“I said I would. Fuck, you don’t have to be such a shrew. I just needed a place to crash for a little bit. I don’t need you bitching me out when I was up all night,” Burner muttered.
“I don’t care that you were up all night, this is my sister’s apartment and you used it like a hotel! Just leave and don’t let me catch you here again,” Hanna yelled.
Burner didn’t wait for her to say anything else. He needed to get back to the clubhouse to change before he headed out to talk to another one of his contacts anyway. He stomped out of the apartment and climbed on his bike, glad it wasn’t winter or he’d be freezing his nuts off right about now. Roaring away, he knew that despite the nasty ice bath he would be sleeping in Kelsey’s bed tonight; having her scent surrounding him was worth it.
Chapter Twenty-one
“I spoke with Blade last night and he says he has information for Death and wants to meet with him. I don’t know what he’s doing but I have a feeling it’s about us taking out Hacker the other day,” Burner told Reaper as they sat in the office at Ink Bandits with Iron, Pansy, Lock, Animal, Rebel and Bull.
“I agree they’re up to something. There has been a lot of movement and squabbling since we took him out. They’ve not been taking any women in the past week, which is good, but they’re still fighting over who’s going to lead them. I’ve heard that the bodies are piling up from one of my contacts. It seems something big is going down.” Animal rubbed the back of his neck looking tired. He’d just gotten back after two weeks on the road with Iron and Pansy.
Animal had worked his contacts trying to get information on what was going on with the Headhunters since they took out their president. Burner was also working his own informants, but he was sticking close to home at Reaper’s insistence. Burner was glad Reaper was worried if he got too far from the club he’d implode because it kept him close to Kelsey’s bed, where he’d spent every night for the past week sleeping.
Thankfully, he hadn’t received any more ice baths from Hanna. He was sure it would happen; she’d talked about watering the plants the morning she’d drenched him so he would bet it wouldn’t be too long before he got another one. Not that it mattered, he’d still break in and sleep there because he couldn’t sleep at all if he wasn’t in her bed. Not that he slept much without her in it with him but at least some was better than none.
“I can’t see how it’s been several weeks and they still haven’t figured out who is going to lead them. Their club was already in a shit storm if their infrastructure was that fucked up. They should have held church and had a new president by the end of the week. Fucking idiots,” Rebel muttered, shaking his head at the lack of organization in the Headhunters MC. Burner knew he was unaware that half the club was a group of jacked up Juice junkies who didn’t know their ass from a hole in the ground. Animal let out a snort over Rebel’s assessment because he was more familiar with the way their club worked.
“They’re a bunch of idiots, what don’t you get? Not to mention half of them are out of their tiny little minds on Juice,” Animal grumbled, staring at Rebel.
Reaper grunted from his position behind the desk, his hands steepled and his look thoughtful. Burner knew that look and it made him a little nervous. He shifted in the chair he was in trying to get comfortable as he watched him.
“Why would he tell you that he has information for Death but not give it to you?” Reaper suddenly asked him. Burner shrugged; he’d asked himself the same question but he couldn’t predict what the man was doing.
“It seems a little odd to me,” Pansy muttered, a frown pulling his brows together as he stood against the wall with his arms crossed.
“Definitely,” Iron agreed.
“I could try to see if he’ll meet with me instead,” Burner offered. “If he refuses, we would have a better idea of what he’s up to. If it’s a trap of some sort then he wouldn’t agree to meet with anyone except Death.”
“No, let’s have Death contact him. He’s good at predicting what someone wants by their tone. He might also be able to get Blade to react badly and that would clue us in to his mindset over this too,” Reaper finally said after a silent pause.
“Should we try to see what the other Headhunters know about it?” Bull asked.
“I think letting Death and Max handle this one is a good idea because we have enough on our plate with the druggings at the clubs and those fucking Jackals moving in on us. Max should make sure Death doesn’t go anywhere to meet him alone,” Reaper muttered, his hand running down his face.
