Page 14 of Blade: Blade Outlawz MC

My mother never failed to bring up grandchildren whenever we got together. She would have to rely on Axe for that because it wasn’t in the cards for me.

Axe cleared his throat. “Have you made any new blankets? We have a drive coming up soon at the club.”

“Don’t try to ignore what I said about babies, but I’ll have some blankets available in the next few weeks. I’ll get some of the girls to make some. You know they get on my nerves sometimes? Always talking about some, Darcy, when are you going to bring your sons by to meet my granddaughters?” She rolled her eyes and sucked her teeth. “Get on my nerves with that. I’m going to start telling them y’all are married already.”

Both my brother and I laughed.

“One of us might be before the other,” my brother added as he looked at me.

“And who might that be?” my mother questioned as she squinted her eyes at me.

“Not me.” My voice raised an octave.

I didn’t know what Pepper would do if I ever let her go, but I didn’t see myself marrying her.

My mother’s eyes darted between my brother and me again, but neither of us said anything.

She held her fork in the air. “I think the two of you are keeping secrets, but I won’t ask any questions now. The truth will come out when it needs to.” She continued eating, then told us about some gossip at the church where she went.

An hour later, we were all full, and everything had been cleaned up. Axe and I always helped our mother clean up before we left her house. We also made sure the trash was taken out, if need be, and anything else that needed to be done around the house.

I made Pepper and me plates to go, and I had to convince my mom that they both were for me. Axe gave me the side-eye the whole time I made the plates.

When we were done, we said our goodbyes to our mother and left the house.

“What the fuck are you doing with Pepper still at your house?”

I knew it was coming as soon as we were far enough for our mom not to hear us.

“I got this,” I assured him.

“No the fuck you don’t. Her father is gearing up for a war if he doesn’t get his daughter back soon.”

“I’m not worried about him.”

My brother got in my face, so we were damn near chest to chest.

“You should be. Regardless of what you think he’s going to do, you aren’t the only one that will be affected by a fucking war!”

He was pissed, and it was obvious by the flare of his nostrils and the way he stood with his legs planted wide.

I ran a hand over my head. “Listen, I know you are mad, but I’m going to need you to back up.”

He took steps back and glared at me. The disappointment in his eyes fucked with me. I had looked up to him since I was little, and I never wanted him to think less of me.

After a few long seconds passed, he softened his features and stepped back.

Axe stuck his hands in his pocket. “Look, I really think he’s doing the shit to save his reputation. I don’t think he cares about that girl that much because if that were the case, he would have been here by now. It’s not like he doesn’t know where she is. A war, though, would make him look like a hero and shit. Like he isn’t one to be fucked with.”

That bit of information pissed me off and kinda intrigued me. Why wouldn’t he just come and get her himself? Why would he have to start a war between the clubs? Not saying I would give her back willingly, but there was no need for violence.

“I’m trying to understand what you are thinking, B. What is the real reason behind all of this?”

I paced back and forth in front of my bike. I had to choose my words carefully. If I told my brother the full truth, he would lose his shit. I also didn’t like keeping secrets from either.

“I can tell you are about to say some bullshit, so spit that shit out.”

I felt tightness in my chest and rubbed the back of my neck.

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