Page 9 of Making Choices

Because it’s clear to me that my prez isn’t done meddling in his daughter’s relationship now that he’s made it clear he prefers to make a deal between the Maddison’s and the Shamrocks over harmony within our MC. With Hunter going off half-cocked and Venom too busy pursuing his theory about Brutus being a rat to see that he’s leaving his woman vulnerable to her father’s head games, I can’t help but worry.

Although I try to be a supportive best friend, since I know better than most how much shit they’ve gone through to find their forever together, it rankles when I see him taking Cherub for granted.

I love the woman to death.

Probably too much for a man in my position.

Can’t help it, though. She’s perfect in my eyes. Too smart to fall into the easy ride that comes with being a biker princess. Regal as a queen yet down-to-earth. Beautiful but not obnoxious about it. Quick to anger, even quicker to forgive the people she loves. Cherub’s too caring. Too determined to save everyone from themselves. Too everything—and Venom turns her loyalty into a weakness every time he takes advantage of it.

Lilianna Mayberry deserves the world, not a man who acts like she needs fixing.

I would treat her like the duchess she is if given half the chance…

As quickly as that thought enters my head, I push it away to concentrate extra hard on creating a security plan for the hospital and the Shamrocks compound.

Venom’s tone is brittle when he gives up on me and addresses the others. “The rest of you are leavin’ with us. Between me, Hunter, and Toker, we’ll safely escort you to the van. Hunter can drive you back to the compound, and any brothers not on sentry duty tonight will meet us there.”

Without sparing a glance my way, Hunter leaves the hospital waiting room. The Mayberry kids’ oldest cousin follows. From the corner of my eye, I watch them huddle near the exit until Toker yells that the coast is clear, then Venom pulls rank to herd the rest of them into the hallway.

Phone in my hand, I step into the doorway to watch their six as they leave and grimace when I see little Cherub drop back to walk with Venom. They link fingers. My best friend orients himself so that Cherub becomes his centre of gravity. The beautiful blonde leans into him and stretches to her full height so she can murmur something in his ear.

Seeing them mend the distance between them is bittersweet like usual.

Bitter because if things had been different, Cherub would’ve been mine.

Sweet since I take comfort from the knowledge that I lost her to the best man I know.

Venom’s entire existence revolves around his woman.

And that’s why I remain content(ish) to keep my thoughts to myself.

I might step up whenever the universe tries to wreck what they have, but I’ll never overstep because I trust that when the going gets tough, Venom will take care of Cherub while she takes care of everyone else.

When the doors to the elevator close with a loud ping, I shake myself free of my morose thoughts to retake a seat in the waiting room. It takes me a moment to bring my attention back to my half-finished rotating roster of enforcers. We’re going to be spread thin until the other chapters arrive to help us keep the hospital safe so Fret can recover from being kidnapped and tortured while still ensuring the compound remains impenetrable.

It doesn’t help that this isn’t our usual hospital.

We don’t know the layout as well as we should since we’ve only been here twice before.

Once, eleven years ago, on the worst day of my life.

And, a second time, seven years later, when Cherub was recovering from Alex’s first attack.

Neither time was pleasant.

Both occasions I refuse to think about too hard.

If I do, I’m liable to prematurely end up in the dark hole I find myself in each year.

When I open up the recent message thread between me and Cub, a grin lifts my lips. I was going to text him for the schematics of the five-story building I’ve been left to secure, only to find that he’s already sent them to me. Our inaugural technology officer is, as usual, one step ahead of us. The fight Venom had with Brutus and the old timers to make them see the sense in bringing the Shamrocks into the twenty-first century was worth every ounce of tension that crackled within the compound until they capitulated.

The lanky, redheaded introvert is worth his weight in gold.

Once I’m satisfied that the list that I’ve made covers all exits and whatever room Fret ends up in on the critical care ward properly, my thumb taps the send icon and I settle back in the uncomfortable bench to wait for the all-clear to head to my biker brother’s hospital room to check him over myself.

The call doesn’t come.

Instead, I receive a rather brusque text from the pretty doctor who’s taking care of Fret.

---