Page 6 of Whiskey

Ambrose threw his arms around her. “I like it. Maybe I could pretend to be part of Whiskey and Hennessy’s family. Can my name be a liquor too?”

Vivi didn’t know her heart could hurt any more, but hearing the longing in Ambrose’s voice to be accepted and be a part of a family gave her a lump in her throat.

“Dude, that’s a great idea. What about Lager?” Hennessy questioned.

Ambrose didn’t say anything, but his eyes indicated it wasn’t his favorite.

“How about Porter?” Whiskey suggested.

“Oh, I like that one,” Stella called as she made her way into the room. “Tasha, isn’t that a strong name?”

“Yep, I like Porter, but Lager is good too.”

“How about Evan or Ezra? They’re both types of whiskey.”

Vivi liked Beth’s answers, at least she thought that was her name. Whiskey had rescued them; it was only fitting her son’s pretend name related to Whiskey. Despite her own opinion, she was staying quiet. Ambrose deserved to pick his new name without any undue influence. She was guessing her son would choose something related to Whiskey. She could already see her son starting to believe that Whiskey was a completely different man from the men in her husband’s family.

“Oh, now I like those too. There are so many good ones to pick from.” Stella sat down on the couch across from Ambrose, nudging her daughter Tasha over. She grabbed a French fry to munch on.

Whiskey leaned down close to her ear.

“What would you like to drink? We have iced tea, water, soda, milk, and juice.”

Vivi fought back the tears. Everything was hitting her at once. Never, in all her life had a man offered to get her anything. Her dad expected women to be the servants and her husband’s family had considered her beneath the level of the family’s guard dog. Even the guard dogs had received a kind pet or praise sometimes. Vivi hadn’t. She sniffed quietly, not wanting to alarm Ambrose.

Whiskey crouched down, taking her hands in his. “It’s okay. You’ve had a really stressful day. I promise I will protect you and your son.” His hand reached up and his thumb wiped away the tear that had trickled down her cheek.

She stared into his eyes and saw the promise blazing in them. If she had one chance of making sure her family was safe, she needed to take a chance and trust this gruff biker. First, she’d trusted Justice. Now, she was taking a chance with Whiskey. She nodded, acknowledging his promise.

“I’d love some iced tea, unsweetened.”

Whiskey smiled, and his whole face changed. Those bright teeth shone through his beard, and she could see a hint of a hidden dimple. He nodded and stood, patting her shoulder before he walked off.

She glanced around the area, familiarizing herself with the exits. The door to the stairs by her room led them down into the bar’s office. She couldn’t even tell there was a door when Whiskey had carried her in the side door of the bar. It had been hidden behind a bookcase. She could see into the kitchen and to the far wall, which had the staircase to the main area of the bar. Whiskey had assured her on the drive, and again while they were in the guest room, no one could come up without his or his family’s authorization. The doors needed a code, or they couldn’t be accessed.

She looked over to see Stella staring at her. Stella mouthed “You’re safe” when she saw Vivi was looking at her.

Safe. She couldn’t remember the last time she could consider herself safe. She and Ambrose would watch and wait to make sure Whiskey and his family were really what they said.

“Here you go.”

Whiskey’s fingers brushed hers as he put the glass in her hand. He laid a platter with assorted food down, along with a juicy hamburger and French fries on a plate.

“Mom, try the burger, it’s really good,” Ambrose’s words were said around a huge bite of said burger in his mouth. When she arched her eyebrow and stared at him, he closed his mouth and finished chewing. She wanted him to be relaxed but seeing chewed up food in someone’s mouth as they talked nauseated her. At least she was far enough in her pregnancy that nausea wasn’t usually an issue. Heartburn and her Little Tot keeping her awake kicking were what she was dealing with now.

She used a knife to cut the hamburger in half. The hamburger had a slice of tomato, lettuce, and pickles. She was hungry enough that she actually didn’t care whether she liked what was on it.

She took a bite and held back a moan. Ambrose was correct. The burger was so good—juicy with the perfect blend of seasonings. Or maybe it tasted so good because she was free from the terror of their previous life. She chewed, listening to her son and a group of people she hadn’t known hours ago debate which name was best.

“Dude, it’s up to you what name you want. Do you have a favorite?” Hennessy grabbed a French fry out of Whiskey’s hand and stuffed it in his mouth. Whiskey responded by grabbing the last onion ring off Hennessy’s plate. Hennessy rolled his eyes and smiled. The men and women who had come to their aid were doing everything in their power to make her and Ambrose feel at home.

“I think I like Ezra. I had an Evan in my class. He called the girls names and wasn’t very nice. My name would fit with Whiskey’s family, too.”

Beth leaned over to fist bump Ambrose, no Ezra. Vivi catalogued her son’s features. Ezra seemed to fit him, and it would remove any reference to her late husband when she said his name.

“Well, I think you all are doing okay, so the girls and I will head home. I’m happy to come back for anything if you need it, Vivi. I know Whiskey has my number, but I want you to have it yourself. Call or text if you have any questions.” Stella stood up, handed her a card, and gathered her bag. The other girls high-fived Ezra and wished them good night. Hennessy walked them over to the stairway in the kitchen.

Now that she looked back at the stairway from the office, she couldn’t tell it was a stairway. When they’d walked up, something had slid back and opened. Now, the area looked like a console table against the wall. It made her feel a little better knowing Whiskey and his family had obviously planned this area out well.

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