They were discussing the Jackals a few minutes later when Reaper’s office door opened and Sarah walked inside without knocking, her eyes panicked and her cheeks flushed.
“Reaper I nee–shit, I didn’t realize you were having a meeting,” she said, her cheeks flooding with more redness as she began to turn around to walk out. Reaper jumped up and jerked her into his arms making her let out a startled gasp.
“What’s wrong?” he demanded, his eyes narrowed on her face as she looked up at him.
“It’s nothing. Really,” Sarah whispered glancing around at the men in the room.
“Nope, not buying it. What the fuck is wrong?” he asked again, now glaring at her.
“I––this isn’t a conversation I want to have with an audience, Reaper,” Sarah said, her hands resting on his chest as she gazed up at him.
“Everyone out, now,” Reaper commanded, and they all began to file out of the office but Reaper called out, “Burner, don’t leave, I need to talk to you before you do.”
Burner nodded wondering what was going on with Sarah but he headed into the front of the shop, sitting down on the couch they had for customers. His eyes kept straying to the door of the office and he worried that something was wrong.
“What do you suppose that’s all about?” Bull asked, jerking his thumb in the direction of the office.
“No clue, but I sure as hell hope it’s nothing serious because as he said earlier, we have enough shit to deal with right now.” Burner leaned his head back into the wall looking up at the ceiling.
“That’s the damned truth,” Bull muttered. “Well I’m out of here, I have to get to the Blue Bird for my shift. You coming, Lock?” he yelled to Lock who was talking to Flame nearby.
“Yeah,” Lock called back and the two men left. Burner glanced back at the closed office door still wanting to know what was going on in there. He hoped nothing was wrong because Sarah and Reaper were family and he didn’t think he could take it if they were having trouble.
He was just beginning to think that they were going to be in that office forever when the door opened and Sarah walked out looking flushed still but this time with a bright smile on her face and a glow in her eyes. Reaper followed her out, a grin splitting his face as he took her arm and guided her towards the front.
“Reaper, you don’t have to take me home, I can drive myself,” Sarah said, looking at him over her shoulder.
“I want to, baby,” he told her, his hands going to her hips as they neared where he was sitting. “You,” he grunted at Burner. “Have a prospect bring my bike home and you be at the house at six for dinner.”
Burner raised his brow but nodded, wondering what the heck this was all about but the happiness rolling off the couple made the worry he’d been feeling for the last twenty minutes disappear. Sarah was about to walk out of the building but Reaper pulled her back jerking a jacket off the rack by the door.
“Reaper, what are you doing?” Sarah demanded, turning to look at him.
“It’s chilly outside today. You need a jacket.” Burner almost laughed as Reaper began to shove Sarah’s arms into the sleeves while she rolled her eyes looking exasperated.
“It’s not that cold, Reaper,” she grumbled, but he leaned down whispering something in her ear and she suddenly glowed happily and smiled at him. Reaper leaned forward kissing her on the nose, his eyes holding hers, and the love that shone between them made an ache form in Burner’s chest.
Reaper guided her back to the door but glanced at him with a serious expression.
“Don’t be late and if I have to come find you tonight I won’t be fucking happy, Burner.” He then left with Sarah in tow.
“Well that was interesting. Wonder what she was worried about,” Pansy said, watching the couple too.
“Don’t know, but it seems all right now I guess.” Burner shrugged as he rose from the couch. Pulling out his phone he muttered, “See you later,” before he walked out.
Burner showed up at Reaper’s at five-forty because he wasn’t in the mood for anyone’s bitching. As he walked up the steps to the door, he noticed a new riding horse that Reaper must have had hand carved for Josh.
Damn, that kid was spoiled.
He grinned and knocked, leaning on the doorframe waiting. He stood there for about five minutes before he knocked again, wondering why they weren’t answering. He peeked into the window nearby unable to see anything through the lacy curtains. After five minutes and another knock, he figured they might be out back or upstairs maybe and didn’t hear him.
