Page 15 of Bond

“Okay,” Rochelle answers shakily, but at least the colour is returning to her cheeks, and Bond no longer looks like he is coming out of his skin. Daisy has settled back down, and Blaze has handed her back to her mother now that Rochelle is a little calmer. “Thank you, none of you had to do this. I’m very appreciative.”

Noni smiles at Rochelle, “You’re a Crow now, Rochelle, and protection comes along with being an Old Lady. Now how about us ladies leave so the men can make a plan, and we’ll touch base with them later?” Pushing back from the table, Noni stands, Julia and Josie following suit. Slowly, Rochelle stands up, still looking shaky and uncertain. Josie, not letting her think too much, wraps her arm around Rochelle’s, pulling her towards the door, saying, “Come on, let’s go shoot some shit up.”

Laughter flows around the table, and Rochelle relaxes slightly as she looked over her shoulder at Bond, who nods to let her know it is okay. As soon as they are gone, he turns to me, “What’s the plan, Pres?”

I look around the table at my brothers and shake my head at the excitement that lights their eyes at the thought of creating some mayhem, especially as it would mean protecting someone we cared about.

Leaning forward, I outline my thoughts and then wait for them to come up with their own strategies; between us, we’ll come up with a plan to ensure that Rochelle is safe. In the distance, the sound of shooting takes over, and I thank the Lord that we have women who aren’t afraid to get their hands a little dirty when necessary. Once we’ve finalised our plans, I’ll call Church again so we can fill them in so that they know what we’ll be doing to keep everyone safe.

CHAPTER 7

ROCHELLE

I’d never met people like this before, and that made me a little sad. Noni, Julia, and Josie had scooped me up from the meeting and taken me to their temporary range. I’d left the meeting feeling a little sick to my stomach that they would be going to war for me, for the want of a better word. I knew the Black Mambas—they were all a little touched in the head, be it from the drugs they used or from them all being psychopaths.

I’d always been grateful that Jared had, for the most part, kept me away from them. I wasn’t sure why he’d done that, and I’d never wanted to ask or bring attention to the fact, so I’d kept my mouth shut and got on with life.

We ladies had spent a pleasant few hours shooting and then throwing knives. It seemed that one of the Old Ladies in England was a pro at throwing knives; of course, they’d called her and had her critique us.

They’d welcomed me into their fold so easily, and I’d been laughing by the end and feeling a lot more empowered than when I’d started. Plus, Molly, the Old Lady from England, was hilarious, and before we’d ended the call, she’d told me, “Don’t worry, Rochelle, the guys will sort this, and if they don’t, the women will. Noni just says the word, and we’ll be out on the next flight.”

Noni laughed and assured her we’d be fine but that she was welcome to visit anytime. By the time supper came around, I was calmer and looking forward to making this my home for as long as Bond wanted me.

The men had been in their meeting room, or Church as I was told it was called, for most of the afternoon. Noni and Josie schooled me on motorcycle clubs but also told me that theirs worked a lot differently to most, as the women affiliated with the club from the originals right down to the second generation always attended Church. If there was something that the President and Vice President thought it was better the women didn’t know, he’d say so, and they wouldn’t attend that meeting. So far, that had happened only once, right at the beginning, when they’d first restarted their MC and were fighting a drug gang in the UK called the ACES.

They’d found over the course of time that they were stronger as a club if everyone knew what to look out for. While nobody had said anything, I had a feeling that some of the women weren’t afraid to do what needed to be done when it came to dispensing justice. Not all of them, but definitely some of them. In my heart of hearts, I knew that if anyone threatened Daisy in any way, I’d have no problem making sure they didn’t see the light of day.

Bull and Rogue had updated us that evening on what had been decided. Dex Macgregor had assured Bull that he had scouts keeping an eye on the gang in the city, and as soon as they made a move, we’d be informed. He’d also told Bull to let me know that my dad was safe and staying with friends of theirs and was being cared for. I’d be able to speak to him later tonight.

I had no idea who all these people were, but I was so grateful that, for some reason, they thought that Daisy and I were worthy of help.

“But they don’t even know me,” I said tearfully. “I could be an awful person, and they’re doing all this for me.”

Bull smiled and passed the box of tissues that had been sitting on the cupboard behind him down the table to Bond, saying, “Roch, they know you aren’t an awful person. You think they didn’t first check into you and your dad? The way you were treated didn’t make them any happier than it did us. We take care of our own, and we’re connected to the families out at Sanctuary Holdings through family. We’d do the same for them if we had to. Now, this is what’s going to happen until we know more. We’ll be running patrols; Blaze has a list of people we can trust. They won’t have to do anything except keep us informed. We’ll have time to set things up because of how far the Black Mambas will have to travel. Our contacts in the police has been updated, but honestly, they don’t really give a shit what we do. If we wipe out the gang, they’ll be thrilled.

“That’s where we stand at the moment. There’s nothing you can do except enjoy your new home and get to know Bond and the rest of us. Bond tells us that you’ll be taking over his parts shop, leaving him free to run the garage and tow, which takes some pressure off the rest of us.

“As it stands, Blaze is still running the market and Noni still wants to open a spa here in the hotel, and then we have the discussions we are having with Falcon Macgregor regarding taking some of their antelope stock so that we can start doing photographic safaris and game drives on the property. That is still a little way off as we have to first fence the property, and supplies won’t be arriving for about six weeks.” Bull pauses and looks around the table before asking, “Is there any other business?”

Josie raises her hand up, “I’d like to open a sanctuary for all the wounded and injured animals I’m getting. I’m running outof space, though, and need to extend my runs if possible. I was thinking of approaching the university and seeing if any of their students would like to do an internship, but we’d have to provide accommodation and meals.”

“I have no problem with that,” Bull informs her before opening it up to the table to vote. It was unanimous, and Josie got the go-ahead.

“One more thing before we finish,” Skinny adds. “The builders are nearly done with mine and Josie’s house. If Bond is happy to wait a month or so, I think we should build accommodation out by the veterinary office for the students. I was thinking two or three rondavels that are like a bedsit—bedroom and living room in one with a separate bathroom. They’ll be eating here, so all they’ll need is somewhere to make coffee or tea and a small fridge. It would add additional security to the vet’s office as it’s out of the way. Would you and Roch be okay to wait?” Skinny asks Bond.

I’m surprised to hear my name mentioned and slant my eyes towards Bond in shock to find him nodding.

“It’s good with me,” Bond answers Skinny. “Roch and I need to sit down and design a house first anyway.”

“If that’s the case,” Noni interrupts, “why don’t you and Roch move into the cottage behind our house? It will give you more room and Daisy can have her own space. If Dad and Maura visit before your house is done, they can stay in the hotel.”

“As long as you’re okay with that, then that would be great,” Bond responds. “I’ll take Roch out there tomorrow to have a look. Is that okay, baby?”

It takes me a little while to realise that he’s talking to me because I’m so out of my element. I nod my head, “Of course, but I’m just as happy to stay where we are. I don’t want to put anyone out.”

Noni waves a hand as if to dismiss my worries, “You won’t be; I don’t imagine Dad and Maura will be back until probably August, and by then your house should be nearly done.”

Overwhelmed, I just nod and grip Bond’s hand that he’d slipped over mine under the table as if he knew I needed something to ground me.

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