“I do but no, I’m not saving you from the joys of parenthood,” Petey states as he stops beside me.
“Just make the smell go away!” Pigeon shouts before gagging again.
I want to laugh at Pigeon, but I don’t have time for fun yet. I know from experience I need to get Liam’s business parts covered before bad things happen. As I’m cleaning him up with diaper wipes, Horse adds his own version of advice.
“Be quicker to stick his ass in the sink and spray him off.”
The thought of doing that just about makes me gag along with Pigeon. I’m not placing a shit-covered infant in my sink and spraying the shit down the drain. I shoot a glare toward Horse and get back down to business. Luckily, Petey helps by talking me through the proper steps, and Liam’s now back to smelling like an infant and not a sewer. After re-dressing him, I pick him up and cradle him close to my chest.
Following the guys back down my hall, I find Gunner and Reno hanging out in my living room. Boot heels on my coffee table, opened beer bottles in their hands, they’ve made themselves at home. This isn’t unusual amongst our club. Everyone’s homes are open to everyone and nobody bats an eye at finding another member’s head in their refrigerator or ass on their couch.
“Thought we’d stop by and see how you’re doing. Also, we have something to ask you,” Gunner says.
“What’s up?”
“Pigeon said he, Freddy and Reeves had an interesting encounter with a cop the other day at Dreams. Was wondering how and why you pissed in some cop’s Wheaties?” Gunner asks while grinning.
I take a seat in a recliner and lean back a little with Liam resting against my chest. I have no idea what Gunner’s talking about. I haven’t had any encounters with cops in quite some time. When I say that out loud, it’s Pigeon who responds.
“Big, burly black guy. Name was James Green. Said he’d be speaking with you but didn’t know how to find you. He was an unhappy fellow, to say the least. Gutsy move, though. Came into Dreams alone to say his piece. Said you’d shit on a friend of his, and he was putting us on notice that the Devil’s Angels have his attention now. Said he’d be stopping anyone wearing a D.A. patch and if given an opportunity, he’d arrest us. Promised body cavity searches. I am not getting my ass searched by this guy! His hands are huge!”
“Wait a fucking minute! I just had my ID checked by a big, burly black cop yesterday at the bakery! For no reason other than I was sitting there wearing my cut,” Petey exclaims loudly enough to make Liam jerk.
“I don’t know any cops that fit that description,” I insist.
“I don’t care if you do or not! Apparently, I came very close to having my backside violated by some cop with a grudge against you! No, no, no Cash! We might be brothers, but that’s asking too damn much from me. I don’t even let Trudy near the backdoor. It’s off fucking limits to everyone. You better fix whatever you did because if I see that cop again, I’m making a run for it,” Petey nervously bellows.
I can’t fight the grin that hits my face at the expression on Petey’s. His is horrified and rightfully so. As my grin grows, the others start laughing openly at Petey. After all the things Axel has put Petey through, this cop’s threats are what finally have Petey unraveling.
“I can’t fix something I know nothing about,” I tell the guys.
“Oh, I just remembered something. I might be safe from this cop. I helped his female partner out yesterday when some dickwads started giving her a hard time after he walked outside. Jesus, I hope he remembers that if he sees me again. You guys are on your own though,” Petey says with a semi relieved laugh at the others.
“As I said earlier, I’m not getting my ass stretched over something you did, Cash,” Pigeon reiterates.
“I know fuck all of anything I’ve done. I go to work, the clubhouse, hang with my dad and the Aunts. I go riding a lot but haven’t been pulled over in a few years. Since Liam came, I haven’t even left the house.”
“Whoever has the next run-in with the cop should ask what the fuck Cash did to him or his friend. I can ask Rex to find out what he can about the guy too. We don’t need heat from any cop but especially one with a hard-on for one of us,” Gunner states.
“When Rex finds out some intel on this guy, let’s send Axel to talk with him,” Petey suggests.
“Why Axel?” Horse questions.
“Because if shit goes sideways, it’s Axel’s shit and not mine,” Petey says with a loud laugh.
“For being the quietest guy in the club, you’ve been causing a lot of drama lately,” quips Reno with a grin aimed at me.
“I can live with drama, but my ass is still off limits to any man,” Pigeon mutters to a room full of laughter.
*~*~*~*
Pulling my exhausted ass out of bed, I make my way to Liam’s room. It’s been three nights in a row with little to no sleep, and I’m not going to survive. I have no idea how moms do this every night, but I admit they’re better than me.
With mechanical, sleep-deprived motions, I change, feed and rock Liam back to sleep. Placing him back in his crib, I head for my bed. I make it as far as my doorway before stubbing my toe on the door jam.
“Fuck! Son of a bitch!” I shout while hopping around on one foot.
As if nearly ripping my little toe from my foot isn’t enough, Liam starts crying again.