Page 155 of Beautifully Reckless

My eyes find Abbey again as she smiles at something my ma is saying, and then they hug like they’ve known each other for longer than a fucking day or two.

“I’m glad Lexi called you that night asking for your help.” Jols leans closer, flicking her blue gaze up to mine. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you smile the way you did yesterday. You two might be complete opposites, but she’s good for you, and well…” Jols flicks her gaze across the yard to my Angel. “You’re good for her, too.”

The smile she’s talking about makes another appearance as the warmth that filled my chest yesterday returns.

Happiness.

Who would have thought it would find me?

My moment of cheer is fucking short lived as my club brothers gather for a final session of church before everyone parts ways.

It’s short and sweet. One last confirmation of the club’s plans while we are split between locations, and a reminder that it’s strategic. With half the club building a new compound in Fox Pines, the other half bunking on the state border, it will help to ensure smoother operations.

The Marx crew will watch over the city warehouses, while they continue to investigate where exactly the stolen medical supplies went. It all sounds easy enough, but with the possibility of Satan’s Rebels having a hand in stealing from us and killingour men, I have a bad fucking feeling things are only gonna get worse.

After church, we all eat, which is the first time I get to chat with my wife since leaving my bedroom earlier this morning.

Abbey comes to me easily, letting me pull her into my lap, and snuggles into me like she was always meant to be there.

By the time the rumble of motorcycles is travelling away from my property, I’m fucking relieved. It’s hard to think straight with everyone here in my private fucking space.

Just as Spud stated, Tucker, Mule, Stoner and Brody remain behind with me and JD. As does Jols.

I spend a couple of hours with them going over what I expect from them, protecting Abbey, my sisters and my ma their number one fucking job. And even though looking JD’s little brother, Brody, in the eye still makes me want to punch the little fuck in the face, I manage to refrain.

For fucking now.

The day goes too fucking fast. I don’t get enoughAngel time, what with walking the property line with my remaining club brothers and showing them where I have weapons stashed.

Ma turns in early, something that’s concerning me, but Millie assures me that she’s doing okay for now.

After a late dinner, we sit around the fire and reminisce about the chaotic wedding day yesterday. It’s still hard to believe that it happened, and even harder to believe my Angel went along with it. I can’t fucking hide my smile every time Abbey’s face lights up when she laughs, remembering the shenanigans that took place.

My sisters have finally warmed to her. I can see how much it means to my wife for them to accept her, and I don’t evenget pissy when Millie and Lans gang up on me, spouting stories about how I used to torment them when we were little.

When the fire starts to die down, I figure I’ll throw more wood on it and then steal my wife away, hoping my sisters, JD and Jols will leave us alone for the rest of the night.

As they laugh at something JD and Brody are arguing about, I excuse myself to grab the wood to stoke the fire.

Rounding the side of the barn, the firelight fades behind me, swallowing me in shadows. I know this place well, not even needing a light to know the wood heap is only three more steps away, but as I take my next fucking step, I hear it.

The sharp unmistakable click of a gun cocking.

And a second later, the silhouette of the barrel is aimed straight in my face.

26

Ihate to admit this, but Brody is kind of funny when he’s not trying to have sex with someone. He’s been quiet most of the night, clearly afraid to speak around Ringo, but the moment my husband… yes, my husband… got up to collect some more firewood, Brody has been retelling some of the antics the men got up to last night after Ringo and I retired to his room.

Oh… just thinking about what we shared has my skin heating.

“He did not?” Jols asks, giggling at Brody as he talks about the tattoo Ace unknowingly got while he was passed out last night.

“Truth. I swear.” Brody holds up his hands, wearing a huge grin. “It’s a nun taking it up the arse by the devil.”

We all roar with laughter, and I’m almost disappointed I never got to see the tattoo in real life.

The dark silhouette of Ringo snags my attention as he steps backwards from around the barn, and it takes me a second to figure out why he’s walking backwards, with his hands raised.

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