Page 19 of Bonita Brynne

“Of course I do. I talked to your mom the other day. I know about the baby too.” She pulled back. “Best friends tell each other everything.”

I lowered my face in shame. “So everyone knows?”

“No, not everyone.” She guided me out. “Track will share the news when you’re both ready.”

“I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready.” I washed my hands and rinsed my mouth.

“We’ll talk about it later. Let’s get you to your room.” She reminded me of my mom a little. Gentle and not pushy. I bet she was strong like my mom too.

“Eve?”

“Yes?”

“Can you keep Joseph away from me for a while? I need time to think.”

“No. I’m sorry, but I can’t.”

I wrinkled my brow, utterly baffled by her reply.She can’t or won’t?

“See, in an MC, your man calls the shots. I couldn’t keep Track away from you, even if I got every biker in the club to create a wall of brute muscle. Nobody is powerful enough to stand between a biker and his woman. Don’t you forget it.” Her bluntness and honesty stunned me.

How was I to reply? I sort of felt put in my place and told I would have to talk to Joseph even if I didn’t want to.

We left the bathroom and quickly darted out the back door, away from the activity in the bar. I inhaled a deep breath as I took in my surroundings. The yard was well-maintained with a gazebo and child’s swing set. Trees lined the back, creating a border in front of a chain-linked fence with barbed wire at the top. The row of bushes did a decent job disguising the protective wall. I wondered if it was an electric fence.

At my home in Chicago, a brick wall surrounded our property. Armed guards patrolled the perimeter. Were there bikers doing the same that I couldn’t see?

“This building is what we call the family wing.” Eve’s voice grabbed my attention. “And this is my son, Markey.” She patted the young-looking guy on the arm. He stood tall with dark hair like Storm. And he was armed. “This is Brynne. Tina’s daughter.”

He nodded. “Good to finally meet you.”

“Thanks.”

“Your unit is down here. Number three.” She used a keycard she had removed from her back pocket to open the door. “The kitchenette is stocked. If there’s anything specific you need, just let me know.”

The unit was nicer than my old apartment. Bright and airy. Clean and homey.

“There’s fresh clothes in the dresser and closet. The bathroom has everything you might need. I’ll be in the living room.”

“How do you know what size I am or what I need?” A picture on the nightstand caught my eye. I picked it up and instantly started crying. It was an image of my mom and me. The last photo I remembered taking with her.

“I didn’t. Your mother bought everything and prepared the room herself.”

I faced Eve and threw my arms around her. “Thank you. Thank you for everything.” Only, I wished it was my mom I was hugging right now.

7

Track

Storm rocked in his chair at the head of the table, gavel in his right hand. No smile or scowl. His expression was neutral, which meant one thing:relief.

“It’s been months since we had this ugly mug in church. I don’t know how I feel about it.” The corner of Storm’s lip quirked up, but still no smile.

There wasn’t anything to be joyful about. My brother was missing, and my dad and Tina were in jail. Several others were behind bars, so the brief homecoming celebration had been short-lived. Now it was time to get down to business.

“It’s good to see your ugly face, too, Prez.” I dished it back at him like any respectable best friend would do. “As much as I’d love to screw around and party, we have a big fucking mess to fix. Any news on my dad and Tina?”

Storm cleared his throat, the small glimmer of contentment he’d shown gone. Revenge rushed out of his pores as he slammed the gavel on the table to begin church. “Raul and Tina have been released.”

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