Page 16 of Pedal to the Metal
Chapter Twelve
Savannah
“About time y’all showed up!”Lolita smiles, coming to me for a hug. I laugh and squeeze her.
“Yeah, we ran into a small problem,” I tell her with another light laugh. She gives me a questioning look and I wink at her.
“Barely home a week and you’re already getting into trouble.” She smiles and shakes her head. I sit at the bar next to Rivet.
“How is he?” She’s asking me about Jager. I rest my head on her shoulder and sigh.
“Not good, Riv. Not good. I barely even recognized him. I’m so mad at myself for staying away for so long,” I tell her. And I am. I should have come home sooner. I’ve missed my family but some things prevented me from coming home. I’m not sure I’ll ever tell Pops about that though.
“Don’t do that. We’ve talked about this, Minx,” she warns me. If I didn’t have her, Buster, and the guys, I may never have gotten through the shit I did. I’m thankful for their friendships and owe them the world. Lolita is behind the bar now. She must be bartending tonight for some extra cash. She leans over the bar to whisper to us.
“So, Minx. What’s going on with you and Raze?” She gives a knowing look, when really she doesn’t have any idea. I can’t help but laugh. I adore my friends, I really do.
“Absolutely nothing,” I start. “Riv and I went racing last night. Ran into Rascal and the guys. Ras was pissed that we didn’t call and tell anyone we were home. Then he put Raze and Saint on us to babysit us.”
Lolita nods in understanding but doesn’t respond. “Hey, Raze! What can I get you to drink?” she asks him. He sits on the bar stool next to mine.
“I’ll take a beer,” he tells her, then turns to look at me. The intensity of his stare, paired with his blue eyes has me squeezing my thighs together. “Prez wants to talk to you,” he says and looks away. It’s like he dumped a bucket of ice water over me. I get up without saying anything to him and go to Pops.
“Hey, Pops, you wanted to see me?” I close the door behind me and sit on the couch he has in here.
“Minx, I’m happy you’re home but I’m not happy I had to hear about it from Rascal.” I can feel a lecture coming on. I brace myself. He sighs. Pops looks tired. He looks defeated.
“The doctors don’t think Jager will make it through the next 48 hours. You can visit him as much as possible while he’s still with us, but you will have to have two, maybe three, brothers with you at all times,” he tells me. 48 hours and he could be gone. Pops gets up from his desk and sits by me on the couch.
“Please tell me you’re home for good, sweetheart.” Sadness laces his tone.
“I am, Pops. I’m not going anywhere.” I throw my arms around him and hug him tight.
“Good, I’m glad. Club party tonight. Why don’t you go up to the house and rest for a few hours. I’m sure the hospital visit was a little draining.” Between crying at the hospital and the adrenaline rush from trying to lose that Iron Lord, it’s definitely wearing on me.
“Yeah, I think I’ll do that,” I tell him.
“Also, I want you and the girls on lockdown until further notice. If you need to leave to go anywhere, you will have brothers with you,” he says.
“Works for me. I’m sure the girls won’t mind,” I reply and we stand up and walk out of his office together. We get out to the main room and Raze isn’t at the bar anymore. There aren’t many brothers in here right now.
“Hollywood.” Pops gets his attention. “I need you to go with Minx to the main house so she can rest for a while.”
“You got it, Prez,” he responds.
“Hey, Pops. Buster, Diesel, Clutch, and Shade are in town from Arizona. Do you mind if they come tonight?” I ask.
Rivet gives Pops a pleading look. I don't usually need to ask permission for guests to come to a party at the clubhouse. But out of respect for everything going on with the Iron Lords, I decide to. Plus, I know Pops will want to take a chance to meet the people who looked out for us while we were in Arizona.
“Yeah, gives me a chance to meet my girls’ second family,” he says. He has always claimed Rivet as his adopted daughter. He and her dad were like brothers before he passed away.
“Thanks, Pops!” Rivet and I say at the same time. I give her a high five as I walk out of the clubhouse, Hollywood in tow.
I walk into the house I grew up in. It feels so empty without any of my brothers around. I look around at all the pictures on the walls. There are some of me with all three of my brothers, from when we were little kids and teenagers. The ones with Rascal and Kicks are from after Shadow got locked up. With everything my family has gone through, the love and loyalty of my brothers’ best friends have only gotten stronger. They grew to be family real quick.
“You hungry, Hollywood?” I ask trying to distract myself. “I could make you something to eat.”
He smiles at me and I know what he’s thinking. My mom passed away when I was only two. Growing up, some of the older cut bunnies taught Rivet and I how to cook. When I wasn’t fighting with my brothers, I took care of them. I would cook and make sure the house stayed clean. Rivet would help when she came around, which was a lot.
