Page 46 of Wizard's Spitfire

Chapter 30

Charlie

Ican’t sleep. I give up after a couple hours of tossing and turning and start to bake. I heard that detective say he wanted pineapple Danish for the meeting in a few hours. I haven’t made Danish in a while, but I know how.

I start with the dough, so it has time to rise and rest. Once that’s finished, I get started on the fillings. In addition to the pineapple, I’m making cherry, cheese and apple. Besides the Danish I made vuoto, or empty pastries. They’re light and flakey like a croissant. Only you cut these open and fill the middle. For the fillings, I make strawberry jam, raspberry jam, chocolate hazelnut, creme patisserie, and pistachio cream.

Not everyone has a sweet tooth, so I decide to make a variety of pasties. Scrambled eggs, meat, cheese, potato, a combination of all three, and some with jalapenos.

With nearly an hour to go, I pack up everything, put it in the borrowed SUV, and head to the clubhouse. Ma and Pops already know I’m leaving early for a meeting. I haven’t told them what it’s about yet. Until JR signs the papers, there’s a chance he’ll change his mind and not testify.

If he doesn’t, I’ll have to take the girls and run. I don’t know where, but I’ll find somewhere far enough away. Somewhere I don’t have to worry about human traffickers being after my girls. I’m holding my shit together surprisingly well. In less than forty-eight hours, I’ve found out the Russian mafia wants my girls, the boss wants me, and my car’s been torched.

I’d wanted Wizard to spend the night but knew it would be a big deal for the girls if he did. I didn’t have the energy to add a possible fight on top of an already full plate. Right now, I’d do just about anything to be in his arms.

My phone dings as I’m making my way to the clubhouse. I stop long enough to read the text. It’s from Wizard. I reply immediately and tell him I’m almost to the clubhouse. Three minutes later, I pull up near the back kitchen entrance. By the time I’m parked, Wizard is opening the door for me.

He pulls me out. I throw my arms around him. He wraps his arms around me and lowers his head. Our lips meet in a passionate kiss. I devour his lips like he’s my last meal and I haven’t eaten in weeks.

Catcalls and applause break us apart. I look to find Saint and Doc grinning at us like idiots clapping.

“Is there food to go with the show?” Saint asks.

I laugh. “Actually, there is. It’s in the back.”

“I’ll get it,” Doc says.

“There’s two tubs.”

“I got the other,” Saint says as they both head to the back of the SUV.

Doc and Saint carry in the two tubs of food. We bypass the kitchen and head to church. I’m surprised to see Stormy there, setting up coffee and other drinks. My fingers are threaded with Wizard’s. I drop his hand and walk over to Stormy.

“Do you need any help?”

She shakes her head. “No, I got it. I already have some pastries and muffins on trays. The prospects are bringing them in a few minutes.”

“I made some pastries and pasties, too.”

“Oh homemade. I’ll have them hold off on the store bought then. Thank you. Are you nervous?”

“Terrified that JR will try to weasel out of it.”

Stormy pulls me in for a hug. “Aww, honey, don’t worry. The boys won’t let him weasel out of it. He either signs on the dotted line or he’s gator bait.”

I pull back and look at her. She’s serious. I feel a weight lift off my shoulders. JR will save his own ass, if nothing else.

“Thank you.”

“You’re family now, Charlie. We’ve got your back.”

Tears prick at the corners of my eyes. Ma and Pops have always been in my corner, but we’ve done it all on our own. At least I had them. Plenty of single moms out there have no one. I feel a warm presence behind me before muscular arms wrap around me from behind. Lips drop a kiss on my neck.

“You heard Queenie. You’re family now. You’re never going to get rid of us,” Wizard says.

“I don’t want to get rid of you. I just found you.”

He kisses the top of my head. “Technically, I found you.”

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