Page 4 of Bond

“Yeah, Pres, it is.”

“Put her on speakerphone,” Rogue tells me.

I did as they asked, not taking my eyes off her face, and she seemed to feel the same because her gaze hadn’t left mine either.

“Hi, Rochelle, is it?” Bull wants to know.

“Yes, that’s me,” she answers.

“Rochelle, I want you to know that you don’t have to do this; we’ll help you either way. Like Bond said, we can get you out of the country if you want or to another part of this country. Our help isn’t dependent on whether or not you become part of our Club.”

Her gaze still on me, she answers Bull, and her tone lets it be known that she was done with this conversation. “I understand, and that’s part of the reason that I know this is the right choice.

“The other is that a year ago a man walked into my warehouse and my heart stood still. I knew then what I know now. He was meant to be mine, but circumstances and timing weren’t right. I’m not going to tempt fate a second time.

“Now, that’s not to say he feels the same way, especially as I now come with another man’s daughter, but I’m hoping that my instincts aren’t wrong and he won’t hold that against me or her.”

I had to smile at her words, and both Bull and Rogue chuckled because it was clear she knew nothing about us if she thought that blood meant anything.

“Has she got a birth certificate?” I ask, nodding at the sleeping baby in her arms.

She shakes her head, “No, I’ve been putting it off for some reason.”

“That’s good,” I tell her. “Bull, can you speak to Skinny?”

“Already on it, brother,” Bull assures me. “Get your ladies home. I’m going to speak to Dex and let him know what’s going on there. Maybe there’s somewhere we can put her father so that he’s safe because I can’t imagine this gang will be letting her go easily.”

“Thanks, Pres, we’ll be home later tonight.”

“I’ll let Noni know to have a cot added to your room for now. Time you got to building that house, brother.”

“Seems like,” I reply with a smile. Noni and Rogue had gifted each of us brothers a piece of land near them to build homes on. I’d been putting mine off, but it seemed that I’d better get started on that sooner rather than later.

Walking towards Rochelle, I stopped just short of touching her boots with the toes of mine. My gaze dropped down to the tiny bundle that she was holding. With a finger, I pulled the baby blanket down and fell instantly in love for the second time in my life. A miniature Rochelle was nestled against her breast, from the tight blonde curls and lightly tanned skin to the shape of her small, pursed lips.

“She’s gorgeous,” I say softly. “She’s tiny though. Is she okay?”

Rochelle smiles up at me, tilting her daughter slightly towards me so that I can get a better look, replying, “She’s fine now, but she was born really early, so she’s a little smaller than most.”

Letting the blanket go, I was unable to not touch Rochelle, so I wrapped my arm around her waist and turned her towards her dad’s office, “Come on, let’s go and tell your dad that he doesn’t have to worry about you and Daisy. You’re a Crow now, and we look after our own.”

It took a couple of hours, but I got our order loaded and more. Joe was closing down the warehouse and told me to take whatI could load; he had a friend coming who was going to take the rest. He wanted the warehouse to be empty after today.

When I mentioned getting him somewhere safe, he told me not to worry about him, just to look after his girls. I waited as Rochelle clung to her father as they said goodbye to each other, both knowing this was likely to be the last time they ever saw each other.

He’d handed Rochelle a big bag that was so heavy she couldn’t hold it. I’d taken it from her, surprised at the weight. I’d had a look when I’d put it in the vehicle and found it to be full of dollar bills.

My eyebrows had risen at the amount; it seemed he wasn’t joking about making sure his girls were taken care of. It was getting late, and I wanted to be on the road before it got dark, but I was reluctant to break up their goodbye. Finally, it was Joe who did it for me.

Taking his granddaughter from Rochelle, he kissed her cheeks and put her in the car seat that had been in Rochelle’s car. We were going to leave that here in the loading bay of the warehouse. Once he’d said goodbye to Daisy, he helped a crying Rochelle into the seat next to her. I was thankful that this particular vehicle had tinted windows so nobody would be able to see in. I wouldn’t put it past this gang to be watching who and what was coming out of the warehouse loading area.

Once Rochelle was seated, he closed the door before turning to me and embracing me, “Thank you. Look after my girls for me.”

Returning his embrace, I couldn’t help but feel sad that I wouldn’t get to spend time with this man who loved his family so much he was willing to send them away from him on the last days he had on this earth.

“I will,” I reassure him. “They’ll be safe with me, I promise.”

“I know,” he replied, patting my back and letting me go. “You’d best get going. I’ve still got a bit to sort out here before I can get away. I’ll have a friend get word to you somehow once I’m gone, and I’ll have them send my ashes. Make sure that she doesn't hold onto them. Have her spread them in the Zambezi for me. It’s where we spread her mother’s.”

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