Page 22 of Riggs
Chapter Nine
Riggs
Damn it's good to be home. When we roll up to the clubhouse, the gate opens for us to enter the compound, and Track and Everest are out front ready to greet us. They stride up to me the moment I cut my engine. "Prez."
"You two get the shit I asked for?"
"Yes, sir," Track answers. "Josie and Payton offered to help. We got everything on your list. The girls picked up a few things that were not on the list as well. Some girly shit they said Luna would need. Nova carried it all over to your place yesterday." I don't miss the curious glance Track sends over my shoulder to the woman who is currently on the back of my bike, but he doesn't say a word.
"Everyone here like I asked?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. I got somethin' I want to say, and I only want to say it once. Go on in. I'll be there in a minute." With a nod, Track and Everest make their way back inside the clubhouse.
"Catch ya inside, Prez," Fender calls out as he and Kiwi follow behind our prospects.
I turn to Luna, who is still sitting behind me patiently, waiting to see what she should do. Her nervous energy is rolling off her in waves. "Climb off, baby," I instruct her. Once she's off, I follow suit. Luna begins to shuffle from foot to foot as she takes in her new surroundings. It takes a lot for a woman to be shuffled around from state to state and shoved in the hands of a stranger, all while having no choice but to trust them. I have to give it to my girl; she's pretty fucking brave.
Brushing my knuckles across her cheek, I get her attention. "I'm going to take you inside and introduce you to my brothers." Luna visibly swallows as she cuts her eyes over my shoulder to the clubhouse.
"Once I have introduced you to everyone, I'll take you back to my place where you'll be staying with me."
Luna's eyes go big. "You don't live here?"
"No, baby. I have an apartment above a bar I own. I don't live with anyone." I watch Luna's whole body relax with my statement. At least I know her tension was caused by the fact she believed she would be staying here at the clubhouse. No fucking way was that shit happening. My girl will be wherever I am. "Come on," I say, taking her hand. I'd be lying if I said I didn't love the fact Luna doesn't resist my constant hand holding. The first couple of times I'd taken her hand she resisted, but now she acts like it's second nature. Never in my life have I wanted to do something so simple as hold a woman's hand. Luna is fucking different. No woman has had this effect on me before. I have no doubt when I walk into the clubhouse with her hand in mine my brothers will take notice.
All chatter halts and all eyes are on us the moment Luna, and I step inside. I cut my eyes to my left to see Wick with his ass propped against the wall and his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes move from me to Luna then down to our joined hands. I glare at him when the corners of his mouth turn up in a big shit eating grin. He knows the score. "Where the hell is Nova?" I ask seeing he's the only person missing. Just then the door opens behind me and my brother steps through with my niece in tow. "Chill the fuck out. I'm here. I had to pick Piper up from her friend's house."
"Well, if you'd let me drive the car sitting in the garage at home, by myself, you wouldn't have to worry about hauling me around everywhere, Dad," Piper sasses back with an eye roll.
"You know the rules, Piper. Not until you're sixteen. You still have two more months."
"Since when do you care about the rules?"
Shaking my head, I chuckle. They have this same debate every week. "Will you two can it for a minute?"
Piper turns her attention away from her dad and beams. "Hi, Uncle Abel," she says as she steps up to me and hugs my neck.
"How ya doin', sweetheart?"
"Oh, you know me, I'm giving Dad a hard time as usual. Have to keep him on his toes," she whispers so only I can hear then kisses my cheek. Luna snorts. Out of respect, I have signed every word spoken since stepping into the clubhouse. I never want Luna to feel left out of any conversation. My Grandad was the same way with my grandmother. I talked to both Nova and Wick before leaving Montana telling them about Luna, so her being deaf has come as no surprise. The other brothers are watching the exchange with curiosity. I think the little show between Nova and his daughter has gone so far as to help Luna relax even more.
My niece turns to Luna and signs. "Hi. I'm Piper."
Luna beams in return. "It's nice to meet you, Piper. I'm Luna."
Piper is not as skilled at ASL as Nova and me because she was just a little girl when my grandmother passed, but I love her more for making an effort toward my girl. Next, Nova steps forward, allowing Luna to get a better look at him, and I chuckle at the shocked expression on her face. There is no missing the fact Nova and I are twins.
"How's it going, sweetheart? Everyone calls me Nova."
Luna gives him a small wave. We turn our attention to the rest of the crowd. I go down the line starting with my best friend. "That guy over there is Wick." I then point to our two prospects who are standing by the bar. "There we have Everest and Track. You, of course, know Kiwi and Fender."
Luna waves to everyone. When I get to the three women standing about fifteen feet to my right, I feel Luna stiffen. "These ladies are Payton, Josie, and Lexi." As expected, Josie and Payton offer warm smiles and say hi. But Lexi stands with her arms crossed over her chest and a scowl on her face. I make a mental note to keep an eye on her and her attitude. Nova, who is standing next to me, reads my face perfectly then cuts his eyes over to Lexi. He gives me a subtle nod. He too suspects she could be trouble. My brothers know Lexi has a hard-on for me and hasn't accepted the fact that I am not interested.
"I called everyone here for a reason. I wanted to take this opportunity for you all to meet Luna. As most of you already know, Luna is under The Kings' protection. She will also be staying with us; more specifically at my place. Let it be known; I will not tolerate anything less than your utmost respect when it comes to her." I make it a point to look directly at Lexi when I say these words. I then cut my eyes to each one of my men. "When I am not around, I expect you all to watch over her as I would. Also, let it be known, Luna is off limits —" I let my sentence hang. I don't need to elaborate. I haven't officially claimed Luna, because she is not ready for that, but unofficially my brothers know she belongs to me. "I'm taking Luna home to get her settled. I'll be back in an hour. I'm calling church." I cut my eyes to Everest. "Prospect. You're coming with me. When I am not home, it will be your job to watch over Luna. Your ass will stay downstairs at the bar. Nobody is allowed in my place without my approval. Got it?"
"Got it, Prez. You can count on me."
