Page 12 of Patching Over

“Woman,” I growl out in a warning tone that she knows I don’t mean. Reaching for the leather I left on the table behind me, I hold it up in front of me. “You’ve looked a little down since I took your old cut away, so why don’t you get on up here and try on your new one?”

With all the grace that a seven-month pregnant woman with a petite frame can manage, Jenna glows as she comes forward and I motion to the prospects to hand out the other Ol’ Lady cuts to their men.

Helping the love of my life into her cut, I pull her forward by the lapels before slamming my lips down on hers, then lift my face up to the sky and bellow, “Northern Grizzlies!”

My yell is echoed by all around me and the energy in the crowd almost becomes its own entity until the roar of motorcycles approaching the property nearly drowns us out.

I stand in front of Jenna, squinting my eyes against the setting sun as I try to make out who’s pulling up to the gate. The prospects over there are looking at me, and I wave for them to open it when I recognize Tin’s distinctive bike.

Seven bikes ride in, stopping in a semi-circle near the crowd in front of me.

“Sorry we’re late,” Tin starts as he gets off his hog.

“Some of the guys disagreed with this choice,” Ransom says, shutting down his bike but staying on it. “I told ‘em to fuck off.”

He pulls his sunglasses off to show a fresh black eye and that’s when I notice the bruise along Tin’s jaw. The right side of my mouth pulls up in a grin, imagining thatconversationand sorry that I missed it. It’s been a while since I’ve been in a good, old-fashioned brawl.

“We agree to your terms, if you’ll have us,” Tin continues, looking between Jasper and me.

Just as I open my mouth, Jasper nods his head, stepping forward, and it clicks in my mind that I report to him now. “Glad to have you with us,” he says, shaking Tin’s hand. “We’ll figure out the details and the cuts tomorrow.”

“Guess I’m extending my trip a few more days, since I’ll have to check their financial records now, too.” Fury’s voice startles me, but I try not to show it as I take a step to the left, allowing her space to stand beside me as I raise my other arm to pull Jenna up against my opposite side. “Huh. You can smile.”

“I smile plenty.” Enjoying the feel of Jenna shaking with silent laughter at my response.

“You smile at your wife, I’ll grant you that,” Fury says, matter-of-factly winking at Jenna. “It’s just that I’ve never seen anyone whose resting face is an actual glower before.”

“Young lady,” Flint says, coming to join us. “Considering you were raised in your father’s house …”

“Just making a point, old timer,” she sasses back, hip checking Flint like he’s a beloved uncle before she looks back to me. “Are you going to tell me what you found so amusing?”

“That you think the Grave Knights have an accounting system for you to review,” I respond, letting out a chuckle as I clap her on the back and leave the women there with Flint so I can have a word with Ransom.

“Who’s that?” he immediately asks me, looking over my shoulder and I know he’s talking about Fury. “I think I’m in love.”

“She’s the Northern Grizzlies’ overall treasurer,” I tell him. “Treat her with respect, even when she asks to see your club’s finances.”

“Are you shitting me?” he asks, only tearing his eyes away from her long enough to share a grin with me. “Well, damn. I’m liking the idea of this merger more and more. I’ll catch you later.”

Proving Fury wrong, another chuckle escapes me when he claps me on the shoulder and heads directly toward her. Not getting a chance to discuss what I came over here for, I hope to get the chance to speak with him before he starts drinking.

I’ve already let Axel know, and left it up to him about telling Joey, but Ransom needs to hear about Tonic directly from me. I know that Wolfman and Timber had to make a decision the other day, and while I feel it was the right one, I need Ransom to understand his chance for any retribution has passed.

Later, when outsiders are allowed in, the sounds of the party are reminiscent of what it was like before so many of us settled down. Not that I’m really paying attention. Especially not when I’m dancing with my woman, or later, when she’s lying in my bed, with a bag of chips propped against her rounded belly while I’m rubbing her feet.

Jasper

“You’ve been busy,” Emma says, sinking into the seat beside me with a beer for each of us.

“They never tell you how exhausting world domination is,” I sigh, placing my beer on the ground at my feet as a wrap an arm around her shoulder and nuzzle into her neck. “God, I miss our home.”

“I just spoke to the sitter and the kids are good. She didn’t sound frazzled, so maybe she’s lying,” Emma tells me with a soft laugh before taking a sip from her cup. “Or she zip tied them for some peace.”

“I hope this one works out,” I fervently whisper.

The newest, in a long line of babysitters, is the sister of one of the teachers Emma is friendly with from the high school. We had her out a couple of times, without incident so far. All I can think is that she has some Mary Poppins magic going on, but Emma won’t let me install cameras in the house to confirm that.

“Do we have anything we need to worry about?” she asks, and I know she’s not referring to our monsters.

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