Page 19 of Cash

“Oh my. I’m sorry I startled you, Trigger. I was simply placing my hand on your leg to gain your attention,” Lottie says in a sweet tone.

“That wasn’t my leg!” Trigger bellows while pointing a finger at Lottie.

“That’s very fortunate for Tammy then, isn’t it?” Lottie replies unrepentantly.

Tammy dissolves in laughter while the rest of the room erupts in whistles and hoots. Trigger’s face is getting redder by the minute, but I’m not sure if it’s from embarrassment or anger. Either way, he stomps off and seats himself as far away as possible and proceeds to pout. After a moment, and an insincere apology from Lottie, Tammy follows.

“If everyone’s ready, dinner is too,” Pippa shouts over the laughter.

*~*~*~*

Dinner and dessert have been consumed, and the Aunts are now residing like Queens on one of the sofas. Everyone’s chatting, drinking coffee or beer, and enjoying the get-together. We have family dinners often, but it’s unusual for almost all of us to be here at one time. With the club owning so many businesses, it’s rare that we’re all off work at the same time.

I’m known to be the quiet guy in the club. It’s not that I don’t have things to say or that I’m unsociable, I just prefer listening and watching more. I take my job as club enforcer seriously and learn more by watching than talking. It gives me the chance to keep my finger on everyone’s pulse and to watch for problems.

Because of this habit, I’ve known for some time now that something’s up with Chubs. I also know that Lucy’s noticed it too. Lucy’s tiny but ferocious, and yet I’ve seen what looks like fear in her expressions lately. Whenever she’s looking at Chubs, and doesn’t know she’s being watched, something dark is playing at the back of her eyes. She’s worried about him, and I want to know what she knows. I want to know what’s making her so edgy. As I’m observing them now, Chubs looks down at the top of Lucy’s head, and his expression turns sad. Sad isn’t an expression that ever crosses his face, and yet there it is. Chubs and I need to have a discussion, and we need it soon.

“Has he said anything to you?” Gunner asks from my side while indicating Chubs with a head tilt.

“No. You?”

“Not a word. Let’s corner him tomorrow. Make him talk so we’re aware what’s up or what’s coming our way. I don’t like being in the dark when it concerns a club brother. If it’s something we can help with, then let’s come up with a plan and get ahead of whatever it is. I’ll speak with Axel, so he can be there too,” Gunner says.

“Agreed.”

“Hey guys,” Bella says softly as she leans into the side of my arm.

“Hi, Bells. Thanks for watching the twins yesterday for us. They love having you to themselves,” Gunner states with a grin.

“You’re welcome, Gunner. I love it as much as they do,” Bella replies with her own grin.

“Speaking of the twins, I better go check on them. Anytime they’re quiet, I get nervous. Same with Axel, though,” Gunner says with a grin as he walks off.

I swing my arm around Bella’s shoulders and pull her tighter to my side. She wraps her arms around my waist and hugs me. She’s growing into a beautiful young lady, and the whole club is proud of her.

“What’s up, girl?”

“Can we talk for a minute?” Bella asks as she leans back enough to look me in the eye.

“Yeah. Want to step outside?” I ask as Axel stops in front of me wearing a shit-eating grin.

My eyes drift down to the t-shirt he’s wearing and read “One Man’s Cougar Is Another Man’s Great-Aunt.”

“Axel! That’s not even funny,” Bella barks out and then ruins it with a giggle.

“I think it is,” Axel replies smugly.

“You’re a sick individual, Axel,” I mutter.

“If you’ll excuse me now, I’m in need of my spanking. I’ve been a bad, bad boy. Oh, and if you get any ideas about kicking my ass over this shirt, don’t. Pooh had it made for me just to piss you off. Kick his ass instead,” Axel says as he walks straight toward the Aunts.

I watch, shaking my head, as he turns his ass their direction and lets them each take a turn at spanking him. After they’ve gotten their swats in, and the room is roaring, he takes a seat between them and drops a beefy arm over each of their shoulders. The Aunts are beaming, and for that reason alone, I’ll let Axel live another day.

Mac, Ava’s macaw, starts humming “The Cougar Anthem” by Glenna Bell. I turn my attention back to Bella and find her smiling softly in Axel’s direction. Bella loves her big brother as she should. Axel may be a nut job, but he’ll always be a ferocious protector of the women in his life.

Bella follows me outside, and we each grab a seat on the top of a picnic table. From where we’re sitting, I can see into the kitchen. The women are cleaning up from dinner, and Chubs is now sitting at a table in there, still eating a plateful of food. At least whatever’s going on with him hasn’t killed his appetite.

“I have a favor to ask, and you can tell me no, and I won’t be upset, okay?” Bella starts off the conversation by saying all of that in one breath.

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