***Orianna***

 

“Your house is amazing,” I gush while hugging Austin tight to my chest.

I’m afraid to put him down. Hell, I was sure I was dead set on holding him tight for the rest of my life. Well, maybe pass him to Pokey every once in a while, because there would be bathroom breaks in the near future. But yeah…that’s how protective and on edge I am about his safety.

It’s pretty needless at this point, because when I set one foot inside Everleigh’s house it was clear; this is the safest place in the whole world. For real, the President of the United States would be very jealous if he knew about her place and would fly over here to hide in case of something insane happening. No wonder the guys back at the clubhouse were talking about it.

The outside looks like a gray, solid brick. The windows have moving walls to cover up said windows. But the inside? Wow. It’s just amazing with all this new, top of the line, design stuff. The living room is built around an inset square couch covered with white leather. Silver balls hang from the ceiling giving an amazing glow to the center of the room.

The whole room is covered in a light gray floor, that looks like wood but is all tile. A large, dark gray stairwell on the left leads to the second floor where Everleigh has eight bedrooms and three bathrooms. She did an amazing job creating a home she feels safe in.

Everleigh gives me a shy smile. “It was a project of mine I got to finalize over the last few months. I’ve had the blueprints for years and finally had the nerve to solidify them when Brandlee called me to come live here. It’s not completely decorated yet, but the top floor and the living room are. The kitchen still needs some more work and the basement where I have my game room planned is all concrete.”

“What game room?” Sico’s voice sounds even, with not even a spark of interest coming through.

Everleigh doesn’t even turn to address him. “That’s my point, asswipe. Didn’t you just hear me state it’s all concrete. So yeah, what game room? Duh.”

“Okay, you two. Play nice. Austin needs happy vibes around him, not killer ones,” Pokey states as he takes Austin and leans in to rub his nose against Austin’s tiny one. “You comin’ with daddy? Gonna take a nap nap? With Fuzzbutt? Come, little man. Let’s get you all tucked in.”

My eyes are on Pokey and Austin when I hear Sico’s voice drop low, yet it reaches my ears. “Simi, can I look over the plans of the game room? I’d like to see those.”

Glancing over, I see Everleigh cross her arms in front of her. “Why would you? And stop calling me Simi. It makes my skin crawl. It’s Everleigh. Only my parents and my brother used to call me Simone. My parents are gone and Lee learned to stick with Everleigh. For real, why shorten it to a nickname anyway? No one has ever called me Simi, it’s weird.”

The left corner of Sico’s mouth tips up. “I like it.” He steps closer to her and leans in. Her eyes widen a bit when he closes in on her personal space. “Now show me, Simi.”

I see her breath hitch and I have to smile. She’s clearly shaken up. Everleigh steps back and rubs a hand over the back of her neck.

“Desk in the corner, third drawer on the right, that’s where the blueprints of the game room are stashed.” She squeaks before turning and heading in the opposite direction. “I’m gonna grab some snacks I made earlier.”

When my attention goes back to Pokey, I see his bright smile. Clearly, he saw their interaction too. He told me about his conversation with Sico. I’m glad Sico knows about Everleigh. Those two need to clear things and most of all? Everleigh deserves better. Ugh. I hate to say it…but Sico deserves to be happy too.

This is also the first time he’s ruffled her feathers in a good way. Not what he used to do, poke a bear and gut it in the process. That little change has thrown her out of her element. Yes. This might just be what they need to ease the tension between them.

Pokey’s eyes find mine. “I’m gonna put Austin down for his nap. Then I need to call my sister.”

“Sonofanelephant,” I mutter, trying to watch my curses around Austin, because before I know it he’ll be able to speak and with these men around us and their foul mouths? Yes, rein in the bad words.

We were supposed to take Austin to his sister’s today. That’s right, a big family meeting. I’ve talked to his sister, Audrey, three times on the phone already. She seems very sweet. I first thought she would hate me because of what happened between Pokey and me. Yet, she knew everything and understood my version and didn’t so much as waste two words about it until we were rambling about pregnancies, birth, babies, and kids.

We were supposed to get the kids and us together to meet face to face for the first time. I guess that will have to wait, for our safety and theirs. Disappointment slices through me.

“Hey.” Pokey lifts my chin using two fingers. “I’ll just reschedule. It’s no big deal. Casey will clear this thing up before you know it.”

“We were all looking forward to it.” I sulk.