He turned the handle hesitantly, opening the door and stepping inside, calling out, “Hey, it’s me.”
Burner was halfway down the hall when a tiny naked body came hurtling towards him giggling wildly with Sarah chasing behind him, a towel in her hands, trying to catch the little bugger.
“Come back here, you little devil. You’re still wet,” Sarah yelled from behind him.
Burner caught the boy when he barreled into his legs still laughing like a little hyena. Shaking his head, he lifted him up, letting Josh hug him around the neck in a death grip.
“Burn, I took bath,” Josh informed him.
“I can see that,” Burner said laughing.
Sarah came up to them shaking her head, a smile on her face as she wrapped him in the towel. Burner allowed her to wrap it around the little boy by holding him out from his body, hearing the wild giggles that Josh let out.
“Little mongrel got away from me when I turned to get the towel. Reaper is responsible for him needing one before dinner. I should have made him do it,” Sarah muttered.
“Hey, I’m cooking,” Reaper grumbled, coming up behind Sarah to wrap his arms around her waist, kissing the top of her head.
“You’re also the one who took him to play out back in the mud leftover from the rain yesterday.”
“You needed a nap,” Reaper defended.
“I suppose I did. I better get him dressed so that we can eat the burgers you grilled,” Sarah agreed before she reached out to take Josh from him, but Reaper jerked around her, snagging Josh before she could take him.
“You’re not to lift him. He’s too heavy,” Reaper commanded glaring at her.
Sarah rolled her eyes at him. “I can carry him, it’s fine. I do it all the time.”
Burner stared from one to the other wondering what was going on.
“No, you will not be carrying him,” Reaper growled.
“Reaper, you’re being ridiculous.”
“I’m not.”
“You are,” Sarah grumbled as she attempted to take Josh from Reaper again but he turned, storming towards the stairs.
“Are you going to be this way the whole time?” she demanded, watching him storm away while looking unhappy. Burner didn’t know what was going on but it was odd and was starting to make him worry that something was wrong with Sarah. His stomach twisted into a knot, his eyes still bouncing from Reaper, who was headed up the stairs, to Sarah and back again.
“I’ll get him dressed. Burner, grab the burgers and baked beans from the kitchen, would you? Sarah, you go sit down.”
“You know that you’re acting unreasonable about this, don’t you?” she called after Reaper, her head shaking back and forth as she stood with her back to Burner.
“Don’t care,” Reaper called back, having reached the top of the stairs and moved out of sight.
“Unbelievable,” Sarah muttered, turning to head into the kitchen.
“What’s that about?” Burner asked her as he followed her through the door walking toward the wraparound counter. Sarah turned to glance at him with a secretive smile on her face.
“I can’t tell you till dinner. I promised Reaper.” Sarah then reached for the bowl of baked beans. Burner frowned at her before snatching the beans from her, making her turn to glare at him. “Not you too. You don’t even know why he’s acting so foolish and you’re going to act like him?”
“Ah, yeah, cause I like not getting beat up if I can help it. Your old man’s mean when he gets mad. He also has a fierce left hook that feels like a sledge hammer,” Burner told her, waving his pinkie at her to head into the other room. She ignored it and went to grab the plate of burgers off the counter. “Are you trying to give me a black eye, Sarah?”
“Fine, I’ll get the buns but when I tell you the reason he’s acting like an idiot, you’re going to feel stupid,” she huffed, grabbing them from near the plate of burgers with a heavy sigh before she grabbed ketchup and mustard from the fridge, carrying them into the dining room. Burner followed, setting the beans down before going back for the burgers and then the coleslaw he’d seen when Sarah opened the fridge. He carried them into the dining room setting them down. By the time he’d brought both to the table, Reaper had Josh in his seat and he was again arguing with Sarah.
Burner was really beginning to worry by the time they all sat down to eat. After a few minutes of them getting their plates ready and Sarah cutting a burger up for Josh and giving him a little bowl of applesauce, Burner’s worry had faded some.
