Sledge puts his hand on my back, comforting me. “You're gonna be fine. I swear, if anyone comes after either of you, they’ll have to go through us, and you see all these other motherfuckers? The same goes for them.”
“Well, I hope it doesn't come to that.” My smile is a little forced, but it really does make me feel better to hear him tell me that. “So where are we going? In there?” I look up at the warehouse, curious but a little afraid to see what’s inside.
Sledge shakes his head. “Nah, not yet. If it was just you… maybe. It’s getting late, and the clubhouse at night isn't a great place for a four-year-old. We're gonna go over to Alessa's instead. I called ahead, so she knows we're coming.”
“Alessa?” I squeeze Mia’s hand without realizing it and she lets out an unhappy grunt.
“Can I go jump?” Mia asks, pointing to a small trampoline.
“Yeah, of course you can. Let her go. It’s safe,” Havoc assures me.
I take a deep breath and open my hand so she can go play. “Sorry. I just don’t know how comfortable I feel about random club chicks right now.”
A laugh bursts out of Phoenix. “Don’t let anyone hear you say that. Alessa’s good people even if her family’s a bit fucked. She's got four men watching out for her, and three little kids running around. I don’t know exactly how old they are, but Mia should fit right in.”
“You have families living right here in the compound?” I shouldn’t be shocked if there are toys lying around, but in my short time with Dodger, I didn’t see any sign of them. Back then I was caught up in the excitement, and I was too young and insecure to ask questions. “Dodger made it sound like most of the old ladies weren’t welcome. The only other women I saw were…”
“Just the sluts and anyone they could pick up to fuck?” Havoc notes with growly disdain. “Shit, I should’ve warned you off him but I figured you were old enough to make your own decisions. There are always guys like him, but even the lost boys have to grow up sometime or it gets pathetic.”
“I wouldn’t have listened,” I tell him honestly. “I was sixteen and I knew everything. All I heard was that I could be there because I was special, not that the women who mattered weren’t allowed in.” God, I was so stupidly naive.
“Bear, Hawk, Viking and Snark would fucking revolt if they weren't allowed to keep Alessa here.” Sledge opens the gate into the low fence that surrounds a small front lawn. Tall enough to keep a small kid in while giving it a little freedom to roam. Mia runs over, eyeing a playset complete with slide and climbing wall with eager curiosity.
“Wait… that's like four guys right? Not one with a really long name?”
Phoenix laughs. “Let's just say they're real good at sharing.”
Well, wow. I glance over at Sledge who licks his lips and winks. We still haven’t talked about what happened when he came to the house. The three of them act like a team, but they wouldn’t… no way.
“That’s not normal, though, right? I mean, I’m not a prude, but I thought bikers were all growly and possessive.”
Havoc rubs the back of his neck, looking a little uncomfortable. “You don’t need to worry about it.”
“I’m not worried. I’m just curious. Jeeze, you’re my friend, not my father.”
Phoenix leans down to whisper in my ear. “I don’t think any of us would mind if you called us Daddy.”
Oh. Oh my.
The front door opens, and a woman with thick, black hair, an hourglass figure to die for and rich olive skin smiles as we approach. She's got a little boy on her hip, maybe two years old, and a second who looks barely bigger than Mia, peeking out at us from behind her leg. And behind her is one of the biggest men I've seen in my life, with a thick beard and shoulders so broadthat I think he might have to turn sideways to pass through the door.
“Welcome,” the woman says. “You must be Shelby. I'm Alessa.” She smiles at me, then looks at Mia. “And I bet you’re Mia. Dante's feeling a little shy, but he's just about your age. I bet if you come inside, you two can find something to play with.”
It’s not a fancy house, but the inside is cozy. She leads us through a kitchen into a big living room with couches and chairs enough for a small army. Then again, if there are four parents and three kids, I guess they need their space. Over in one corner is a play area with blocks, cars and (obviously) motorcycles but it looks a little young for Mia.
Dante steps forward. “You wanna see the playroom? Those are for babies.”
Alessa grins. “Let them go. We renovated the basement last year so he and Izzy could have more room. She’s eight and still finishing her homework upstairs.”
I crouch down by Mia. “You want to go look?”
Mia nods a little uncertainly, but with Mr. Bear for safety she’s happy to explore. I peek down the steps. It looks like something I would have expected to find in the little neighborhood where I’m renting, not here right in the middle of a biker compound. There’s a table for drawing, bins full of toys, Legos everywhere, and foam mats to roll around and play on.
“Just play nice, okay?”
“I know.”
Alessa puts her hand on my arm. “She’ll be fine. Do you want coffee?”