Chapter 6

Greer

Waking up the next morning, I’m not feeling overly anxious compared to last night. Being surrounded by so many unknowns at once and conquering, feels empowering.

Climbing out of the bed, showering and making my way to the kitchen is smooth sailing until I round the corner and come face to face with Chaotic’s.

“Good morning, Greer.” Nate says with a smile and a lift of his coffee cup.

“Good morning. I thought you all left last night.”

Spook’s standing next to the coffee pot as I make my way to get my fix. “Nope, Rudy wanted a few of us to stay behind.” He cajoles.

“Fun.” I turn to the fridge and start pulling out bacon, sausage and eggs placing them on the counter. “You boys hungry?” I ask as I move around the kitchen getting pans and setting them on the stove. I grab a bowl, crack some eggs and start whipping them up.

The kitchen is uncomfortably quiet, so I turn around to see not only the three Chaotic’s but Poison, Banshee, Red and Taz having a stare off in the middle of the room.

Taz is a formidable man. He’s not quite as tall as the Chaotic’s standing in front of him, who are well over six foot, but he’s stocky. I can only imagine that back in the day Taz might’ve been a prime example ofhot, get your panties wet biker, not these days though. He may have kept the muscle tone in his arms, but that belly is nice and flabby from where I stand.

Watching this group of bikers posturing like a rooster against another rooster to win over the hen and just the image has me busting out laughing hunched over picturing the brothers with chicken heads.

Catching my breath and wiping the tears from my eyes, I look to the men. All eyes are on mine. All of them have smiles on their faces, except Taz. He doesn’t look too impressed with being laughed at.

I hold up my hands still giggling a little. “Sorry. It feels like you all should be strutting back and forth. You know, walk like an Egyptian.” I, then, proceed to demonstrate the move. “Or maybe you all should just put your dicks away, help with breakfast or get out of the kitchen.”

Spook clears his throat through a chuckle. “What can I help ya with little lady?”

“Let’s see. I can manage the eggs and bacon, so if someone can handle the sausage, toast and setting the table, we should be straight.” I smile up at him as he moves slowly towards the stove.

“I got the sausage. Yo, Trigger! Can you get the toast going and Beanie, see if one of the Devils can help you with the table.” Spook’s words get everyone into action. Taz must think he’s too good to help, so he just leaves. No skin off my back.

Once breakfast is finished, we make our way to the magnificent oak table that seats ten and start digging in. Midway through, I can hear Ryland getting fussy down the hall. I go to get up and get her, but Poison stops me.

“I got her, Gee. By the time I get back with her, you’ll be done.”

I smile at him graciously. “Thanks.”

Moments like these watching the brothers be so attentive to Ryland make me sad that I had the possibility to be cherished the way Ryland is, but never received it. I’m so caught up in my head that I don’t realize the table is quiet of the commotion of silverware hitting plates and the chewing of mouths. I look up to see the Chaotic’s staring questioningly at me.

“What? Do I have something on my face?” I ask as I wipe my mouth furiously.

Nate clears his throat. “Is that your baby?” He asks while tilting his head towards the hallway.

“Well, yes and no.” I answer as their faces become even more confused.

“I don’t understand. Either she’s yours or she isn’t.” Beanie states.

“It’s a lot to explain and understand. I’m not at a place with any of you to get into it. In the eyes of the hospital, she’s Brute and Mitz’s daughter. But she is mine in any other sense.”

Nate’s stare turns to a cold glare. “So I’ve got a niece and Pop has a granddaughter, but only behind the walls of this clubhouse. To the outside world, she isn’t shit to us. Is that what I’m understanding?” He spits hastily.

“Nate, there’s a lot more at play here than your feelings. My main objective is to keep her safe and that’s what has been constructed here.”

“It’s Trigger, not Nate, not Tanner, Trigger. Got it.” He growls.

I bow my head. “Sure, Trigger.” I scoot my chair back and rise from my seat. “Enjoy the rest of your day.” As I turn, I see Poison cooing at Ryland in the doorway to the kitchen. I make my way to them and hold out my arms. “Come on, baby girl. Let’s go get you fed.” I whisper into Ryland’s hair as I take in her baby scent that soothes my frayed nerves.

***

Spook

Leave it to Trigger to make a perfectly good breakfast and turn it into a minor disaster.

“Trigger, you’ve got to settle down or she’ll never let you in.” I quietly growl under my breath to him. “She’s carting around a lot of shit and you’re not making it any better when you jump to conclusions.”

“Fuck, I can’t help it. I’m on edge. I keep imagining everything’s going to fall into place and I’ll magically have my sister back. Now, I have a niece I can’t claim and without a good explanation as to why.”

“Maybe we should have another sit down with Brute, Poison and Banshee. They’ll the closest ones I’ve see to her other than Brute’s ol’ lady.”

He nods. “I need to talk to Pop. It’s better for him to flip his shit in Cumming than the next time he comes here and figures it out.”

“Probably right.” I turn to Beanie. “Let’s get these dishes in the washer and then find out what the hell we’ll be doing while we’re here.”