His chuckle warms my chest. “I know, sweetheart, I know. All in good time. Now, are you gonna help me with Austin? Maybe we can watch a movie in our room, give Fuzzbutt some attention to snuggle up.”

I feel a smile spreading my face. “Only if I’m allowed to snuggle up too.”

“Ugh, yuck, you guys. Snuggling triggers my gag reflex, get a room already.” Sico rolls his eyes.

Pokey’s phone starts to ring. He hands Austin to me as he takes the call. “Zack, what’s up?”

“They’ve made contact. I need for you guys to stay put. Do not leave that fucking house. They know exactly where you are. I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes.” There’s no trace of bullshit in his voice, only the bark of information and orders loud enough for even me to hear.

Seeing Pokey lowering his hand, Zack didn’t give him a chance to reply and must have disconnected.

“The Cape Town crew made contact. Zack’s coming over, we’re not to leave this place,” Pokey repeats the words Zack gave him.

“Dandy. Juuuuuust dandy,” Ransom mutters as he places his hands behind his head and snuggles into the couch some more.

“What?” Pokey snaps.

Ransom shrugs his shoulders. “Nothin’. You know how these things work. ‘They’ve made contact’ that’s either a threat, or a retreat. Either way, it’s a puff of steam.”

“My fucking kid and ol’lady are at stake here, Ransom. That’s no fucking puff of steam,” Pokey roars.

Ransom shoots off the couch. “I didn’t fucking mean it like that, fucker. It’s a loop. This Crew is anything but organized so they will make some waves and dive under. Either brilliant or stupid as fuck. Both dangerous. Why? Because the grenade says it all. They were going for a real one and ended up with the flash grenade. What if they wanted the flash grenade but ended up with a real one, huh? A puff of steam. Heat thrown with cold. Can’t fucking see through that shit. Get me now, dumbass?”

I can see Pokey’s ready to rip Ransom’s head off. Before Pokey takes a step forward, I place a hand on his chest, keeping him in place.

I pin Ransom with a deadly glare. “Can everyone stop calling my man a dumbass? Seriously, all of you need to stop and think before you shove your foot in your mouth. Aren’t we supposed to work together and have each other’s backs?”

Sico strolls over and takes Austin from me, brushing his finger along my son’s cheek before he hands him to Pokey. “Go on up and get your kid settled for his nap. That’s what’s important, man. You, your ol’lady and the kid.”

Wow. Did Pokey punch him in the head when he had that talk with Sico? Reformat his brain in the process or something? Because Sico’s behavior is so unlike him.

Pokey gently takes Austin as he shakes his head. “You seeing the light or some bright shit? I don’t want to jinx you acting close to normal and not an uglyass, manwhore dick, but fuck…this feels weird.”

“Who wants sushi?” Everleigh says, strolling back into the living room.

Sico’s head turns, lowering his eyebrows before he glances at Pokey, winks, and returns his attention to Everleigh. “I don’t eat fish. I’m allergic.”

“Allergic?” Everleigh’s eyes narrow.

Seems like she questions the same thing I’m wondering….is he up to something?

“Yeah, allergic.” Sico smirks. “The smell reminds me of a cunt. Makes my dick swell. But that might be just your scent, because others nowadays are more in the direction of a skunk squirting their unpleasant smell around.”

“For the love of God,” Everleigh mutters before she pins him with a deadly glare. “Comparing cunts to skunks and seafood…why do you have to refer to a pussy with degrading statements? I’m surprised you even know how one smells, let alone tastes, since you sure as hell never put your mouth on one. So that kinda solves your allergy.”

Others nowadays are more in the direction of a skunk squirting their unpleasant smell around. Give her scent a compliment, degrading all others. Does she even notice what Sico is saying with his cryptic statement?

“Bring me some of those, doll. They sound delicious, and allergic or not, I’ll take or try anything that leads to hard penis illness.” Ransom tries to keep a steady voice but barks out his laughter as soon as the last word tumbles from his lips.

Sico walks over to Everleigh, leans in and murmurs something in her ear. Her eyes go wide. He takes the wooden tray she’s holding and strolls over to where Ransom is standing. Ransom licks his bottom lip when he eyes the sushi. Before he can lift his hand to take something, Sico tilts the plate. As if in slow motion, everything lands on the floor while the plate smacks Ransom on the side of his face.

