bastard can’t ever get his hands on my son. Crux thinks I’m crazy.”
“No. It’s the smart thing to do, but I’m a little hurt that you think you have to ask. You and Crux are listed as the boy’s guardians in the event anything happens to us. You know that.”
“Crux seems to have forgotten that. He said the way Zeke grumbles about your three, he wasn’t sure how the big man would feel about having another one dropped in his lap when he’s so close to emptying the nest.”
Ginny rolled her eyes. “That’s just Zeke. Let someone else mess with his boys and see how fast Daddy gets nasty,” she said with a smirk. Reaching over she took Kat’s hand and pressed it between both of hers. “Nothing’s going to happen to you, but of course we would take care of Cam if something did. We’re honored you would trust us.”
“You’re the only one I trust, Gin,” Kat said, swallowing against the lump in her throat. “You know what he’s like. He can’t get his hands on Cam.”
Ginny didn’t blink. She nodded, hazel eyes steely. “Over my dead body; you have my word.”
Pulling her hand free, Kat threw her arms around Ginny’s neck and hugged her tight.
Twelve
“You smell finger licking good,” Crux growled nuzzling the side of Kat’s neck.
Kat laughed, leaning into her husband’s embrace as she carefully transferred the crispy fried chicken onto a platter. “I told you they’d show up when the food was ready,” she called to the other women as they moved in and out of the kitchen loading a groaning buffet table.
“You would’ve just bitched that we were underfoot if we’d got done any sooner,” Zeke said snatching a deviled egg off a passing tray and popping it in his mouth.
“At least let us get it on the table, heathen,” Ginny said, bumping him with her hip on her way by.
“Just trying to lighten Lee’s load,” he mumbled around the mouthful.
“You’re all heart,” Gin muttered with a dramatic eye roll that earned her a smack on the ass from her old man.
Kat skirted through the fray with a heaping platter of chicken. She stopped at the table and looked at the spread. “Uh, I need some help over here.”
Ginny paused in her search for plates to peek through the pass-through. Seeing her friend’s predicament she looked around.
“Eva honey, move the beer rolls, butter and napkins to the dinner table so Kat has room for the fried chicken. We still have to make room for your lasagna, too.”
“Do you want me to grab another folding table, Ma?” Mox asked.
“No, I think we’ve got it,” Gin said, placing a stack of plates on a butler’s cart with the cutlery and glasses.
“What’re we missing?” Amber asked looking around the kitchen
“I think just the lasagna,” Ginny said, her nose wrinkling in thought.
“Let’s get it out there. The savages are getting restless,” Kat said hustling back into the kitchen.
Eva pulled the commercial size lasagna pan out of the oven and lugged it out to the table with Ginny and the dinner service on her heels.
Both of them full and content, Kat brushed her lips over Cam’s head as she stared into the fireplace. A burst of laughter from the kitchen made her smile. Cam’s demands had trumped cleanup for her, but it felt good to be surrounded by the family again. It was funny; the club house had been solely the men’s domain for years. It didn’t feel that way anymore. She felt safe here.
Digging in the diaper bag for a wipe, Kat’s fingers brushed the envelope from her father. Her hand trembled as she pulled it out. She shivered as the mere thought of the man brought a chill to the warm room. Chewing her lip, she ran her fingernail over the broken seal. A shit load of zeros could solve a lot of problems and there was no saying she had to call him or feel beholden to the sick fuck. He’d sent the check. Fuck his expectations.
She flipped up the flap, sliding a finger inside to part the folded stationary. Her father’s bold signature glared back at her but she couldn’t see the numbers. She thought about the truck and dishwasher. She wet her lips. It would take a lot of pressure off Crux’s shoulders. There was no question her father owed her a hell of a lot more for the misery he’d put her through. Check or not, he couldn’t force her to respond. She closed her eyes, but inside she would know. Crux would know. It would eat at him. The thought made her full stomach roll. Accepting anything from her father would be like opening Pandora’s Box. She leaned forward and slipped the envelope behind the screen to flip it into the fire.