“Go on, tell him,” Reaper said grinning. Burner stared at him and wondered what the hell was going on with them because they had been acting fucking weird since they left the shop at noon today.
“Can’t we let him eat first?” Sarah asked, eyeing him as he set the burger he’d lifted back down on his plate to watch her.
“Nope,” Reaper said grinning widely.
“Ugg, fine. I’m pregnant,” she muttered, then lifted her burger for a bite as if that wasn’t big news.
“Wait, I didn’t even know the two of you were trying to get that way,” Burner said, feeling stunned by the news. Not that it surprised him that Reaper wanted more kids; he’d taken to fatherhood almost immediately, surprising the hell out of the whole damned club.
“We weren’t,” Sarah grumbled before glancing at Reaper with a little frown.
“How’s that happen then? Thought you were on the shots,” he said, looking at Reaper who frowned at him with a darkness brewing in his gaze. Shit, maybe that wasn’t what he should have said. He glanced back at Sarah seeing that pink was staining her cheeks and he wondered if she’d forgotten to get one or something because she seemed guilty.
“She was. Damned clinic in Titus is passing out bogus shots that are watered down and not working as well as they should. Lance has already had four women come up pregnant after getting them,” Reaper told him, his eyes watching Sarah closely, and Burner could almost feel the protectiveness Reaper was feeling taking up all the air in the room.
“I didn’t know,” Sarah said softly, still with that slightly guilty look on her face.
“I told you, it’s a good thing, baby. I’m very happy you’re going to make me a father again.”
Burner watched Reaper lean over, his arm going around Sarah. He pulled her from her chair to his, kissing her cheeks and her forehead before whispering something into her ear that made her smile.
“Well, congrats. I can’t wait to spoil the new little one rotten.” Burner laughed and caught the cup Josh had knocked off the table before it hit the ground. Josh gave him a big grin that was covered in applesauce and banged on the table babbling about something. Sarah kissed Reaper on the chin and climbed from his lap with a little smile on her lips.
The rest of dinner went smoothly but when it was time to clear the table, Reaper made Sarah sit while the two of them cleaned up. She responded to this by taking Josh u
pstairs to wash him up and get him ready for bed. Reaper ordered Burner to wait when they returned to the dining room after loading the dishwasher and found her and Josh gone. He followed her upstairs to bitch at her over lifting Josh, Burner would bet.
He was sitting on the porch waiting for him to come back down with the door open so Reaper wouldn’t think he’d left. He sat back, his head resting on the wall behind the bench he sat on, thinking about the day’s events, his mind playing over the news he’d just been given.
He was happy for them even if it wasn’t planned. Reaper seemed happy about it despite how it had come about and Sarah did too. It made Burner feel uncomfortable because it made him suddenly wonder what it would be like to be a dad. He shook that thought away, ignoring that when he pictured his little girl, she was a redhead with hazel eyes and had her mother’s slightly lopsided smile. Shit, he definitely did not need to go there. Reaper chose that moment to walk out on the porch, allowing Burner to focus on him instead of the insane thoughts which had just popped into his head.
“That woman is going to make me insane. She can’t keep stressing herself out now that she’s carrying our baby. She needs to slow down,” Reaper grumbled, pulling at his hair.
“You do know that women carrying children aren’t fragile, right?” Burner asked chuckling. Reaper glared at him before he leaned on the railing facing the bench Burner was sitting on, his arms and legs crossed as his brow furrowed.
“I didn’t say she was. She just needs to not lift heavy stuff and to work less hours. She’s been putting in double time since she took over doing the restaurant supply orders as well as the strip club and the tattoo parlor. I told her tonight that I was having Trouble take over the restaurant’s books again and she freaked out on me.” Reaper threw his hands up before he began to pace back and forth in front of Burner, making him grin.
“Yeah, that might have been because you just found out today and she seems fine.” Burner watched Reaper stop to scowl at him, feeling laughter bubble up inside him.
Burning Desires (Blue Bandits MC Book 4) Page 20
