Chapter Ten
Handle
Fuck me. I understood how a person could change once they had a good woman at their side. I felt full. Full of love, and that shit was a wicked way to be. Christ, blessed would be the best way to describe how I felt when I’d admitted my feelings to the woman I loved, and for her to return them. The way she trusted me, and that we were having a baby gripped my heart. Wasn’t that long ago I thought I’d never get over the pain of losing someone, but grasping something new in life, learning and loving with another person had me thinking it was possible.
I knew it was going to be a rocky road ahead. There’d be times, like before, doubt would swarm Del’s mind, but at least she’d let me beat it back for her.
“You happy, brother?” Dallas asked as we made our way into church. We left our women in the kitchen eating toasted sandwiches.
“Jesus, yes.”
“A kid.”
No reply was necessary when he saw my huge-arse grin. The thought of being a dad had crossed my mind back in the past. I had good parents. They’d died when I was in my early twenties, near crushed my world until I’d met Jenny. But they’d been the best parents anyone could ask for.
I planned to be a fuckin’ amazing father, and I knew with the Hawks family at my back, Del and I would have all the support we’d need.
“You know if everythin’ is all right with the baby?” Dallas asked.
I didn’t want to think about that. “I’ll make sure of it. Move mountains to make sure everything is sweet for the rest of our lives.”
“Her ’rents?”
My upper lips raised. “Her adoptive parents aren’t in her life now.”
“Tiny told me there could have been hope for the mum. Just the dad was running the show.”
Grunting, I shook my head. “Been fuckin’ months and she ain’t reached out to Del. Don’t see it happening with the cunt of a father around.”
“Think for a minute, brother. How would your woman react if she had her mum, adoptive or not, back in her life right now?”
Christ. She’d shine from it if her mum gave her support.
“Yeah, I see you’re thinkin’ it,” Dallas commented. “Think some more. Sure you could come up with somethin’.” We stopped just out front of the room. “Glad you found your light, brother. Fuckin’ glad.”
Clenching my jaw, I gave him a chin lift. He grinned and then opened the door. We both walked in to find it full. All seats were taken, so we stood up the back with other brothers around us. As I looked around, I noticed some brothers were missing. They’d be either at the strip clubs, with Elvis, patrolling, or out front guarding. My eyes landed on the new guys. Didn’t know much about Killer or Griz, only that they were respected brothers, but I knew Stoke since he was Nary’s father and had been stayin’ in Melbourne for a while, hunting for his girl when her shit had happened.
“Right,” Dodge started. “Let’s get this meeting done.” His gavel hit down on the long wooden table. “As you all know, the drive-by shooter disappeared. At the time we suspected Python, a member of Venom MC. I’ve just got back from having a meet with their prez, Blackie. The car we saw in the drive-by Blackie confirmed as Python’s.” Brothers started cursing and saying shit, until Dodge held up his hand. “Course he wasn’t around at their compound for us to seek our vengeance, so we’re back on the hunt, brothers.”
“Is Blackie gonna be a problem?” Killer asked.
“No. He’s wiped his hands of Python, kicked him out, so we’re free to hunt the motherfucker down and make him bleed like he did to Elvis and Lan.”
“Why’s Blackie so quick to get rid of him?” Muff asked.
“Blackie ain’t stupid. He knows we got more men than him. He doesn’t want Hawks as an enemy. Besides that, this Python dick is dealin’ drugs and doesn’t care where he’s doin’ it. Apparently, Python’s even thinkin’ of comin’ into our territory.”
“Just let the fucker try,” Pick snarled.
My eyes moved to Fang, sitting next to Pick, and I saw his body practically vibrating. His anger was thick in the room.
“Fang,” Dodge called.
His head turned slightly, his eyes moving from the table. “What?”
“You able to hold it together?”
“Yes,” he clipped.
“Brother, know she’s been in your past—”
“She’ll be my future soon.”
“Until then, we know she’s somethin’ to you, and this Python guy wants her, but you gotta keep a clear head. Not only for you, but for her too.”
“I will,” he stated darkly.
“Isn’t her dad a Venom?” someone called out.
Fang stood, his chair slamming into the floor. “So fuckin’ what? I used to be one as well, and I still got some mates left in that club. You got a problem with it? Not gonna have my back now?”
No one said anything.
“We got your back, brother,” Vicious called. “Need all the info we have on Python. Did you used to hang with him in the day?”
Fang sucked in a deep breath, ran a hand over his head, and then shook it. “No, he’s a new recruit. Got in just after I left. Poppy didn’t actually date him. They went on a couple of dates, but she didn’t like what she saw, so she refused to go out with him again. He didn’t like that. Claimed her without telling her, so he thinks he owns her.”
“Does she know where he hangs when not at Venom’s compound?” Billy asked.
“No. Two dates, that’s all she had with him, and he didn’t give her much information on himself.”
Wasn’t hard to guess Fang didn’t like the fact this Poppy bird had two dates in the first place with the guy.
“So we got nothin’ to go on to find the fucker?” Dallas asked.
“If he’s that obsessed with her, he’ll come lookin’ again,” Muff said.
“She’ll not be bait,” Fang roared.
