Page 49 of Sheltering Hollis

"Sounds messy," Natasha said after a pause. "But it sounds interesting. Send me all the details, and I'll start looking into it."

"Thanks, Natasha. I owe you one."

"You owe me more than one, cousin," she laughed. "But I'll add it to the tally. Stay safe, Dimitri."

"You too," I said as I ended the call and slipped the phone back into my pocket. As I turned to head back inside, I saw Pike lingering by the edge of the lot, a cigarette in hand. He looked lost in thought, his brow furrowed.

"Pike," I called out, walking over. "Got a minute?"

He looked up, nodding. "Yeah, sure."

"Just talked to Natasha," I said, stopping a few feet away. "She's going to take your case. She'll be in touch soon."

"Thanks, Dimitri," Pike said, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "I appreciate it. Really."

"No problem," I said, clapping him on the shoulder. "We'll get through this. Just hang tight and keep your head down."

He nodded, taking a drag from his cigarette. "I will. And Dimitri... thanks for believing in me."

"Always, man," I replied. "We're family. We look out for each other."

I left Pike to his thoughts and headed towards my bike. Pulling up my app for trackers, I checked the one I had placed on Helena’s new car. She was at the DMV. Shooting off a text to Tiny quickly, I waited a few minutes while I settled onto the blistering hot leather of the black seat; I fastened my helmet and kicked off the pavement. I had about thirty minutes, and I was going to enjoy the fuck out of the roar of the straight pipes, ride the curves while I could, then see if I could trap her in the pantry and make her come a few times before dinner.

Smiling to myself — I had plans.

TWENTY-FIVE

Hollis

Life had a funny way of surprising me. Just a few months ago, I never would have imagined I'd be living with Dimitri and Olive in a cozy little house on the outskirts of town, let alone that I'd become part of a motorcycle club community. But here I was, finding joy in life’s unexpected twists and turns.

Our home was warm and inviting, perfectly blending Dimitri's rugged charm and my love for cozy, eclectic decor. Olive had her room filled with toys, books, and bright colors, making her smile every time she walked in. Luna was growing like a little weed, bouncing around the house with more energy than any of us. Most unexpected of all, though, was how attached Dimitri was to the kitten. You could find him carrying Luna around in the early morning or cuddling with the kitten on the porch in the mornings, holding her under his chin. Our living room was a mix of leather and lace, with Dimitri's vintage bike parts and my soft, floral touches creating a unique harmony.

"Mommy, look at this!" Olive called out, holding up a drawing she'd just finished. It was a colorful scribble that vaguely resembled our family, complete with a tiny motorcycle in the background.

"That's beautiful, sweetheart," I said, pulling her into a hug. "You did a great job."

Life with Dimitri was everything I had hoped for and more. He was a loving partner, ensuring Olive and I felt safe and cherished. His rough exterior hid a heart of gold, and every day, I found new reasons to fall in love with him. We spent evenings cooking dinner together, playing with Olive, and discussing our day. It was a simple life, but it was ours and perfect.

One of the best surprises was the friendship I’d formed with Helena. Maddox’s fiancée welcomed me into the fold with open arms. We often spent time together these last few weeks planning her and Maddox’s wedding. She had been open about her experiences growing up in the club, which helped make me more comfortable with having Olive around the MC atmosphere.

"Are you excited for the BBQ today?" Helena asked as she helped me pack up some of the food we’d been preparing. While the club had the event catered, Helena explained that all of the families brought pot-luck items to help round out the food tables.

"Definitely," I replied, smiling. "Olive can't stop talking about it. She’s been bouncing off the walls all morning."

Helena laughed. "It's going to be fun. The club always goes all out for these events. Lots of games, good food, and everyone just having a great time."

I nodded, feeling a warm sense of belonging. Despite its tough exterior, the motorcycle club was a family at heart. They had welcomed Olive and me without hesitation, and I was grateful for their acceptance. We had gone to the Open Road for lunch a few times and met some of the personalities that made up the regular crew. I particularly had a soft spot for Whitney. He was like a grumpy grandpa. He was teaching Olive to play chess.

Once everything was packed, we loaded the car and got Olive buckled. Seat belts weren’t her favorite, so I always had to double-check that they were on. I had learned the hard way that the little sneak didn’t always tell the truth. She still used a little booster since she was on the shorter side, so the belt sat correctly, but she didn’t like it.

The drive to the club headquarters was filled with Olive's excited chatter and Helena's infectious laughter. Dimitri had been there all day and had taken his bike. He said he was setting up a special surprise.

As we pulled up to the club’s compound, I was struck by its transformation. The usually intimidating space was now buzzing with life. Banners and colorful streamers hung from the buildings, and the smell of grilled food filled the air. A large area was set up with carnival games, bouncy houses, and even a small petting zoo. It was a motorcycle club scene, but it was family-friendly and welcoming.

"Wow, they went all out," I said, impressed.

"They always do," Helena replied, smiling. “My dad used to do this too. It was one of my favorite things about the MC.” Linking arms with me, she said, “Let's find a spot to set up."

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