Page 36 of A New Era

I reckon she does and she’s good with Luca dealing with her mother, but she doesn’t want to admit it.

The club may face challenging times more often than not, but I’d rather deal with club politics than family politics. The club is easy to navigate, but the family, not so much. There are too many feelings and emotions in play and when you give a fuck, it leaves you no room to mess up.

Chapter Ten

Holly

Leo’s kisses are like a balm over my soul, each and every one. He’s mine and when he kisses me, the connection between us strengthens.

“I’ll be back in a couple of days. If you need anything, Mom and Dad are around.”

I sweep his hair away from his face and give him a reassuring smile.

“We’ll be fine.”

“I warned you about that word.”

Laughing, I say, “You haven’t got time to do anything about it.”

Arching his brow, his smirk ignites something inside me. “I won’t forget.”

“Yo, Leo, we’re good to go,” JJ hollers as Harper walks toward him with Gunner perched on her hip.

I look back to Leo and say, “Be careful out there, and don’t worry about us.”

His brow arches once again, and says, “The day I don’t worry about you or Ray is the day I’m in the ground… even then I’ll worry from beyond the grave.”

I lean up on my tiptoes and kiss him once again. Winding my hand around the back of his neck, I yearn to take him back inside and shed our clothes.

“It’s never been this hard to leave. You better be ready for me when I get back.”

“Without a doubt,” I promise.

Rayna runs out of the house, and I step back in time before she jumps on Leo. He hugs her tightly and presses small kisses on the side of her head.

“Be good and I’ll be home in a couple of days.”

He slides her down to her feet and she runs over to Alannah’s and bursts through her door.

“And you,” he says to me, pulling me back against him. “Enjoy your ladies' night.”

“I’ll try.” I smile.

With one last tender kiss, he walks over and joins his brothers and mounts his bike. Now he’s president, he rides up front and I enjoy these moments when you get to watch them ride out in formation. I hang around on the porch for a while and listen to their engines fade into the distance, but I don’t get to dwell on his absence for long.

Harper joins me, telling me, “Dad is watching Gunner while we head into town. You ready to go?”

“Yeah, let me make sure Alannah can watch Rayna, and then grab my keys.”

“I saw her while dropping Gunner off with my dad, Ray’s fine.”

I run into the house and grab my keys and purse. While Leo is out of town, I thought it would be the best time to host ladies' night. Harper’s waiting by the car and she slides into the passenger side as I slide behind the wheel.

As I drive slowly toward the gate, Aspen is storming toward her car with Mason hot on her ass.

Harper catches me staring and murmurs, “Since Mase got out he’s been a stage five clinger. Looks like Aspen’s had enough. I’m surprised he’s not on the run.”

Once we’re on the road I push the gas harder and keep my eye on the rearview mirror as Aspen speeds up behind us and overtakes us, shooting off into the distance.