CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Sofia touched the ring on her finger. The little diamonds embedded in the band glistened under the lights. Wolf had placed it on her finger at the courthouse with Cutter, Trick, and Jennifer as witnesses.

She looked around. Everyone was enjoying the St. Patrick’s Day party. Shamrocks covered every conceivable wall, table, and even hung from the ceiling. Thankfully, Cutter, the new chapter president—who everyone was certain would be club president in the next election—had given them permission to have the reception at the club house.

“You do know I’m Greek, right?” Wolf hugged her to his warm body.

She grinned. “Like I’m Irish?” Her giggle shook her little belly. She was only three months pregnant, but she swore she was having twins. Her hands rested on her stomach and Wolf’s covered hers. Considering her mother had been a twin, chances were good they would be picking out two names in a few months. “Mindy said Twofer is and thought it might bring us good luck.”

“Twofer? Irish?”

“You don’t know his last name.” She grinned big. The baffled look on his face was so cute. “How long have you known him?”

He frowned down at her. “He’s a Brother. That’s all I need to know.”

She laughed so hard she had to hold onto his arm to keep from falling onto the floor. Before she knew it, he lifted her and kissed her soundly. Uncaring about the comments being made around them, she twisted her arms around his neck and matched his passion. When his mouth finally left hers, she blinked, trying to remember what was so funny.

“I knew that would shut you up.”

“Ha, ha, ha.” She rolled her eyes. “You still don’t know his last name. I should tell him and see how he feels about it.”

“He won’t care.” The creases between his brows deepened. Trying to act as if he wasn’t bothered, Wolf placed his arm around her shoulders and sipped on his beer. A couple of shouts of congratulations rang out from the doorway when more Mayhem Brothers entered the club house and the party. Wolf released a sigh. “Fuck. Are you going to tell me or not?” He gave her a devilish look.

“It’s O’Sullivan.” She giggled. “I should’ve made you go and ask.”

“I wouldn’t have.”

“Yes, you would. It would’ve drove you crazy until you found out.”

“I bet you don’t know Chicken’s last name.”

“Yes, I do.”

“What is it?” The intenseness of his face gave him away. “You don’t know and you’re wanting me to tell you.”

He leaned down. She thought he planned to kiss the answer out of her, instead his fingers walked across her ribs, and she began to laugh. Her hands tried to pull his away from her sides. She’d never been ticklish before, but since she learned she was pregnant, she’d discovered he could barely touch her sides and she would jump.

“It’s Smith.” She struggled to breathe between giggles. “I swear it is. His first name is John. I swear. John Smith.” Wolf stopped and hugged her to him. “Don’t you know he has a hard time registering at hotels.”

He kissed her neck.

She relaxed into his nuzzling, her smile widened. Her cheeks hurt from smiling so much.

“Hey, Wolf. Sofia. Congratulations.” Cutter walked up and shook Wolf’s hand and nodded at Sofia as Wolf refused to let her go to be hugged. “I need to talk with you for a minute.”

“Sure.” He released her and smoothed the back of his thumb down her cheek. “I’ll be back in a minute, Mrs. Savalas.”

“Okay, Mr. Savalas.”

––––––––

Wolf looked down at Sofia, knowing that anyone could see how head over heels in love he was, and he didn’t give a damn. They could call him pussy whipped all they wanted. That woman owned his soul.

“Fuck, man. She’ll take good care of your balls while you’re gone. It won’t take but a moment,” Cutter teased. He smiled back at Wolf.

“Now you’re president, and you get all bossy.”

“I could beat your ass before I was president and it’s no different now.”

He elbowed Wolf in the chest as they walked into the meeting room down the hall. Carefully, he closed the door.

Wolf settled into a chair, curiosity piqued by Cutter’s serious expression. “What’s wrong?”

“They found Ramon’s body today.” Cutter’s gaze drilled into his.

“Isn’t that interesting.”

“Yeah. They said he’d been dead a couple months, but the autopsy showed someone had beaten him with a belt, the buckle part, and then shot him in the groin.”

Wolf gritted his teeth for a moment. “Sounds like someone was paying him back for the things he did to his ex-wife. I would love to thank the man. He rid the world of sorry filth.”

“Yeah. I thought you might want to know. The Feds may be coming by soon and ask you and Sofia some questions. Do you know of anything that the club should be worried about?” Cutter sat on the table next to where Wolf sat, hands holding one knee up.

Wolf pursed his lips as if in deep thought and then shook his head. “Nope. Let me tell Sofia. She hated the man, but knowing her, she will want to know.” Wolf folded his arms across his chest and waited for Cutter to finish.

“Sure.” Cutter stood straight, his hand rasped across the stubble on his face. “I haven’t told the board yet. Probably tomorrow. If they have any questions, I’ll let you know.”

“Sounds good.” Wolf hid his relief. He wanted to return to Sofia and hug her tight.

Wolf watched as Cutter looked around the room as if he wanted to say something more, but then his attention returned to him. “Let’s go and party. I saw this blonde who came in with a group of lovely sheep Twofer brought in.”

With a slap on each other’s back, they returned to the celebration.

Later, with the sun peeking over the trees, Wolf and Sofia returned home. The house still smelled like paint, and the end table and lamp had been replaced. He was so proud of how his family’s house was a home once again. Sofia started to walk by him, and he snatched her hand and pulled her to stand against the length of his body.

“I need to tell you something.”

She smiled, her face soft and happy. He hated bringing up such a loathsome subject. Not so much Ramon’s death, but the subject of Ramon himself. If he had his way, that name would never come up again.

“Okay. What’s wrong?” Her fingers traced the line of his jaw.

He covered her hand and lightly squeezed to grab her attention. “They found Ramon. He’s dead.”

Every inch of her body pressed to his, she turned her cheek, resting her head on his chest. “Are they sure it’s him?”

“Yes.”

They stood like that for small stretch of time. Wolf could hold her in his arms forever.

“Did you kill him?”

Could she feel his heart skip a beat?

“There’s been a lot of people looking to kill him. He’d crossed too many people, including the Thirty-Second.” Would that answer be enough for her?

A few seconds later, Sofia leaned back, her arms still wrapped around him. “You know I will never betray you or your club. They’re a part of you and you’re a part of the club. I understand that.”

“God, Sofia, I love you more than I ever imagined. If you asked me to leave the club I would. It would hurt and I wouldn’t feel whole, but I know you would be all I need.”

The tears in her eyes proved she understood what he offered. He would give her all of his heart if she wanted it.

“But I want the whole package. So I would never ask that of you. I love you, Wolf, and I would never ask you to change. There’s plenty of room for me and the club in here.” She tapped over his heart. “I’m not jealous. You’re a Mayhem Brother and that is important to me too.”

Fuck. This woman so got him.

He kissed her until he ran out of breath.

Sofia looped a finger through his belt loop and tugged.

“Let’s do it like married folk in bed.” Her gaze went down to his jeans as she slipped a finger into the waist line. “What happened to that ugly leather belt you said Trick gave to you.”

“The one with the pot leaf designs burnt into it?”

“Yeah. That one.”

“I don’t know. Maybe someone else deserved it more.” He picked her up, and she squealed. “If we have to talk, I’d rather decide on baby names.”

“Me too. But after you show me that special skill of yours.”

“Oh, the one where I pretend to be a motorboat between your legs?” The woman made him so happy.

“Yeah. That one.