The flames licked at the addition, dancing blue around the edges. Kat breathed a little easier as the corners browned, curling in as the fire consumed the papers. She kissed Cam’s head and leaned back against the cushions. They would get through this tough time like they had every other, together. She pulled her gaze from the hypnotic flames and glanced around for her old man. As if on cue he bent over the pool table giving her a nice view of his ass. Her head tilted in appreciation. Was six weeks really necessary?
“I know that look.”
Kat laughed, turning slightly as Gin dropped onto the couch next to her. The company and shift in her thoughts were welcome. “Did you and Zeke wait the whole six weeks?”
Ginny laughed. “No. It’s different for everyone and with each birth. Some women aren’t ready at six weeks. As crazy as it sounds I think we made it to four weeks after Rhys, but were hard pressed to hit the two week mark after Garrett. Just listen to your body.”
“I thought the hormones would let up a little after I pushed the kiddo out, but I’m still horny as hell. I’m sitting here ogling my old man’s ass like a teenager.”
“At least it’s your old man,” Ginny said, ducking away from the half-hearted swat Kat swung at her. She shrugged, glancing around. “If you aren’t sure take a toy for a trial run.”
Kat winced. “I feel guilty doing that.”
Ginny’s mouth dropped open in disbelief and she gave a humorless bark of laughter. “Like he’s not jerking off in the shower? Jesus, Kat. Besides, the test drive would be for a good cause. You’re trying to see if you’re ready to get back in the saddle. I think he’d forgive that.”
Kat looked back at Crux, fighting the blush Ginny’s incredulous response had spawned.
“If he catches you, just tell him you thought it best to start out on the kiddy rides before jumping straight to the Tower of Terror.”
Kat clamped a hand over her mouth in a desperate attempt to stay the spray of Pepsi. Cola dribbled down her chin onto Cam’s
sleeper as she struggled to smother her laughter. Ginny gave her amusement full rein but was sweet enough to rescue her nephew before hurrying over to grab a handful of napkins. She tossed them down in Kat’s lap and then stole one back to wipe the front of Cam’s outfit.
“Sweet Jesus, Tower of Terror?” Kat choked out, tears rolling down her cheeks as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
“What?” Gin asked innocently. “It was the best amusement park ride phallic innuendo I could come up with.”
“You’re bad.”
“Nah, just blunt.”
Kat shook her head at the queen’s smirk but had to give it to her, that had been a good one. “Shameless,” she muttered.
“You needed a good laugh,” Ginny said fawning over the baby. “If you want a romantic night without interruptions I would be happy to keep the little man.”
“What’s your big man going to think of that?”
“He’s cool with it,” Ginny said, looking up through the shroud of her hair as she kissed on Cam. “I told him about the will. He said the same thing I did. Nothing’s going to happen to you, but we would be honored. Zeke knows that I would be out of my mind if something ever happened to you and he isn’t ready to deal with that.”
“Right back at you, sister,” Kat said with a little shudder. The thought of losing Gin was second only to Crux or Cam. “How did the topic go from merry to morbid?”
“I just wanted you to know that I did talk it over with Zeke. You said Crux was concerned.”
“I’ll call the lawyer Monday and see when I can get an evening appointment for after Crux gets out of work. I don’t want to put this off,” she said, reaching over to stroke her forefinger over her son’s tiny hand. “He changes everything.”
The brush continued to glide through Kat’s long hair, but her beautiful eyes seemed miles away. A soft sigh lifted her shoulders but she still didn’t turn his way. What was she thinking? She’d been quiet since they’d left the club house. He frowned; trying to go over the evening in his head looking for what might have ruined what should have been a good time. Though he hadn’t spent every second at her side, it wasn’t often that he didn’t have an eye or ear trained on his wife. The corner of his lips curled in amusement. Some called it overly possessive or protective. He called it love.
