Page 43 of Pope's Penance

He nods.“Goin’ to need to hit Scorch up for a property kutte.”

I lift a brow with a smirk.“Well, well, well.Someone finally caught them balls, eh, brother?”

Bugsy doesn’t smile, but his eyes are finally happy.“Yeah, she did.”

“Happy for you.”I look to Cypher to include him.“Happy for both of you.Look forward to meeting your partners.Right.Cypher, keep digging to see if you can find that connection.I don’t want us going after anyone until we have as much information as possible.We won’t win a war without proper intelligence.All right.Anything else?”I ask the council members.

They shake their heads, so with a relieved sigh, I smack the gavel against the sound block, calling an end to church.

“Do you all have a timeline on when you’ll be moving?”I ask Cypher and Bugsy.

“We’re hoping within the month.Nyla and Calix are packing up their homes.We’re going to rent a place in town until we get a house built.Calix is worried about the way the club will handle our relationship.He won’t do anything to have Nyla hurt.I tried reassuring him nobody would give a fuck, but it’s something he’s going to have to witness for himself.”

“You’re right.He’s going to have to experience how little we give a shit about who someone is fucking.You know you got a piece of property here whenever you’re ready.”

“Where did you think we were going to build at?”he asks with a smirk, clasping my shoulder before he walks away.

“What about you?”I question Bugsy.

“Drusilla is also packing her place.We’ll stay here at the club until we get our place built.”

“Heard.I’ll tell you the same, you have property whenever you’re ready.I’ll have some sweetbutts get a room ready.Do you all need to head back to help them?”

“We’re goin’ to get Cypher, Nyla, and Calix’s place secured before headin’ out.”

“Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”

“Will do, Prez.Lookin’ forward to meetin’ your family.”

We chat for a few more minutes before we file out of the chapel.

It’s going to be damn good to have my brothers home with their new families.I never thought I’d see them settle down, but I suppose we all fall to love eventually.

Chapter Eighteen

There’sneverbeenasight more beautiful to me than watching my woman laugh and play with our children.Granted, her laughs are only loud enough for them to hear, but I still see it on her face.That’s all I need to know to understand that my woman is in there.It’s just a matter of bringing her out.The kids do a good job of that, now they just need some help.Her being back in Coral Cay will force her to face the life she had here.It’s going to hurt like hell, but at least this time I’ll be there to catch her when she falls.

I lean against the wall with my arms folded over my chest as I watch my family.My heart begs me to join them, but they’ve dealt enough with a man pushing himself on them.I’m content watching them find their happiness together right now.

“Another skip?So unfair,” Birdie grumbles playfully.

Legend chuckles.“Sorry, mama.”

“No, you’re not, but I still love you.”

Lovelyn looks over at me.“Will you come play with us, Daddy?”

“Yeah, Dad.Come on,” Legend adds.

I straighten from my perch and peer over at Birdie to see where her thoughts are.She shrugs, hiding her mouth behind her cards, but there’s a smile in her eyes.

Birdie shuffles the cards as I find a place around the kitchen table.

I crack my knuckles before picking up my pile of cards.“Prepare to be defeated.I am the king of Uno.”

“Nobody likes a braggart, Dad,” Legend replies.

We tease each other as we play whatever cards we can to keep the others from winning.Not going to lie, it’s the most fun I’ve had in a long fucking time.Hearing the squeals of laughter from Lovelyn and Legend does joyous things to my scarred, black heart.

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