Page 25 of Bond

I knew most MCs didn’t work that way, preferring to keep their women separate. But it worked for us and, in a way, made us stronger.

None of us were hurting for money, and that was mostly because the Crow women were fucking amazing when it came to investments.

We’d not been able to do anything with the money that Rochelle’s dad had given her because we didn’t want to leave a paper trail when it came to her. We could have taken a leaf out of her book and opened an account in someone else’s name, but we’d decided to err on the side of caution and bring as little attention as possible to us. So, for now, we’d put it in the safe in Noni’s office.

It made my heart happy to see Rochelle settling in and putting her stamp on things. I’d ordered her cut, and we were going to have a small ceremony tonight to welcome her to the family properly. We’d arranged to set up a Zoom call with the UK chapter so that she could meet most of them that way. Once the threat to her was over, I’d take her and Daisy on holiday to the UK to meet the family there. Call me a caveman, but I couldn’t fucking wait until she was mine in all ways.

I was brought out of my musings by Bull thumping the gavel onto the table, making me jerk slightly. Next to me, Blaze sniggers slightly, “Where was your head, brother?”

“On what’s coming,” I reply quietly, “and on how lucky we are when it comes to our women.”

Blaze started to reply but was interrupted by Bull, “If that’s all, the meeting’s done. Any further questions on this project, see either Rochelle or Noni. Any other business?” He looks enquiringly around the table.

“Just a few more things,” Noni replies, looking up from her notes. “My friend Jill will be coming to stay for a couple of days. I’m hoping to persuade her to stay and take over managing the spa and gift shop side of the hotel. Is everyone okay with that?”

Most of us had met Jill Landry and liked her. She seemed to be a general dogsbody to her family, the one they called on for all manner of support. I knew it annoyed Noni, who felt like they took advantage of her good nature.

“I’m fine with that,” I answer Noni. The rest of the table all gave their votes.

“Don’t forget to be at mine and Noni’s tonight for supper,” Bull reminds us before ending the meeting. “You’re all free to go. Remember to look out for anything weird or out of place.”

“Yes, Pres,” we shout as one.

Bull rolls his eyes, standing up, “Get out, you fuckers.”

Laughing, I stand and pull Rochelle’s chair out for her, “Come on, baby, let’s go and get Daisy from Grace and head home.”

I feel the need to spend some time with just my girls before tonight. I’ve been feeling on edge for a couple of days, and I have a feeling that our time of peace is going to be over before we know it.

I’ve spent time with Rochelle and Daisy in the pool. We’ve been joined by most of the club, and we’ve smoothly transitioned from the pool to Bull and Noni’s home for the evening.

We’ve just finished eating when Bull stands up and bangs on his bottle of beer with the back of a knife, calling our attention to him. The table falls silent; even the children are waiting quietly for whatever is coming next.

“Bond,” he gestures to me to come and stand next to him. Pushing my chair back, I get up and walk to stand next to my president. Noni passes him a box, and he turns towards me and hands it over.

Clasping my shoulder, Bull declares, “You’re the first for this chapter of Crows to do this. Skinny, Rogue, and I did this with the Originals. Before you do, I want to say something.”

Bull takes a deep breath, clearing his throat before continuing, “I’ve known you all your life. We grew up together, we’ve been through good and bad together, and I consider you my little brother just as much as I do Skinny. I’ve worried about you my whole life, from the time I knew how bad it was in your home to when you joined up with Skinny and me.

“But this last year, I’ve worried about you more than any other time, even when we were getting shot at, because I knew there was nothing I could do to make your hurt any better. Then you took that trip a few weeks ago and came back a completely different man.”

Bull pauses, and I swallow at the lump in my throat because I’ve never realised how much Bull cared for me until this moment. I’ve always thought he’d put up with me because Skinny and I were best friends.

“What I’m trying to say,” Bull continues, “is that I’m proud of you. I’m proud of the man and the father you’ve become.”

Then Bull grins teasingly, “And the fact that you’ve somehow managed to bamboozle a smart woman like Rochelle into taking you on is just the icing on the cake.”

Laughing, I put the box that Bull had handed me down on the table and embrace my president, taking the pounding on the back that he gives.

My words nearly lost amongst the hooting and hollering from the rest of the brotherhood, the women, and children, as I say quietly so that only Bull can hear me, “Thank you, Samuel, for always looking out for me. I couldn’t have chosen better brothersthan if we’d been born to the same parents. I appreciate all you and William have done for me over the years.”

“You’re welcome, Drew. Now make her yours,” Bull responds, giving me one more back-pounding slap and letting me go. When the table quietens down, I call out to Rochelle, who is smiling, her eyes a little tearful as she watches Bull and me.

“Rochelle, baby, can you come up here?” I ask her, holding out my hand. Surprised, Rochelle stands up and hands Daisy to Blaze when he holds his hands up for her.

As she walks up to me, I can’t help but think to myself that I’m a lucky fucker. She’s the whole package: gorgeous, smart, and doesn’t care that I have to have things a certain way. Although that need to always have everything in its place seems to have got better since she and Daisy have been in my life.

Rochelle comes to a stop near Bull and me, looking enquiringly at me. Taking her hands in mine, I start, “Rochelle, I know you’ve already agreed to be my Old Lady, but that was when you were under pressure, and you needed to feel safe.”

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