Chapter Twenty Eight
We can’t keep our hands off each other on the drive home. Even if it was just my hand on his thigh, or him kissing my fingers, we stayed in contact as much as we could. We didn’t talk about his possible jail time.
I just wanted to enjoy the moment.
“How did you get involved with the Wind Dragons?” I find myself asking him.
He glances at me before answering. “After I left home, I went in search of my dad. Eric and I have different fathers, which I assume you know.”
I nod my head. Eric’s dad is a dentist who lives in Sydney.
“Turns out he was a member of the club but had died a few years back. Jim and him were best mates,” he says, sadness lacing his tone. “That’s how I met Jim. And the rest is history.”
“They became your family,” I say, looking down at our intertwined hands.
“It felt like I was close to my dad, even though he wasn’t there. It turned out that he wanted to be a part of my life, but mum said no. She didn’t want me growing up around the club, so he sent her money and that’s it. Jim did tell me that he came to my graduation, and he was proud as hell,” he says, the tone of his voice letting me know that it did mean something to him. His dad had loved him, even though he wasn’t able to be a part of his life.
My throat starts to burn. “Your mum did to him what I almost did to you.”
Clover would have gone to find her father and ended up hanging around the MC anyway.
He squeezes my hand. “All in the past babe. I’ve forgiven you, you should forgive yourself.”
“Did anyone get hurt?” I ask hesitantly. He didn’t want to talk about it, but I need to know what went down while I was away.
“Trace got shot in his arm, Rake is a little black and blue,” he says, looking straight ahead.
“Okay.” That’s not bad, I guess. “And then the cops raided the clubhouse?”
“Yeah, we had just let everyone clear out, lockdown being over when they busted in,” he replies. “People heard gunshots at the Wild Men clubhouse, and I don’t know, I guess they must have seen one of us around there. Both clubhouses were raided. Unlucky for them they were found with drugs, guns, and women who were there against their will. We were only caught with a couple of guns.”
“So they’re in big shit then?” I ask, unable to stop the slow spreading smile taking over my face.
“Bloodthirsty woman,” he mutters, but I see his lip twitching, giving away his amusement. “Now where are we going? To the clubhouse or to our house?”
I think about it. “Clubhouse. I think we should move into the house after Clover is born.”
“I love that you love it at the clubhouse,” he admits.
I shrug. “Those guys have grown on me. Everyone has, even Allie that bitch.”
Dex laughs. We’re silent for a few minutes, lost in our own thoughts.
“I miss Mary,” I whisper. “She didn’t deserve to die.”
“I know,” he replies. “She was a good woman.”
“Too good,” I say on a sigh. I hope she’s in a better place. They say death is easy, it’s living that’s hard. I love my life, and I wouldn’t say it was hard. But I understand when they say death is easy, because those people who pass away don’t have to live with the sadness and the pain of losing someone.
When we arrive at the clubhouse, my mouth drops open as I see the women standing there with pink balloons.
“What the hell is this?” I ask, excitement coursing through me.
Dex wraps his arms around me from behind. “Baby shower. This is my clue to leave. Brothers and I will be at the bar.”
Then he and anyone with a penis, within a one kilometer radius, leave the clubhouse without a backwards glance.
We walk into the living area which has a table full of wrapped gifts. Tears well in my eyes. “You guys!”
Allie smiles sadly. “Mary was planning it before...”
I give her a shaky smile then look to Cindy, Jess, and the others. “Thanks, all of you.”
“You’re welcome,” Cindy says. “Now let’s eat then play some baby shower games.”
I grin and follow them into the kitchen.
*****
“Where’s Arrow?” I ask Dex later that night when all the guys came back to the clubhouse.
Everyone goes deathly silent. “What?”
“You didn’t tell her?” Jim asks Dex.
“Tell me what? Oh my god! What happened to him?” I ask, walking up to Dex and grabbing onto the lapels of his leather jacket. “Is he okay? You said he was okay?”
“He’s in jail babe, I didn’t want to stress you out any more,” he says, putting his hands on my stomach.
“Why is he still in there?” I ask. “What priors did he have?”
All the men exit the room. What the f*ck?
“He didn’t get take in on gun possession, he got taken in on murder charges,” Dex says, his eyes betraying the casualness of his tone.
“What?” I gasp, shaking my head no. “No. No this is not happening.”
Arrow? My mind races.
Flashbacks.
Him cooking breakfast naked. Him smiling at Mary. Him staring at my stomach like I was contagious.
“Club lawyer is on it,” Dex says. “Let him do his job.”
“When I’m the club lawyer, no one is going to f*cking jail,” I mutter, my voice cracking.
Dex grips my chin. “When?”
“When.”
He lowers his head and gives me a possessive, lingering kiss that makes my head spin. “Baby shower’s over yeah?”
“It can be,” I reply against his lips.
“Good,” he replies. His eyes touch every feature on my face. He pushes his hips against me, letting me feel how hard he is. “See, triple chin, and I’m still hard as a f*ckin’ rock.”
I gasp. “You ass—”
Another kiss cuts me off. He walks me backwards into our bedroom, mouths still attached.
Soon, our clothes are on the floor, and Dex is right where he belongs.