“Not your doll, fucker. Don’t ever fucking talk to her that way, she’s mine.” He’s ready to smack him again but Ransom punches him in the face. The plate follows the food on the floor and soon two bodies are rolling around in it, throwing punches in every direction.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to say ‘Don’t you need to do something about that’ and yet Pokey is watching it with a big grin and even Everleigh is smirking. The doorbell rings but both Sico and Ransom don’t even notice.

Everleigh checks the display before she presses a button to open the door. Zack strolls in with Dams behind him.

“What the fuck?” Zack growls before he strides over to where Sico and Ransom are still fighting.

Dodging a fist here and an elbow there, he manages to rip Sico away, who was on top of Ransom.

“Cut it the fuck out. I warned you not to push his buttons, Ransom. I gave you a direct order,” Zack bellows.

Everleigh walks up and hands Ransom a bag of peas. “Here you go.”

Ransom takes it but doesn’t place it on his face, or his hands for that matter. He just eyes Sico who’s trying to shoot daggers at him.

Offering it back, Ransom adds, “You might want to take it over to your ol’man, Everleigh.”

A sly smile spreads her face. “Nah. I like him with war wounds. You, on the other hand, need to heal fast, because I’m sure you’ll fuck up and he will give you another look like that very soon. So, as I said…you need to heal.”

Sico puffs up his chest, all the anger he showed with his glaring a moment before long gone. Seems like Everleigh’s words calmed the angry beast.

Zack massages his temples with his fingertips while he mutters, “Why in the hell is every biker in this club a fucking idiot?”

“Everyone sit the fuck down,” Dams snaps.

Austin releases a high-pitched yelp at the harshness in Dams’ voice.

“Watch your fucking mouth around my kid.” Pokey soothes Austin while I glare at Dams.

“What a freaking mess I brought all of you into. And seriously, are all of you always like this? All fun and loving? Bet no one gets bored when they are around people that wear an Areion Fury MC cut, right?” I sigh.

“Come, sweetheart, let’s go upstairs for a moment. These idiots can entertain themselves for a bit.” Pokey shakes his head at his brothers.

I bend forward to place a kiss on my son’s head. “Go on up. I’ll make a bottle for him and be right there.”

He strolls off and I head in the direction of the kitchen. I sense someone following me. Looking over my shoulder, I see Dams leaning against the doorway while I make myself busy with fixing Austin’s bottle.

“You didn’t bring anyone into a mess. You know that, right?” Dams’ voice is steady and although it might be put out there as a question, nothing in his voice tells me it is.

Gripping the counter with one hand, I face him. “It’s kinda hard not to think that way. First the bathroom thing, then Austin, then the Cape Town Crew. Not Pokey, not you, not any of you…nope…me. All connected and everything involves me. So please, keep the ‘I didn’t bring anyone in this’ excuse to yourself. I’m dealing. Pokey made it clear he’s right there next to me. With that, I have all of you, insane idiots, no offense, right there behind us. But it’s a huge thing to process, okay? But we’re building a solid relationship. One with a foundation. Everything is so new with us and we finally had sex, just a few hours ago. That’s huge, we weren’t…”

Dams looks like he’s in pain. Oh, shit. Did I really throw the whole ‘we finally had sex’ in there too?

“Yeah, that last part? Didn’t need to hear it. I mean I’m happy for you guys and all, but shit. You need to leave some of this stuff behind you. It might look, or feel, like the two of you have only been in a relationship for a blink of an eye, but in reality, you two were tied to each other from the moment you both walked into that bathroom. Pokey was all in before that; you were, and are, his only priority. From what I’ve heard, the same thing has been said about you. Throw in Austin…boom, solid foundation wrapped in a relationship that was created months ago.” He shakes his head and releases a deep breath before he continues. “It just hits me hard because I want that family combination so bad. I can’t wait to be a dad.”

I close my eyes and my lips curl around my teeth while I bite down hard. I will not tell, I will not tell. Not my secret to spill. If Nerd won’t tell him she’s pregnant it is none of my business.

I can feel someone breathing very close to me. Peeking through one eye, I see Dams standing very close.

“You know something, don’t you?” Again with a question that’s really not a question at all.

Spinning around, I grab the bottle that’s done and hightail it out of the kitchen.

“Her tits felt…her taste…different…horny as fuck…Son of a bitch.” Dams’ bellow follows me out of the kitchen.

Yep…none of my business. None of my…shit…sorry Nerd. I think your secret is out but I didn’t even spill one word.