Page 103 of Bits and Pieces

SILAS

Months ago, I’d havebeen pissed at the thought of a party at my house. People in my private space—even my club family—isn’t my idea of a good time.

However, today, I wake up with a deep sense of pride. At breakfast, Landry is gorgeous and well-fucked next to me at the table. Blair asks a lot of questions about my friends coming over and their kids. Beckett sits in his high chair, waving around his sausage and telling his mama about his good eating. Brooklyn nods at everything he says from her booster seat. Beau eats quietly, enjoying his favorite breakfast meal of eggs and sausage. Rosemary already makes sure to give him extras.

I admire my new family, knowing the way we came together might be fucked up, but the result is golden.

Later, as motorcycles and cars begin arriving at my catered party, I stand back and appreciate the house I built out here in the woods. Contrary to my overly private nature, I’m glad to bring my new family and my club together.

That doesn’t mean I didn’t set down plenty of ground rules beforehand. The Pigsty is a rowdy home base, where no one gets offended and nearly anything goes. That shit willnotfly here.

I notice Ruin climbing off his hog while Selene parks an SUV nearby. As I walk over to the end of the driveway, Armor and Goose pull up.

Joining my president, I get the formalities out of the way by asking, “Did you get my texts?”

Flashing a frown his sunglasses can’t hide, Ruin replies, “The ones that told us how to act like human beings?”

“You never responded, so I worried I used too many words.”

Ruin pulls out his phone. “Let’s see. Here’s the one where you ask us not to behave like perverts around your precious girls. Thanks for that. I wasn’t aware swinging my dick at a child was the wrong move.”

Shrugging, I reply, “That was more for the younger guys. Didn’t you whine about them acting like dirty cocks around Selene on her first day?”

Ruin nods slightly. “And here’s the part where you explain how we need to keep our hands to ourselves. ‘No grabbing the children’ are your exact words.”

“You made Beau freak out.”

“I barely touched him.”

“He’s on the spectrum. If that was Joie and I only upset her a little, you’d threaten to neuter me.”

Ruin gives me a quick nod. “Yes, yes, I would.”

“So shut the fuck up about me being overly sensitive.”

Though Ruin smirks, I know he’s considering whether to knock me down and prove his mettle. Before he can do something that’ll lead to us both bloody, Tomcat slides up and grins.

“I caught a glimpse of your pretty, blonde preggo. Your behavior seems less insane now.”

I snarl down at him. “Stay away from her or I’ll cut off your fucking head.”

Ruin chuckles. “I’m in awe at how fatherhood has softened you, Nomad,” he says and walks toward Selene, Joie, and Yazmin exiting their SUV.

Tomcat smiles at me like he doesn’t think I’ll actually rip off his head.

“I’m not a nice guy like Armor,” I tell my younger club brother. “If you fuck with what’s mine, I’ll forget we wear the same patch and end you before my senses return.”

Tomcat’s blue eyes watch me as if I’m fascinating. “Domestication has transformed you into a feral and feisty fella. I like this look on you.”

I have a choice here—attack Tomcat to make a point or let it go and assume he’s only fucking with me. Before I choose sensibly and make him bleed, I catch sight of Blair walking awkwardly through the arriving people.

My girl is so small and delicate. She cradles her arm so people won’t bump into it. If she understood what an asshole Tomcat was, I believe me kicking his ass wouldn’t faze her. Except she won’t know that info. She’ll just see her new daddy going psycho like her old one did.

---