As much as I wanted to kill Lenny, the Memphis bosses wouldn’t be happy. At least, they’d want me to wait until the games were over. Arlo always complained when he was inconvenienced. “I hate to micromanage,” he told me a thousand times.
I allowed Lenny to save face even while forcing him to back down. The other guys understood the rules regarding Harlow and I retained my position as top dog. Even scaring the shit out these men, I decided it wouldn’t hurt to call a few loyal people to let them know who to kill if I went missing in Ellsberg.
Chapter Nineteen ~ Harlow
Farah lived in a nice house in the suburbs with her handsome, rich, MC president husband and their new baby. Everything was picturesque in her life, yet she seemed tense when answering the door. Dark hair hanging loose around her shoulder, Farah stared with big, worried brown eyes that betrayed the smile on her face.
Inside the house, I found everyone had already arrived. Winnie sat with Jace who was working on his school assignment. Lark held her son Leo while Raven held her niece Phoebe. Next to them, Tawny held her niece Lily. Finally, I smiled at Maddy holding her daughter Scarlet in the kitchen.
“Was I supposed to bring a kid?” I asked.
Bailey appeared behind me with Sawyer and nodded. “It’s just like Harlow to come empty-handed.”
“Hello, B. Shouldn’t you be in class?”
“I skipped so I could take part in this intervention.”
“Who are we ganging up on? Are you sure it’s not you?”
Sitting next to Winnie, Bailey waved her hand dismissively. Sawyer yanked on Jace’s hand and he followed her into the backyard. Once the older kids were gone, everyone looked at me.
“We’re worried about you,” Lark said softly.
“Why?”
“Because you’re stupid,” Raven answered helpfully. “It’s not your fault. Saint’s hotness has made you dumb. We’re here to help.”
Farah wrapped an arm around me and guided me to an empty chair. “Ignore her. We care about you and want to make sure you’re okay.”
“I don’t need help.”
“My lush uncle said the same thing at his intervention,” Maddy announced while bouncing a cranky Scarlet.
Bailey opened her mouth to make a rude comment to her sister-in-law then changed her mind. “I’m nice now.”
“Are we not eating lunch?” I asked.
Raven looked up from where she was playing with Leo. “We’ll eat after we do the group pity thing.”
Frowning, I crossed my arms and waited for them to judge me. I could handle it. I was ready for whatever they dished out. Well, until Winnie gave me her sad-eyed look.
“This guy is a killer.”
“So is Cooper, Judd, Vaughn, and Tucker. Oh and I doubt Dylan got patched into the club based on his boyish good looks. So what’s your point?”
“You don’t know anything about him,” Farah said when Winnie fell silent.
“You didn’t know anything about Cooper until you got to know him. We didn’t know anything about each other in the beginning. I think you’re all being obnoxious to think what you have is different.”
“So you think Saint is the one?” Raven asked. “I mean, are you planning to be Mrs. Saint?”
Bailey snorted. “Mrs. Saint.”
While Raven gave Bailey a wink, Tawny stood up and walked to me. Looking so much like her older sister, she knelt in front of my chair.
“I knew Judd was special even when he was grumpy with me. I just felt it deep in my gut. He seemed all wrong maybe, but he made sense to me. We don’t know Saint, but you do. If you say he’s a good man, I’ll believe you. You’re no fool when it comes to men.”
I smiled. “Thanks, Tawny. I appreciate you treating me like an adult and not a child,” I said, glaring at Bailey then Raven.
“You moved into his place like after a day,” Bailey whined, standing up and walking over. “Who the hell does that? I didn’t do that and I’ve been known on occasion to be impulsive.”
“Saint is only in town for a short time. It’s not like I have a lot of time for him to train me before he leaves.”
“Training you to do what?”
“To be stronger and learn how to handle myself in a fight.” The girls studied me with expressions that said I was lying. Wanting them to believe me, I continued. “He challenges me, but not in a mean way that makes me shut down or lash out.”
“I don’t get it,” said Bailey.
“He’s hot and makes her feel good about herself,” Tawny said, bumping Bailey out of the way. “Harlow has this handled.”
“Maybe you do,” Raven announced, walking over with Leo. “I’d just keep in mind how you’re the only girl on the paintball team. There might be a bet among the out of town guys to see who bangs you. Just saying you ought to be careful and trust no one. Well except us. We’re always solid.”
“I’m not dumb or too trusting,” I muttered, now worried Saint’s interest in me were a game.
Farah walked over, using Lily as a buffer between her and the other girls. The cute baby thing worked every time.