“Fuck me, calm the hell down, brother. No one said anything about bait. It’s an obvious fact he’s got it bad for her. We’ll keep her protected,” Dodge stated.
“What’s the plan then?” Griz put in.
“We go to the street, find out who’s been buyin’ off Python, and see what they know of the guy,” I suggested.
Dodge nodded. “Good. We still got businesses to run so we’ll be rotating everything around between all of us. I’ll get Low and Josie on it, and you’ll get a text or email with the roster. I’m headin’ out with Killer, Stoke, Gamer, and Griz. We’re goin’ back to Venom’s to talk to their new recruits, see if any of them came in with Python. Got the feelin’ from Blackie the guy isn’t smart enough to work alone. Someone’s gotta know somethin’.”
“Fang and Vicious, you’re both on Poppy. Watch her like a hawk, brothers.” They both got up and left. “Got Eden at the hospital with Elvis. Three brothers each at the strip club and already got eight roaming the streets. I’ll give them the word on what to hunt for. You lot, get back to your women or if you don’t have one, get some motherfuckin’ sleep because it’ll be your turn tomorrow.” With that, he picked up the gavel and banged it on the table.
I wished I could head out and help the brothers, but I was grateful I wasn’t on duty since I had a woman to claim fully. At least Dallas and I would get our turn the next night. The room cleared out. Dallas and I headed back to the kitchen, only to freeze just outside the door.
Hell had shown and was in the kitchen with our women.
“Can we just leave?” Dallas whispered.
“I’m not leavin’ Del,” I snapped.
“I’m not going in there.”
“Man up, brother.” I smirked.
“Jesus.” Dallas groaned. “Fine, you go in first.”
“No. You.” Crossing my arms over my chest, I eyed Dallas.
“Pussy,” he snarled. Sighing, he ran a hand over his face and then took a deep breath. We’d need patience to deal with the situation in the kitchen, a truckload of patience.
Dallas entered, and then I heard, “Oh, there’s my superhero. Come give me some sugar.”
Cursing under my breath, I followed Dallas in. Julian gasped. “Handle, my hot meat, I just heard the great news.”
My eyes shot to Del’s. She smiled and said, “That we’re together.”
Right, so not about the baby.
“That’s right.” Julian clapped. “And good timing. I was in town visiting Josie, with Mattie and Aeila, so I thought I’d come over to see my two other girls. Also so I could set Della up with a hunk of muscle in Ballarat, but alas, she’s now off the market. Which is a shame, since I think you and Jared would have hit it off.”
“Julian,” Melissa started. “If you want to keep your handsome face as is, I wouldn’t continue talking about setting Della up.”
Julian looked, smiling might I add, like he didn’t have a care in the world. Meanwhile, I was fuckin’ furious and scowling at him. Thank fuck Del and I had sorted our shit out. If she’d taken Julian up on dating fuckface Jared, there’d be killing happening.
“Settle down, bad-boy biker. I had hoped you had a hard-on for our Della since she thinks roses drop out of your arse, which is a fine arse I will add, and since you do, it’s all worked out. Everyone’s happy.”
Della groaned, planting her forehead on the table. My lips twitched. “Julian,” she mumbled, lifting to glare at him. “Can you not talk about Finn’s arse?”
“Finn’s fine arse. Aw, you two are all seriously involved now. I can tell since you’re using his real name, well, a shortened version of it. Isn’t that right, Finnegan?” Before I could wrap my hands around his neck to shut him up, he went on, “It’s so damn sweet I’m getting a tooth ache.” Julian sighed, then faced Della more. “And, babe, good to see you’re possessive over him. So proud you’re coming into your biker-bitch badness.”
“Fuck me, can we just gag him?” Dallas asked, turning his pleading eyes to his woman.
“Yes,” I agreed. Fucking Talon’s woman, Wildcat, probably shared my full name with Julian; she seemed to have a thing about learning them all.
“No.” She grinned.
“Del and I are heading to my room.”
“Do. Not. Fuckin’. Leave. Me,” Dallas clipped low and slow.
Snorting, I went to the cabinets, grabbed some fruit and snacks, then held my hand out to Della. “Come on, darlin’.”
She was up and out of her chair in seconds. Dallas was edging towards the door until Melissa cleared her throat. “Viking man, we’re going home—”
He spun. “We are?”
“Yes.” She grinned again, only it was a little evil. “But first, we’re dropping Julian’s car back to Mattie so Julian can come with us and be picked up later.”
“Kill me now,” Dallas muttered.
“Oh, I love our bonding time too.” Julian winked.
Dallas’s hard gaze turned to his woman. “Drinks, lots of them, and you’d better make it up to me later.”
“You know I will,” she cooed, making her way to him to wrap her arms around his neck and whisper something into his ear.
“Well, all right then.” He nodded.
“Have fun,” I called. Dallas gave me the finger.
“Hold up,” Melissa called, her eyes for her friend alone. “You’re staying here tonight?”
Della glanced from Melissa and up to me, her smile shy. “Yes.” She nodded. Looking back to Melissa, she said again. “Yes, I am.”
Fuck yes, she was.
Shit… I had to clean my room first. My pregnant woman was not stepping foot into the mess in there. No way in hell.