“Got it.” Beanie grunts.

The rest of the day consisted of Greer avoiding anything and everything to do with Trigger, which in turn made him more anxious. He made me dizzy just watching him pace in circles. I can’t count how many times he’d stop pacing, look at Greer or the baby and stomp outside.

In the last few weeks, Trigger’s gone from the happy, nothing can get you down prankster to a younger version of Rudy, always worrying or trying to figure out the world’s misfortunes.

Dani and Ryker have texted me a few times worried about him. This stewing is out of character for him. He’s had his life figured out since the day he enlisted and now he can’t figure out how to deal with his newly found sister and niece.

Greer’s oblivious to the tension Trigger is facing. She’s only known him as a little boy. Biker Trigger goes with the flow for the most part, but when a fire gets lite under his ass about something that he’s adamant about, all hell breaks loose.

I can see the need in his eyes to hold the baby and comfort Greer, but I can, also, see him finally understanding that she handles things a lot differently than he does.

Greer bottles everything up and waits for it to explode. Trigger’s the complete opposite, if he’s bothered by something he gets it out and resolved before it can affect him completely.

I’m still playing Dr. Phil in my head when the door to the main room slams against the wall. Attention turns to the red faced Rudy charging towards Greer and the baby and Queenie hot on his heels to slow him down.

“I’ve got a grandbaby.” He bellows.

Those four words set the Devils in action. Red and a Prospect stand in front of Greer. Taz and Randie just watch on without a care in the world. Poison and Banshee probably would’ve already been surrounding Greer, but Brute sent them on a food run.

Red holds up his hands to try and calm Rudy. “Rudy, this isn’t the time or place.”

“I have a granddaughter.” Rudy repeats.

Queenie wraps her hand around his arm. “Babe, you need to settle down. You’re not going to get anywhere with this hostility. I sure as fuck wouldn’t let you near my baby with this much aggression.” She speaks drawing his attention to her and away from Greer.

“Fine.” Rudy huffs and falls into the closest place to sit, which is a brown leather loveseat. “Can someone please explain to me how I didn’t know this yesterday? I saw that baby.” He points at Ryland. “I was right here.”

Greer breaks through the two men at her front and steps to Rudy. “Yesterday, you weren’t worried about a baby. You were worried about why I didn’t come to you first and when the butt hurt was over, you were worried about trying to figure out how and why you didn’t know what your Farrah was doing to me. So don’t come in here all high and mighty wanting answers you don’t deserve.” Greer turns a defiant stare to Trigger and points. “You have no clue the shit I’ve been through. What you all have is just a little look through that big ass window that’s my life. You think by calling your daddy and intimidating me, I’ll just collapse and give you all the sordid details. Ya’ll can’t handle it. So, why don’t you do me a favor and back the fuck off.”

Instead of leaving as I expected, she sits down on the couch in front of Rudy and turns Ryland to face Rudy. This is the first good look I’ve gotten of the little girl. When she opens her eyes, Queenie begins to weep. If I’d have seen this baby with any other woman, I would’ve claimed she was Trigger’s.

“Well, fuck me!” Trigger exclaims. He slowly makes his way to the couch and lowers himself beside Greer. “Can I hold her?”

Without answering him, she hands Ryland to Trigger. He lifts her and brings her head to his nose and inhales. He cradles her in his arms and takes her in. Running his fingers through her thick brown hair, he looks up to his dad. Rudy unashamedly has tears streaming down his face.

Queenie coughs and croaks. “She looks just like you two’s baby pictures.” She slaps Rudy on the shoulder. “Your genes are strong.” She laughs and a little bit of the tension softens. “How old is she?”

Greer looks from Ryland being held in Trigger’s arms to Queenie. “She’s almost three months.”

Rudy abruptly stands. “Let me get this straight. When you came here you were already pregnant and she was born here.” He spreads his arms wide.

“Yes.” Greer says timidly. “I couldn’t have her there. I didn’t want her to have the life I had, so this was the best option.”

“You think your mother would’ve done the same to her own grandchild.” Rudy proclaims.

“I know she would’ve. You need to stop putting that woman on a pedestal. She’s a monster and so is Dimitri.” Greer states coldly. “I don’t know what else I’ve got to do to convince you, but I will say I won’t ever allow my child to be belittled, hurt or felt like no more than shit on a shoe.” Ryland chooses that moment to cry. “I’m going to feed her and put her down for a nap. It was nice seeing you again Queenie.” Greer smiles at Queenie fondly, lifts Ryland from Trigger and makes her way to what I can assume is her room.

The room becomes stagnant with silence. The sound of men laughing and talking comes from outside, and a few minutes later, Brute, Poison, Banshee and a giggling Mitz walk through the door. Mitz’s smile turns to a frown as she looks around the room and then down the hallway. Brute’s in a stare off with Rudy.

“I think we need to have an in-depth talk about my daughter and granddaughter.” Rudy growls.

No words are exchanged as Brute nods and starts making his way to their meeting room. Queenie, Trigger and I follow along with Poison, Banshee, Red and Mitz.