Page 28 of Tav

My jaw drops at her confession. This woman, this brave, fierce, amazing momma bear, not only saved these kids, but has raised them all. Looking at Marx I notice he has a look of respect on his face.

“Where are their mothers?”

“I’d like to hope they’re safe in the Keep. But there’s a chance they could all be dead.”

Marx scowls and fists his hands. “Eight men, that’s the number you need to kill?”

“Yes sir,” my Pixie says, her lips curling up slightly.

“This will have to take place out of state. With the police breathing down our necks we’re keeping our noses clean.”

Blanche tips her head side to side, in an almost nod. “Looks like we have a deal.”

“I’ll call church.”

Blanche

I follow Marx and Tav out of the office, my legs a little jellified, but nothing I can’t handle. I know these men would never hurt me, but that interrogation, or negotiation or whatever you want to call it took me back to the years I spent in the council room, all those men looking down at me because I was “touched by the Devil”, which is old fucker language for willful, independent, and not a fucking doormat.

Shaking it off, we come to a stop in the common room, everyone quieting down when Marx’s large boots land heavily on the wooden flooring. I have to admit, this place is a hell of a lot nicer than what I was expecting. I expected nicotine stained wallpaper, gross carpet and furniture with god knows whose body fluids all over it. Instead, it’s a clean, welcoming place, like the gruff men and women in it that have taken care of my kids when I couldn’t.

“Blanche, I know you come from a place where women aren’t in positions to speak for themselves, so I’m going to ask if you would like to address my men in church?”

I stare at the Pres, impressed that a man in a position of power would even think to ask.

“I would like to check in on and feed my kids. Can I ask that Tav represents me in church? He knows enough about my past to be of use. Between the two of you, I’m sure you can handle it without me.” I try to keep a straight face but I feel my lips twitching the longer I stare at Marx.

“You’re going to be a pain in my ass, I can feel it already,” Marx says with a sigh before tipping his chin at Tav and bellowing “Church” so loud my ears ring.

“Thank you for trusting me with your past,” Tav murmurs in my ear, sending a shiver down my spine straight to my vagina. “I’ll see you in a bit, Pixie.” He drops a kiss to the top of my head and joins the line of men filing into church after dropping their phones into a box by the door.

I wait for the heavy door to close behind them before I head down the long hall to Switch’s clinic room. Pushing the door open gently, I see my two eldest babies, heads together, murmuring to each other.

“Hey bigs, everything OK in here?”

Sage nods her head, her brother’s eyes still a little glazed, but he’s noticeably less pale than earlier.

“Yeah Mom, we’re fine. Just watching some crap on TikTok.” Her eyes dart to her brother’s, where they share a look.

“Spill it, Sagey, I know you two are up to something.” I plop down into a chair next to Sage, arms crossed, giving them my meanest mom look.

“Are the DRMC going to help with Royal? Because if they’re not, we’ve decided we are going to help you. He needs to die, Mom. He could have taken Elio and Cove straight off the street and I’m not sitting around waiting for that to happen. We end it now,” my big girl says, her eyes full of fire, her attitude all piss and vinegar.

“There’s no goddamn way I’m letting you two get involved! No -” I raise my hand to stop Sage from arguing, “This is my path, not yours. I can handle the weight of taking a life. You two, you are just starting your lives. I won’t let this touch you.” I lean over and drop a kiss on Sage’s head before standing and leaning over my eldest, kissing him on his forehead, the anger rising when I see the small cut in his hairline. I sit back down with a sigh. “The DRMC are on board. They’re going to help and we are going to trust them, OK? I need to know you are all safe. Tav and his brothers can provide that safety for you. It’ll be over soon. I promise.”

They share a look before Sage nods, and Niko raises his thumb.

“Good. Now, I need to feed you both. What do you feel like?”

“No need Mom, Mama Debs already fed us. She brought in dinner about an hour ago,”

“And dessert,” Niko adds, his smile all goofy.

I roll my eyes. “That woman is going to seriously spoil you kids.”

“Hells yeah she is! She said we’re her grandbabies and she’s so happy we’re safe that she gave us extra ice cream,” Sage laughs at this and I shake my head. “You should probably check to see what she gave the littles,” she says with a sly grin and I give her my best mom glare before booking it down the hall to find my youngest two. If Cove’s had ice cream she’s going to be hell on wheels all night. I come to a stop at the mouth of the hall and look around the dining room, trying to spot the dark heads of my children.

“If you’re looking for the kids Mama Debs has them. Cove seemed a little wired after dessert, so she’s having a jump rope competition with Jovie out back. Elio is the judge,” a beautiful brunette says. “I’m Nat. Savage is my Ol Man,” she steps toward me, her belly bump prominent in the tight DRMC T-shirt she’s wearing.

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