Page 38 of Sire: On Your Knees

We arrived at the cookout on the west side of the city half an hour later. There were bikes everywhere as the members of CCB, old and new, showed up to socialize. Smoke billowed into the air from multiple grills filled with hotdogs, burgers, steaks, pork chops, chicken, and sausage. There were even two food trucks on site.

This was an adults-only event, so there weren't any children in sight. I figured the jugs of yellow liquid I spotted on the tableswere spiked. I eased into a space beside Sire before shutting off my bike.

Kalias and Loyal were the first people to walk up to us once we were off our bikes. They all did the CCB handshake before Sire came to take my hand. "Hey, sis," Kalias spoke. "You look good on a night rod."

Sire frowned. "Not too much."

Kalias chuckled. He loved getting under Sire's skin. These were the only two people he allowed around me after they saved my life the night Ria and Rico lost their lives. Loyal walked over to examine my bike.

His closed fist covered his mouth as he whistled. "Yeah, that bitch clean. You did your big one, bro."

He leaned over and kissed my cherry tattoo. "I always do." I got ready to ask my man what was wrong when I felt his muscles tense beneath my hand but one look to the side answered the question for me.

"Motorcycles aren't for little girls who want to look cool." It didn't take rocket science to know this was Sire's father. They resembled each other in a lot of ways. His father just sported a salt-and-pepper beard.

I offered him a fake smile. "Good thing I'm a grown woman that wants to look cool."

The woman on his arm chuckled at my response before releasing him to walk over to us. Sire's father remained in place with a scowl on his face. I didn't care for his energy and understood why Sire kept his distance. I knew all about toxic parents, so I would not be encouraging him to share space with this man.

"Hi, son. How are you?" his mother asked, opening her arms for a hug.

"I'm good, Mama. How are you?"

She smiled when she stepped back. "Better now that I get to finally meet the infamous Knovah." Her attention turned to me. She opened her arms. I hesitated, but only for a second. I accepted her hug, wrapping my arms around her slim frame.

"It's nice to meet you too, Mrs. Dupree." I knew her name was Amber but decided the other would be a better choice.

She waved me off. "Why so formal? You're my daughter now."

I saw her husband flinch at her choice of words, and he marched off a second later. I glanced up at Sire, who merely shook his head. He tucked me into his side to ease the tension his father created.

We talked back and forth with his mother for a while, and I could say that I liked her. She was a sweetheart. It was obvious she was her grumpy husband's balance. She even apologized for his actions. He was still walking around with a heavy heart from losing Clea. I could understand it, but I didn't think it gave him the right to treat Sire like he wasn't a blessing.

Their relationship was strained, but it got worse when Sire decided not to move forward with becoming CCB chairman. He wanted to part with that lifestyle and made it happen. No matter who it pissed off. He was still very involved in CCB, though, which was why we were at the cookout.

My heart started to beat faster when I saw Mir approaching from behind his mother. He tickled her sides as he walked up on her. She jumped, holding a hand over her chest before her giggling took over. "Hey, Mama."

"Hi, baby. It took you long enough to get here."

He smirked. "I'm here. That's all that matters."

"Amen to that," she replied, patting him on the arm.

I knew this might get a little awkward, considering Mir had kissed all over my body the night of the robbery. His eyes skated over to us, and my breathing became choppy. I didn't evenrealize I'd squeezed closer to Sire. He tossed an arm over my shoulder, reminding me I was safe.

"Hey, bro. Hey, sis," he spoke to us next. Walking up on his brother, they dapped up.

Mir opened his arms for a hug from me, too. "You sure?" I cautiously asked.

He nodded with a grin. "Yeah, we're good, mama. That shit is in the past. From what I heard, you tried to help me. Your efforts might've even saved my life."

I gulped down the lump of emotion in my throat. Stepping away from Sire, I walked into his brother's open arms. When he let me go, I went back to Sire's side. He smiled down at me with the cutest expression. He was happy to see us all getting along. I knew how much his family meant to him, and since I was also that, he needed this to work out.

Mir began rubbing his stomach. "Man, I'm hungry. Where's the food at?"

Mrs. Dupree shook her head. "Come on. Mama will make you a plate." She hooked her arm around Mir's, but before they walked away, she turned to us. "Please bring my daughter by the house. I would love the chance to get to know her."

Sire nodded. "I will, Ma." Satisfied by his answer, she waved at us and left with her spoiled baby boy.

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