Page 51 of Vex

Looking up, I find every head turned my direction and a few with phones in their hand, making a call.

“What the fuck’s going on there?” Gunner barks.

“Taja’s puking her insides out, Duffy’s apparently looking for a place to hide Toes’ body and other than that, I have no fucking clue,” I answer.

“Axel? Get your ass to the clubhouse and check on Taja. She’s sick and that fat fucking cat won’t let Toes near her. Trudy and Ava should be getting ready for work, so see if one of them can go to the clubhouse with you,” I hear Petey say into his phone. “Yes, we found her. She’s safe, and we’ll be heading for home shortly. Taja knows. Thanks, Son. See you soon.”

Petey looks at me first, with a grin, then turns his eyes to Tessie.

“Axel said to tell you welcome home and warned me not to let you drive us there.”

“Your son’s just a big girl,” Tessie says managing a small grin.

“Been told that before, darlin’. Don’t mean it ain’t true,” Petey responds.

“Let’s get on the road. Need to get Tessie back to her sister, and we need to have Church. There’s going to be fallout and we need to be ready for that,” Gunner orders as he gently cups Tessie’s face with one giant hand for a quick second on his way past her.

Chapter 21

Taja

After another round of vomiting, I flop onto the cool tile of the floor, exhausted. A part of my brain’s hoping the floor’s been cleaned recently, but the rest of me doesn’t really care at this point.

“Meow.”

I open my eyes long enough to see Duffy sitting next to my head, staring at me again. He hasn’t left my side for long over the last few days, and I’ve enjoyed his company. But the staring? I could do without that.

“Taja? Coming in,” shouts Axel before I hear him walking through the bedroom. When he enters the bathroom, he stops, crosses his massive arms and smirks down at me.

“Hey, Axel.”

“You look like hell, woman.”

“Axel! Don’t tell her that, you jackass!” Trudy admonishes as she pushes her way in to stand next to Axel.

“Truth.”

“Oh, honey. Let’s get you up and into the shower. You’ll feel better after. Axel, go make some tea and grab some crackers. I’ve got her,” Trudy says while helping me to sit and then stand shakily.

Axel exits and Trudy helps me strip and get into the warm water. It does help and my stomach settles. I feel even better after I towel off, get into clean clothes and sit on the bed. Axel returns with hot tea and crackers.

“Still think this is just stress?” Axel smirks.

“Are you gloating?” I ask.

“It’s one of my many skills, so yes, I am.”

“While you’re doing that, someone else is bonding with your daughter,” I reply raising an eyebrow at him. The smirk disappears as quickly as Axel does.

“Well played, Taja. You’re going to fit in perfectly here,” Trudy says while grinning huge.

This is the kind of MC I wish I’d grown up in. I didn’t, and I feel the loss of what could have been. If I am pregnant, this is what I want my child to have. A large family, unconditional love and taking care of each other. I had that with mom and Tessie but this is bigger. Tessie’s going to eat this up. I drift back to sleep with a smile.

-*- -*- -*- -*-

Standing in front of the clubhouse, I can hear the bikes and vehicles coming up the road. A few seconds later, I can see them cruising through the main gate. The second truck has barely stopped when the backdoor flies open, and I finally see my little sister. Wet hits my eyes and my feet start moving toward her. She looks a mess. Wild hair, pale face, rumpled clothes but she’s never looked more beautiful to me. When I get close, I throw my arms wide and wrap them around her with care. We stand silently, holding tight and savoring the moment of being back together.

“Oh my God, Tessie. I’m so sorry, honey. I’m so fucking sorry,” I whisper to her.

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