As if on cue, Throttle and Axe came over with four glasses full of amber liquid. Banger took one from Axe and drank a big gulp. “I needed this, brother.”
“Thought you would,” Axe said as he brought his glass to his mouth. “This is a kickass turnout.”
“Cara said it’s gonna double last year’s profits easily. Good to see people helping out the kids.” Hawk took a few bacon-wrapped shrimp and gave one to Throttle.
“Hear you’re gonna be a daddy.” Banger cupped Axe’s shoulder.
“Yeah. Fuck, how the hell am I supposed to know what to do? I never had a real dad.”
“It just falls into place, I guess.” Throttle took a bite out of the appetizer.
“Just make sure you love him and are there for him no matter what,” Banger said.
“I still can’t believe we’re going to have a baby, but it’s going to be okay. Baylee’s designing our house. Do we have a clue who destroyed the toys?”
Banger narrowed his eyes. “When we catch the sonofabitch, I’m gonna kill him. I’m sure it’s related to the shit that’s been goin’ on in the town.”
“He’s probably the same asshole who broke into Jax’s house and scared the shit outta Cherri,” Throttle replied.
“Cara gave me the name of a guy she suspects. She just knew his first name but got a partial plate number and description of the car. I gave it to Blade and he got a match this morning. He went over to the dude’s place, but he wasn’t around. Looks like he owns some property outside of town.” Hawk motioned a waiter over and ordered four more whiskeys.
“We’ll head out there tomorrow and pay this fucker a visit. Tonight I have all the brothers and the prospects on high alert. If the asshole’s gonna pull something tonight, we’re gonna nab him,” Banger said.
“Why don’t you guys circulate a bit?” Belle asked as she came over.
The dark green evening dress showed off her figure, and Banger loved the sheer top that hinted at something only he had the right to see behind closed doors. Pulling her to him, he kissed her and patted her ass. “We don’t fuckin’ ‘circulate,’ woman.”
“Especially with citizens,” Throttle added.
“Yeah, babe. We’re good.” Banger winked at her.
Rolling her eyes, she held up her hands. “You guys are impossible. Do you know where Cara is, Hawk?”
“Last time I saw her, she was on the stage fixin’ some shit.”
“I bet she’s making sure everything’s set when Santa comes out.” Belle rushed off toward the stage.
“Remember when we had ribs and slaw and the event was at Steelers? That was a blast. None of this fancy shit, just good food, whiskey, and a whole lot of people coming out to raise money for the kids.” Throttle shook his head.
“That was before we got old ladies who wanted to kick it up a notch. What can I say? I’m guilty of bringing a rich girl into the fold.” Hawk spread his arms out. “This is all my woman knows. She wouldn’t have a clue how to have a laid-back fundraiser.”
“You better keep her outta the bike rallies,” Axe said, and the men chuckled.
“But we never raised the money like we are now for some of our charities.” Banger clasped his hand on Hawk’s shoulder. “Your woman has done good.”
Hawk nodded, his lips twitching.
Wheelie and Rags came over and fist bumped with Banger and the others. Rags jerked his head toward a pretty woman in a formfitting red dress covered in beads that shimmered under the lights. “Our horny client is here.”
Throttle glanced over, his eyes widening. “Damn. Mrs. Christiansen. There’s no way in fuck I want her to see me. If she starts shit, Kimber will belt her one, and Cara will fuckin’ kill me.”
“You got something with her?” Hawk asked, looking over at her.
“Nah. She’s a bored housewife who wants some cock. We got a lot of those. This one’s just more persistent than the others.”
“Did you give Kimber her ring?” Wheelie asked.
“Tonight.” Throttle downed the rest of his whiskey.
When Tigger and Sofia joined in, Banger saw Wheelie run his eyes over the petite woman, and then he stiffened when Tigger high-fived him. As they talked, Banger saw Sofia and Wheelie steal glances at each other, smiles whispering on their lips. Coldness ran through him, and he made a note to talk to Wheelie in the morning.
The dinner was catered by Gourmet Bites, and Banger had to admit the steak was fucking great. Kylie sat across from him, and she looked all grown up in her sleeveless ice-blue dress. He watched the way Jerry leaned in close to her, stroked her cheek, laughed at her jokes, and looked at no one but her, and he knew she’d found the right man to take care of her. It didn’t mean Banger wasn’t still going to give Jerry shit—he had to make sure the brother kept in line—but a large part of him relaxed knowing his little girl would be taken care of.
“I like this,” Harley said as he shoved a forkful of mashed potatoes in his mouth.
Banger laughed. “You fixin’ to see Santy Claus tonight?”
Bobbing his head up and down, tendrils of hair fell over Harley’s forehead. “Ya. Brashton and me are gonna get there first.”
“You have to let the other kids go first, honey. Remember we talked about it at home?” Belle wiped his face with her napkin.
With his bottom lip out, eyes narrowed, and jaw clenched, Harley crossed his arms without saying a word. He’s Insurgents material. Banger’s chest expanded.
A woman came up to Belle while they were finishing their food. She glanced at Banger, then bent down and whispered something in Belle’s ear that made her brow crease.
“What’s going on?” Banger asked.
“Lindi’s husband wants to leave. Oh… Lindi, this is my husband, Banger, and this is Lindi.”
Banger shook her hand. “If you need a ride home afterward, we can take you.”
Lindi gave a weak smile. “That’s not it, but thanks. Dale, my husband, said he’d play Santa tonight, and now he’s trying to back out. I really don’t know what his problem is. I guess it stems back from when he was a child. He never talks about it, but he’s told me the holidays were a nightmare.” She shrugged. “He just hates Christmas, but he promised he’d be Santa. What’re we going to do, Belle?”
As the women talked, Banger’s mind went back to his Christmas past when his mother would slave for days making food for their holiday dinner, then sit glumly and pick at her meal while his dad would whisper things into his mistress’s ear and feed her. To this day, he hated his father for humiliating his mother that way.
“Daddy, can I go over to Brashton’s table? I’m finished eating,” Harley said.
Jerking his head back, the past fled and he looked at his boy. “Okay, but I’ll walk you over.”
“You don’t have to. I’m big now.”
He chuckled. “I know you are, but there are too many people, and most of them are bigger than you. That’s the deal. Take it or stay here with Mommy and me.”