Page 19 of Tav

Blanche

“You fucking what?!” My head whips around to look at Tav, not even caring that I just swore in front of my kids.

Actually, I admit it, they’ve heard worse out of me. I watch as Tav, the handsome bastard, swallows a couple of times, his eyes darting around the room, stopping for a moment to glare in Pops’ direction before settling on me.

“Um, maybe we should take this somewhere private?”

“Hell no! You, Tav Tombs, are going to do this right now. What the hell did you do?” I know that I have the angry eyes on. That’s what the kids call them. And I feel like it’s warranted. A man hasclaimedme. As if the shit that I went through in Eden’s Keep isn’t bad enough, I get out for this shit to happen again. Oh, hell no. “Kids, finish up, we’re leaving. Pops, Debs, everyone, thank you for a lovely and interesting evening.” I go to stand and realize that my kids are still seated.

“Pixie, take a seat, and let me explain?” Tav says, his whiskey colored eyes pleading with me.

I dart my gaze to Sage and then Niko. They’re the eldest. They know the shit I’ve been through. They know my background and where they came from. I have kept none of it from them. It’s for their safety that they know. My big boy looks around the table before meeting my eyes and giving me a small chin tip. Looking at Sage, she does the same. Looks like I’m staying.

I drop my weight back into my chair with a huff, and then cross my arms over my chest like a petulant teen. “You have 3 minutes to make your case.”

He clears his throat, looking around. His slightly unusual sister grins broadly before giving him two thumbs up.

“You know how I feel about you. Shit, everyone knows how I feel about you. I know you have …reservations. I also know that you have a goal that you wish to achieve. Let me help you. Let me have your back. That’s all I want.” He runs his hand downhis face, rubbing at his jaw. “OK, look. In the Devil’s Rose MC bylaws, it states that an Ol Lady is special. It’s actually written into their bylaws.”

“What does this have to do with you claiming me, Tav?” my voice hard.

“When the kids turned up, you’d been gone for 12 hours. We didn’t know where you were or if you were OK. I claimed you so that I would have the whole MC at my back if I needed to ride in and get you. I didn’t do it to stifle or own you, but to be your backup if you need it. With you as my Ol Lady, it offers you and your kids a higher level of safety than you or I alone can provide.” And there goes another little piece of the wall I had tried so valiantly to put up so Tav wouldn’t smash it down.

“I mean, as someone special to Tav you would have had us, anyway.” Chewy says with a shrug, her siblings and sister-in-law nodding in agreement. “Although we’re not that scary.”

“I beg to differ,” Ana says drily, Rhodie agreeing with her.

“Why the hell are you agreeing, Shit Stain? You’re the fuc- I mean fudging enforcer for the MC. Unless you’re agreeing that you aren’t as scary as us, in which case, you would be correct. Pussy.” Rhodie rolls his eyes at Pops’ comment, a smile playing on his lips. “I swear, all I wanted was for my grandbaby to fall in love with one of those Bratva badasses. Nowtheyknow how to torture.”

“You better take that back, old man,” Rhodie growls out. “Or I’ll swap your dick pills with sleeping pills.”

“Jokes on you, asshole. I got the pecker of a teenager!” Pops crows.

“I don’t think that’s quite the brag you think it is, dear.” Debs says, patting Pops’ hand while Rhodie’s eyes shine with glee.

Looking back at Tav, he holds my gaze, “What do you say, Blanche? Be my Ol Lady?” His face screws up and I know he thinks I’m going to shoot him down. I know I should shoot himdown. I look at my littles, then my bigs, then the rest of the table, all waiting for my next move.

I clear my throat. “Do you mind if the kids and I have a quick meeting?” Tav’s lips curl up a little and Debs rises, pushing her seat out from the table.

“Follow me,” she smiles gently and tells Elio and Cove that we’re just going for a quick family chat and when we get back she’ll have dessert ready.

I follow her down the hall with my teens flanking me on either side and I realize that these two are almost adults.

“Here you go, make yourselves at home and I’ll see you in a bit,” Debs winks at the kids and moves to leave the room, not before laying her hand on my shoulder and giving it a squeeze. “Give him a chance,e hoa. He needs this as much as you do.” She pats my shoulder and then leaves, pulling the door closed behind her.

“OK, listen up team. What do we think?” I ask the room. My two five-year-olds are sitting on the couch, feet sticking straight out.

“I like Chewy,” this from Elio. “She likes playing my game with me. She’s good.”

Tipping my head, I look at the big kids. They both frown at their brother, then back to me, shrugging. Elio’s game has been on our dining table for weeks. None of us can understand the rules or how it works, and he’s getting so frustrated that we can’t figure it out.

“Well, there’s one upside to accepting, Mom,” Sage puts forward. We all know how hard it is for Elio sometimes.

“I love Tav and Pops and Debs and Gus and Chewy and the growly man and the other growly man and the lady with the fat belly,”

“Ana isn’t fat, she’s having a baby, Cove,” Niko says with a little smile at his baby sister.

“A baby? Whoa,” she breathes out.

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