Page 77 of Roar & Lizzy: A Forever Kind of Love

"Ja, I can see that." His dad held out his hand and shook with Lizzy. "You can call me Knute."

"It's nice to meet you." Lizzy leaned against Roar's side.

He found it fascinating that she would be shy around his dad but not his mom.

"It's good that Roar brought you to our home." Knute put his arm around Roar's mom. "I had one of the men clear out a room for you in the clubhouse, but there's no reason you can't take one of the spare rooms in the house."

"Next time, Dad. I need to check in with the men tonight, and want Lizzy to stay with me," said Roar.

His dad nodded. "Understood."

With introductions over, his mom took Lizzy into the house, and he stayed outside with his dad. He inhaled deeply. The air coming off the water a reminder of his childhood and relaxed him. Here, he wasn't president. He wasn't responsible for the men.

His dad put his hands in his vest pockets and appraised his son. "Good ride?"

"Better with my woman warming my back." He caught his father's pleasure at the confession. "No sign of anyone else following us."

"That'll change." His dad looked out at the water. "Moroad is grumbling about the shipment of guns getting in the wrong hands. Lagsturns want payback for losing their supply. Bantorus drew up new boundaries—they're not going to let you off I-5 from Longview to Castle Rock."

"What about Brikken MC?" asked Roar.

"They're quiet, son. In this case, quiet should make us sit up and notice. It's not going to be pretty."

"We're ready." He stroked his beard. "Having the north and the south of the district covered, will keep them all in our crosshairs. That was our plan. I would take members to Portland and get the attention away from Seattle. It's working."

"Ja, that's the plan. You've succeeded, but you'll need to retain that attention. It's going to be hard work. You'll need to be careful and watch your back." His dad slapped him on the shoulder. "Let's get in the house and be with our women."

At the front door, two cars arrived, followed by two Slag members riding motorcycles. Roar let his dad go inside, and he walked out to see his sisters.

Britt, the oldest of the three girls, at almost six-feet-tall reached him first with her longer stride. "Didn't we see you a couple of months ago?"

"You want me to leave?" he said, teasing.

She kissed his cheek. "No, I want you to have a talk with your nephew. He got in trouble at school."

"What for?"

Britt glared at him. "For taking a pocket knife to school."

He grunted. Boys would be boys. He'd given each of his nephews a knife for Christmas.

"Did he use it on someone?" He dodged the hand that slapped out at him.

"Don't say that like you're bragging and proud." Britt exhaled. "No, thank goodness. He's eight years old. Too young for fighting. He was showing off."

"Where is he?" he asked.

"In-school detention." Britt checked her phone. "I only have a couple of hours before I pick him up and then he has soccer practice."

"I'll call him next week and give him some uncle advice." He turned and caught Katherine, his middle sister, in a hug. "Glad you could make it this time."

"I know. It's been unbelievably busy at home and at work, but I took time off because I missed seeing you on your last visit." Katherine turned and motioned her hand. "May, come say hello to your uncle."

Four-year-old May, the youngest of his nieces and nephews until Anna had her baby and added to the family, struggled to shut the car door before skipping toward Roar.

He caught her and swooped her up in the air. "How is my favorite Niece?"

"I have a sticker." May leaned back in his arms and showed off the front of her shirt. "The doctor gave it to me."

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